Author Archives: Jacob Marsh

About Jacob Marsh

Jacob is a researcher and content writer at EnergySage, where he focuses primarily on current issues–and new technology!–in the solar industry. With a background in environmental and geological science, Jacob brings an analytical perspective and passion for conservation to help solar shoppers make the right energy choices for their wallet and the environment. Outside of EnergySage, you can find him playing Ultimate Frisbee or learning a new, obscure board game.

LMI community solar

Low to moderate income community solar: what you need to know

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Reading Time: 5 minutes

For many electricity users across the country, rooftop solar panels don’t make sense – there are physical reasons (i.e. roof availability, home size), personal reasons (i.e. aesthetics), and financial reasons. Specifically for individuals who classify as “low to moderate income” (LMI), there are several reasons why community solar can be a great way to benefit from solar energy while not needing the traditional financial resources to install your own solar panels.

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commercial and industrial solar installation

Commercial and industrial (C&I) solar panel installations: an overview

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Commercial and industrial (C&I) property owners can benefit from installing solar energy on business or factory roofs, or as ground-mounted systems on a campus. Many corporations have massive manufacturing facilities with expansive, flat roof space – AKA the perfect place to generate clean, inexpensive solar energy.

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solar panel recycling

Recycling solar panels: environmental effects and your recycling options

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Solar panels have a lifetime of about 30 years. With the increasing number of solar panels being sold and installed in the United States each year, it’s only a matter of time before high volumes of silicon solar panels are at the end of their useful life and have to be disposed of. Solar panel recycling is still at a very early stage, but as the market continues to grow, it will have an important part to play in the solar industry.

More and more panels will reach the end of their life each year, and even now, old solar panels are beginning to become a problem as the majority of them find themselves in landfills where they are releasing toxins harmful to both natural and human health into our environment.

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solar windows

Solar windows: can you turn your windows into solar glass?

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Solar windows are an exciting technology that let you generate electricity from more than just rooftop panels. As the solar market evolves and expands, companies are looking into new solar technologies aimed at spreading solar energy generation beyond traditional rooftop and ground-mount solar panels. Solar windows have gained momentum recently, and could represent part of the solar market’s future.

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tesla powerwall review

The Tesla Powerwall home battery complete review

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Reading Time: 7 minutes

Back in 2015, automaker Tesla Motors set its sights on the home energy storage market and announced the launch of its home battery product, the Tesla Powerwall.

In the past, Tesla Motors has been praised for making high-quality electric vehicles, as well as for their ability to reimagine and successfully rebrand existing technologies. In fact, while Tesla’s automobiles revitalized the 21st-century electric vehicle market, the first electric cars were invented more than a hundred years earlier. 

Tesla’s rebranding of residential-use batteries is in line with their legacy of reimagining existing products. Tesla’s battery may represent the first time in history that everyday homeowners are truly excited about the potential of storing energy at their home. The Powerwall, combined with the exciting Tesla Solar Roof, are both potential cornerstones of Elon Musk’s sustainable energy vision for the future.

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lg chem resu review

LG Chem RESU: the complete review

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Reading Time: 7 minutes

LG is a leader in the home electronics industry and manufactures some of the most popular panels featured in quotes to shoppers on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace. Outside of making some of the highest quality solar panels on the market, LG’s battery subsidiary, LG Chem, produces one of the most popular batteries in the U.S. market: the LG Chem RESU 10H battery.

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sonnen eco: the complete battery review

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Reading Time: 6 minutes

sonnen is one of the biggest names in energy storage technology, and in 2016 the company announced a new battery designed for home use: the sonnen eco. The eco is a fully integrated energy storage system that includes an inverter and smart energy management software. Property owners with solar that install a home battery like the eco are able to store excess solar electricity for use later in the day. As a result, properties with solar-plus-storage can increase their total monthly savings in certain markets. (Note: check out our review of sonnen’s other primary product line–the ecoLinx–here.)

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solar generator

Is a solar generator right for you? Solar generators and pros and cons compared

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Reading Time: 6 minutes

Solar isn’t just for rooftops – you can use portable solar products like solar generators as a backup power source if the grid goes down, or as a source of electricity on an RV or boating trip. Read on to learn more about home solar power generators.

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solar panel maintenance

Solar panel maintenance

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Worried about solar panels and hail? Fret not! Solar panel systems are incredibly durable and require little to no maintenance over their productive lifetime, which can span 25 years or more. In the event that something does go wrong, your solar PV system components have very long warranties that would cover replacement and repair costs. If you lease your solar panel system, repairs and maintenance are the leasing company’s responsibility, not yours.

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