Smart Solar Articles

Washington State Solar Incentives
Installing a solar energy system is an investment that will dramatically lower your home energy bills, carbon footprint, and reliance on fossil fuels. There are

Energy Use In Washington State
Washingtonians spend over $20 billion on energy each year, and most of that leaves the state to fund oil and natural gas. This is about

Energy Use Across Oregon
Oregonians spent $12.1 billion on energy in 2020, a drop from the recent peak of $14.2 billion two years prior. This includes power and fuel

How to Read an Electric Bill in Oregon & Washington
Electricity rates are rising across Oregon and Washington, prompting many people to take a closer look at their electricity bills. However, many families find it

What’s The Ideal Angle For Solar Panels In Washington And Oregon?
If you are considering installing solar panels on your home, you undoubtedly want to get the most clean energy you can

Electricity Rate Hikes in Oregon and Washington
Geopolitics, inflation, and severe weather events are causing natural gas and coal prices to soar. The Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a surge in natural

Do Oregon And Washington Have Net Metering Programs?
If you have a solar system, it will produce a lot of clean energy on sunny days. However, what if it generates more electricity than

Are EVs Greener Than Gas-Powered Cars in Oregon & Washington?
There is a prevalent myth that electric vehicles aren’t better for the climate than gasoline-powered cars. However, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency,

Severe Weather And Blackouts In Oregon And Washington
The United States has more power outages than any developed country. Unfortunately, blackouts are becoming more frequent in the United States due to an aging

Does My Electrical Panel Need to be Upgraded Before Going Solar?
Many of our customers in Oregon and Washington wonder how much a solar energy system costs. Our prices vary depending on the brand of solar

Installing Solar Panels in Washington State
Solar panels have grown in popularity recently across the Pacific Northwest because they produce clean, affordable energy. As concern about high electricity costs and climate

The Best Solar Inverters for Oregon & Washington
Although solar panels get a lot of attention, inverters are also a critical system component. In fact, proper selection of an inverter is essential for

How to Calculate the Solar Payback Period
Installing solar panels is one of the few home improvement projects that actually pays for itself over time with energy bill savings. In fact, one

How To Select The Best Solar Panels For Your Home
The design life of a solar system is about 30 to 40 years. That means your solar panel system can outlive most of the appliances

Home EV Chargers in Oregon and Washington
Many clean energy experts predict 2022 will be the year of the electric vehicle (EV). More battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

How Does Solar Storage Work?
As extreme weather becomes more and more common, so are power outages. Unfortunately, intense storms and high winds can cause blackouts, often from downed trees.

Roof Replacement and Solar Panel Systems
Residential solar energy systems are designed to last for about 30 years, and most are installed on rooftops. Because of the long lifespan of systems,

Will My HOA Let Me Install Solar Panels?
Homeowner associations (HOAs) help protect homeowners’ investments in a neighborhood. They create covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that shape how residents can use and alter

Should I Join a Community Solar Farm in Oregon?
More Oregonians are using solar energy than ever before! Residents that want to run their homes with solar PV panels have two main options. They

Do I Need To Clean My Solar Panels?
Many Smart Solar Energy customers want to ensure that their solar PV panels operate at their optimum capacity. This helps boost the return on investment

Will I Have An Electricity Bill After Going Solar?
Many solar shoppers are motivated by utility bill savings. Often, homeowners realize they are wasting a hundred or more dollars a month on electricity with

Can Solar Panels Be Recycled?
There are now enough solar panels installed in the United States to power 18.6 million homes. Although this is excellent news for air quality and

Will Solar Work in the Fall and Winter Months?
Contrary to popular belief, solar panels do generate electricity in the fall and winter months. In fact, solar panels produce energy even during cloudy weather,

Will solar work when the power goes out?
A solar system will not provide electricity during a power outage unless paired with a solar battery bank. Solar installers must design systems to shut

How Does a Solar Loan Work?
Many Oregon families want to go solar but don’t have the cash on hand for this investment. For this reason, solar loans are a very

Will Solar Increase My Home’s Resale Value?
There will be over 3 million solar systems in the U.S. by 2022. As solar energy systems become more widespread throughout Oregon, Washington, and the

Do Solar Panels Work At Night?
Solar panels are made up of a number of photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight into electricity. During nighttime, there is no sunlight and hence,

Everything You Need to Know About Solar Warranties
Installing a solar system is an excellent way to virtually eliminate your power bills and use clean energy to power your home. A well-designed and

Why Install Solar Batteries?
It’s said that there is no place like home. However, many of the comforts of home rely on a functional electric grid. During power outages,

Solar Panels in Washington
Washingtonians who are considering solar energy for their homes are lucky to benefit from a wide range of extremely solar-friendly state and federal policies that

How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?
At Smart Solar Energy Co., one of the most common questions our customers ask us is “how many solar panels do I need?” Most homeowners

The Two Most Important Things You Need to Know Before Going Solar
For homeowners, switching to solar can feel like a big, intimidating financial decision. However, until they’ve had an in-depth consultation with a knowledgeable installer, most

Should I Lease or Buy My Solar System?
The main difference between buying vs. leasing your solar system is the question of ownership. When you lease your solar system or sign a power

You Don’t Need To Offset Your Entire Power Bill To Save Money With Solar
There is a major misconception about solar, especially in the Pacific Northwest, that we would like clear up. We talk to homeowners every single day

How Much Energy Does A Solar Panel Produce?
Solar energy has become a popular alternative to conventional electricity in recent years. As more people become concerned about the environment, switching to a cleaner

Will Solar Panels Damage My Roof?
In the last decade, the cost of solar has seen a massive drop, making switching to green energy more affordable than ever. By the second

What is the Lifespan of Solar Panel Batteries?
Why Install a Solar Battery? Today, homeowners who make the switch to solar energy have more options than ever when it comes to their home

What To Expect When You Get a Home Solar Audit
For homeowners who are looking to install solar panels, the first step is usually a solar audit. The solar audit determines if your roof is

Tesla Powerwall Review
Ever since its inception in 2003, Tesla has positioned itself as an industry-leading producer of affordable electric vehicles. Elon Musk, the (sometimes controversial) CEO of

Solar Panel Efficiency Over Time
A Brief History of Solar Panels Solar panels have gained immense popularity over the last few years, but they aren’t a novel technology. Back in

Is Solar Energy Actually Cheaper Than Buying Power from the Utility Company?
Homeowners who are considering solar often want to be sure that making the switch to green energy will actually be cheaper than continuing to buy

Solar Panels In Oregon
Oregonians who are considering solar energy for their homes are lucky to benefit from a wide range of extremely solar-friendly statewide policies that are designed

Solar Panel Lifespan and Degradation Curve
Installing solar panels in your home can provide several benefits — lower electricity bills, a reliable energy source, and an increased home value. There is

33 Facts About Solar Energy and Solar Panels
The sun has served humanity as a principal source of power for far longer than most people realize. Humans have been harnessing solar energy for

2021 Guide To Choosing The Best Solar Panels
When it comes to solar, there is no one-size fits all solution. In fact, there are several factors that influence which solar panels will best

Can You Sell Solar Energy Back To The Power Company?
The short answer: Yes, but that shouldn’t be your goal. Going solar will undoubtedly save you money, but it doesn’t necessarily generate income. Read on

Is Solar Power Worth It in 2021?
Is solar power really worth it? This is the question that all homeowners who are considering going green ask themselves. And the question that usually

What Is a Grid-Tied Solar System?
What is the Difference Between a Grid-Tied Solar System and an Off-Grid Solar System? When you choose to go solar, you can choose between a

How Long Do Solar Panels Last?
When it comes to solar, potential buyers want to know how long their investment will last. Since investing in solar is a big decision, and

How Much Does Solar Panel Installation Cost in 2023?
In 2010, it would have cost homeowners around $40,000 (approximately $7 per watt) to install solar panels that could fully power their homes. A decade