Dan's Solar Blog

Solar output for a heavy rainy day and a sunny day last week

dansolar — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:26:23 +0000

Here are two output graphs for my 3.7 kW solar panel system from Sungevity. These graphs are two days in a row, one a real rainy day and the next day was bright and sunny. By the way if you want a gift card ($500) and a free iPad2, put in my referral number in the box at the sungevity.com website when you do the iQuote.

Filed under: going green, ipad, Misc., solar Tagged: 3.7kW, cloudy, lease, panels, rainy, referral code, solar, Sungevity, sunny

We won!!!

dansolar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:08:48 +0000

Solar Wins: California rejects Utility’s proposed charge on Rooftop Solar
BY JIM METROPULOS, ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 2012
Last month, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) struck down a proposal from San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to charge their customers who own solar PV systems an extra fee for use of the distribution grid. This charge would have added up to $30 a month to customers that generate solar power for their own use. The effect of this charge would have changed the financial payback and energy savings equation for business and homeowners investing in their own solar systems — essentially freezing the San Diego solar market and setting a dangerous precedent for other utilities.

Sierra Club California, the Utility Consumer’s Action Network, Walmart, the City of San Diego, dozens of solar installers, and others protested SDG&E’s proposed new fee. Sierra Club intervened in SDG&E’s rate case and argued that the proposal was illegal and contrary to California’s goal of subsidizing and promoting renewable energy.

The CPUC agreed. “Development of such a rate element could affect not only SDG&E and solar customers, but also PG&E, SCE and other distributed generation and self-generation customers,” wrote CPUC Commissioner Mark Ferron in the ruling. “Furthermore… I am concerned that this particular . . . [charge] may be inconsistent with current law.” In its ruling, the CPUC cited California law that prohibits utilities from creating a “new charge” that would increase costs for customers that generate their own energy. SDG&E was directed drop its charge and resubmit its proposal for restructuring utility bills.

While this is a big victory for solar in California, the battle is not over. Sierra Club California will be on the watch for attempts at the Legislature by the utilities to undermine laws that promote customer generated renewable energy. We will also continue to follow the SDG&E rate case at the PUC.

[copied from the Sierra Club California newsletter]

Filed under: going green, Misc., solar Tagged: California, California Public Utilities Commission, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego, San Diego Gas & Electric, SDG, Sierra Club, Solar power

Solar heating in Las Vegas to make 110mW

dansolar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:14:08 +0000

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57373508-76/solar-tower-will-power-las-vegas-at-night/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Filed under: going green, Misc., solar Tagged: AA battery, Business, Energy, las vegas, Las Vegas Nevada, Rechargeable battery, Renewable, Science fiction, solar

Solar output graph for January 2012

dansolar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:32:06 +0000

My solar is still working great saving me lots of money and saving on how much energy I have to use each day.

Here is the graph for the solar output for January 2012. You can go back to January 2011 and compare the graphs. Remember if you sign up using my referral number you get an extra $500 back in the form of an American Express gift card and a free iPad2. My referral number is 27596

Filed under: going green, Misc., solar Tagged: American Express, Energy, Kilowatt hour, Renewable, solar, Solar panel, Solar variation, Watt

Mid-month results

dansolar — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:08:40 +0000

Mid-month results for my solar panels, January 2012.

Filed under: going green, Misc., solar Tagged: Business, Electric, Energy, Photovoltaic Panels, Renewable, solar, Solar panel, Sungevity, Watt

Solar panel output results for the year 2011

dansolar — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:27:02 +0000

Here are my Sungevity (Sharp 235w – 16 panels – 3.7 kW) Solar panel output results for the year 2011.

Filed under: going green, Misc., solar Tagged: Business, Energy, lease, Renewable, solar, Solar panel, Sungevity, Watt

December 2011 solar panel results

dansolar — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:09:53 +0000

Here is the graph for the month.

Happy New Year 2012!

Filed under: going green, ipad, Misc., solar Tagged: Electricity, Kilowatt hour, lease, Line graph, solar, Solar panel, Sungevity

2 more days left to get $1000 and free iPad 2

dansolar — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:11:52 +0000

You only have 2 more days to get that extra $1000 and the iPad2 for knowing me. So go to sungevity.com, do an iQuote and put in 27596 as the referral number and you get your extra bonus and a great solar purchase or lease. After 12/31/11, the promotion might end. I don’t work for Sungevity so I am not sure. I just love their customer service, ease of signing up, estimating which system would be best for me (all online), and low lease payments and great support. My 3.7 kW system is working wonderful and my neighbor’s 4.2 kW system is great for him too. My new friend Sandy loves her 9+ kW system too. Robert (Mr. Pip) loves his 2.9 kW system also. All of us have a Sungevity solar panel system on a lease and we are glad we did it.

Have a blessed holiday season and go solar!

Filed under: going green, ipad, Misc., solar Tagged: Energy, IPad, lease, referral, Renewable, solar, Solar panel, Solar variation, Sungevity, Watt

2 more days left

dansolar — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:09:00 +0000

Have a blessed holiday season and go solar!

Filed under: solar

Winter Solstice

dansolar — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:54:01 +0000

Dec. 22, 2011

Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year!

From here on there is more sun on my solar panels, upward and forward.

Love my solar panels and my solar lease.

It’s All Uphill From Here: It’s The Winter Solstice, The Shortest Day Of The Year (treehugger.com)
Welcoming the Winter Solstice (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)
‘Tis The Winter Solstice (openspacesfengshui.com)
The winter solstice marks shortest day of the year (mnn.com)
Winter solstice today (americablog.com)
Winter Solstice 2011: When It Is and What to Know About Start of Winter (ibtimes.com)

Filed under: going green, ipad, Misc., solar Tagged: Earth, Eastern Time Zone, Energy, IPad, lease, North Pole, Northern Hemisphere, solar, Solstice, Stonehenge, Sungevity, Winter Solstice