There’s a fear among non solar users that homeowners with solar are somehow getting a “free ride” from the utility. This is a fear based, knee jerk reaction by people who aren’t aware of how the utilities work, or who haven’t done the math, or both. Percentage of Homes with Solar in U.S. Is Miniscule The cost to “support” solar homes that are completely grid independent is almost irrelevant as a percentage of the total homes in the USA as far as utilities are concerned today. There are around 2…
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Your Stand Becomes Your Brand
In deciding to only pay for vegetarian meals, WeWork made a decision that was guaranteed to upset some people that work there… The upset people notified media outlets, of course. And just like that, WeWork’s reputation as a non-status quo, eco-friendly business and brand is reinforced.
Read MoreThe Default Line
A fault line is the visible path of a fracture… a trace along the surface of the Earth caused by the rupturing of an underground fault. Faults are caused by shifting of volumes of rock within the Earth’s crust… When pressure builds on a fault, it can result in a sudden, significant release of energy… Earthquake. Even though they’re invisible to us, we acknowledge fault lines… Ignore them at your own peril. Respect the Fault Line In areas with highly respected fault lines, such as the 750 mile long San Andreas…
Read MoreDoes The IRS Solar Tax Credit Phase Out?
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) provides a 30% investment tax credit for residential and commercial solar systems. The ITC is one of the most important federal policy mechanisms to support the deployment of solar energy in the United States. The IRS allows a tax deduction of thirty percent of the cost of a solar system, including labor and expenses, for any individual or business, through 2023. However, the Solar ITC is often threatened with extinction by partisan politics driven by competing…
Read MorePassive Aggressive House
Passive house is a green building design and construction approach that results in highly efficient residential and commercial buildings. Although commonly referred to under the term “passive house”, buildings constructed to this standard can be built to commercial scale as well as single family residential. The passive house standard is somewhat complex because there are two separate organizations that promote this type of construction… PassivHaus in Germany was the originator of the standard… and PHIUS (Passive House Institute U.S.) in the United States was subsequently formed to promote the standard…
Read MoreWhat Should A Home Air Purifier Do?
Choosing a home air purifier often goes hand in hand with building out a “smart home“… But what should a home air purifier really do? This article presents the basics behind what a home air purifier should do and why you might want to buy one. Summary: Why buy a home air purifier? What should a home air purifier do? How do professionals measure indoor air quality? We answer these questions and provide links to other more comprehensive reviews that compare the best home air purifiers from the popular choices…
Read MoreAnti-Idling Laws Are Total Bullshit
IMHO, anti-idling laws are total bullshit. Yes, car idling is BAD for various reasons: Idling your car isn’t good for the car. Idling your car isn’t good for outdoor air quality. Idling your car produces greenhouse gas emissions. Idling your car wastes gas. Idling a large vehicle like a truck could be annoying to others who may live or work near it. But anti-idling laws are bullshit because of two main reasons: Enforcement is problematic. The anti-idling statutes have all sorts of exemptions, however, very few in terms of common…
Read MoreUsed or Leased EV Tax Credit?
Leasing a new electric vehicle can cost as little as $20-$100 per month. This is because you can combine the generous federal EV tax credit with state EV tax incentives to get super savings on “plugin hybrid” vehicles and “all electric” vehicles. Plus, if you have solar on your home, you can power your EV with energy from the sun… And enjoy the 30% federal investment tax credit on your solar PV system. Then you’ll have “free” electricity to power your EV. Can I Get The EV Tax Credit On A…
Read More50 Eco-Friendly Small Business Ideas and How to Start
Environmental, or eco-friendly small business ideas can be very powerful because of their dual purpose: 1) Make money. 2) Make the world a better place. What could be better than that for a career? Green businesses can make a commitment to the environment in many ways, as described below. Eco-friendly small businesses can also grow into significant companies over time. Just look at companies like Tesla and Waste Management. Eco-friendly small business owners are driven to make money, but also because they have a mission to improve the planet, or the…
Read MoreWhat is Tax Equity?
Tax equity is a form of investment that is made in renewable energy projects, such as solar… But why is it called “Tax Equity”..? Tax and Equity The word “Tax” in tax equity refers to primary type of benefit an investor receives when making this type of investment… He or she is going to save some taxes. The “Equity” in tax equity refers to the investor’s ownership of the investment. He or she is going to own something (at least for a little while….) An Example of a Tax Equity…
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