EvenGreen Technology

The economic benefits of Idaho solar power pretty much speak for themselves. With the available tax incentives, rebates, and credits, and more efficient production methods, solar energy is more affordable than ever. Installing solar means savings month after month on your power bill. However, a more solar Boise , a more solar Idaho, and a more solar world, comes with a set of benefits beyond the financial for us both individually and collectively. More Energy Independence At first, when solar was less efficient and affordable than it is now, one of the chief benefits it offered was electricity to those off the power grid. That meant virtually exclusively homeowners in very rural areas. Since then, increasing fossil fuel prices, and a better understanding of the consequences of their use, have been changing the urban and suburban energy dynamic. People recognize the benefits of solar as an alternative or supplementary power source. A power source to save money on ri...

The benefits of solar power are becoming more well known. With the cost of fossil fuel-based energy increasing, and a better understanding of the consequences of pollution, the world is increasingly turning to renewable energy sources like solar. Many Idahoans, however, remain unaware of many of the benefits of solar power. Additionally, some Gem Stater residents may not even realize that Idaho solar power is a viable option. If you’re unfamiliar with how well Idaho and solar power work together, read on. Idaho Is Perfect for Solar Power One of the most common misconceptions about solar power in Idaho, and places like it, is that we’re not well-suited for solar. There’s a tendency to associate effective solar energy exclusively with sun-drenched parts of the country further south. It’s an unfortunate misconception since Idaho’s climate is actually ideal for solar. Solar cell panels certainly require the sun to work, but they don’t require additional heat. In fact, ...

Installing a photovoltaic (PV) solar system for your home helps lower your power bill and lightens your carbon footprint. Power savings are a big draw, but the importance of the environmental benefit shouldn’t be overlooked. In a state as rich in natural beauty as Idaho, doing one’s part to preserve that beauty is a benefit to everyone. A more solar Meridian , Twin Falls, Boise, or any other region is great for Idaho. Many people, however, wonder if our state is really an ideal climate for solar power, especially since our winters can be notoriously harsh. As it turns out, yes, solar power and Idaho’s winters can exist together. Don’t Solar Panels Need Sun to Work? Solar panels do indeed need sun to work. However, even when it’s overcast, the solar panels are still producing power—just not as much of it as they produce when receiving direct sunlight. Plus, while Idaho winters are undeniably cold, they’re not necessarily overcast. And during both the summer and winte...

Idaho is a beautiful, friendly, wild, all-around amazing state, but our winters are not for the faint of heart. For those who brave the snow, our uniquely spectacular winter landscapes and world-class winter sports are plenty reward. However, the last thing any Idahoan needs during the colder months is a freezing house or sky-high power bill. So, consider the following energy-saving and efficiency tips, big and small, from an Idaho solar power setup to the direction of your ceiling fan. After all, action taken now in the late summer can help circumvent issues later in the year. The Bigger Energy Saving Upgrades Get an HVAC Service and Update or Upgrade Perform an audit of your home’s HVAC system, and get it serviced or upgraded where necessary. Keeping your HVAC running smoothly is one of the single most important steps you can take to increase your home’s energy efficiency. If you have an outdated, leaky, or inefficient heating system in your house, saving energy...

There is a whole lot to love about Boise. It’s a beautiful city full of incredibly friendly people. It’s got enough culture and history to keep it interesting without the crush and congestion of a bigger city. It’s also got a whole lot of trees. Being the City of Trees, named for them even, that makes sense. However, it raises a question about the strategies for alternative and renewable energy management Boise residents are increasingly choosing—does solar energy make sense in Boise, considering the shade from all those trees, and in general? Why Boise Is Perfect for Solar Considering how terrific Idaho’s capital is, it’s no wonder that Boise is constantly landing on national lists (often among the top 10). In addition to the various “Best Places to Live in the U.S.,” and “Best Places to Raise a Family” sort of lists Boise makes, it’s also consistently included among the top 50 sunniest cities in the U.S. That’s obviously a big check in the “Pros” column for solar but it’s actua...

When solar power was first gaining traction as a home power solution here in Idaho, it was often thought of as a rural solution rather than a means to a more solar Meridian or Boise. At the time, that was a matter of necessity. Solar power systems were considerably more expensive to buy and install, and less efficient than they are today. For rural residents, it was still the option that made the most sense. Today, solar power is far less expensive and far more efficient. It is being increasingly adopted by suburban and urban residents to decrease their power bill and do their part for the environment. Those changes also mean that solar power is much more accessible for the people who can benefit the most from it: rural Idahoans, or residents of any rural region. Benefits of Rural Solar One of the chief benefits of a solar power system in rural areas is space. Rural areas simply have more of it. Unlike in the cities or even suburbs, rural homeowners are rarely hemmed in by nei...

It’s pretty clear that the days are numbered for wide-scale energy-production relying on fossil fuels. Not only has the detrimental environmental impact become increasingly clear, it’s literally impossible for fossil fuels to remain a viable energy option indefinitely. The reason for that, of course, is that fossil fuels are a finite resource. So they’re necessarily not going to last and they’re also inevitably going to become increasingly more expensive as their scarcity increases. That means that the strategies for energy management Boise residents, or any Idaho residents, rely on will have to include renewable power sources. So which of those are best for Idahoans? Geothermal and Hydroelectric Energy Depending on where you live in Idaho, you may already be getting some percentage of your energy from geothermal. However, there are some obvious drawbacks. For starters, most Idahoans don’t live in areas with enough geothermal activity for that to even be an option. There are als...

In the not-so-distant past, there was an understanding that the type of energy that the world, the U.S.A., and Idaho depended on was an important issue that needed to be tackled. However, there wasn’t much the average person could do. Someone got their power from the power company, and that was pretty much that. Even when solar power initially became available it remained prohibitively expensive for the average person—that is not really the case anymore. Idaho solar power is now an option that the average Idahoan homeowner can seriously consider. That being said, is solar power right for Idaho and is it likely to be our future? Does Solar in Idaho Make Sense? One of the primary reasons many Idahoans haven’t seriously taken solar into consideration is an assumption, conscious or not, that our state simply isn’t right for it. After all, we’re not California, Arizona, or Florida. But actually, that can be a good thing! It may seem counterintuitive, but while lots of sunlight is obvi...

The popularity of solar power in Idaho continues to increase. It makes a lot of sense that solar is catching on here as much as it is—after all, Idahoans are known for being a practical bunch and solar power is a practical energy solution. And an Idaho solar power system often increases a home’s value while decreasing reliance on and use of fossil fuels, keeping the Gem State as clean, green, and beautiful as it should be. Reducing the amount of power drawn from the electrical grid also means a lower power bill, and nothing is more practical than saving money. Not to mention, solar power means independence from a total reliance on the power grid, and Idahoans are nothing if not independent. So if saving money, reducing emissions, and increased independence appeals to you, consider the following tips for going solar in Idaho. Use Local Solar Providers Buying local whenever possible is preferable in general. However, there are additional, pragmatic reasons to choose a local I...

Potatoes aside, when people outside of Idaho think of the Gem State, generally the first things that come to mind are our state’s natural beauty and the opportunities that beauty affords. Idahoans are obviously aware of how lucky we are to live somewhere so blessed with spectacular landscapes and waterways, but we know something else about Idaho. Well, it’s more something we know about Idahoans—we are a practical and independent lot. And for both those reasons, making your home more energy efficient just makes sense for Idaho residents. Choosing Solar There’s a common misconception that solar power is better suited for the more sun-drenched portions of the country. Not true. Idaho is actually great for solar (as solar is great for Idaho). As you’re no doubt aware, we get our fair share of sun. The strategies for energy management Boise residents have been increasingly selecting, for instance, include solar. It makes sense, as Boise consistently ranks among the top 50 sunniest ci...

There are some Idahoans who have either never really considered solar power as a serious energy solution they could employ, or who have considered it and rejected it as a viable, realistic option. That lack of serious consideration or outright rejection is generally in response to a couple of common objections and assumptions. One of those beliefs is that solar is prohibitively expensive. Another objection, one that’s often related to the first, is that solar doesn’t make sense in Idaho. After all, the thinking goes, we’re not California, Arizona, or Florida. In Idaho we experience four distinct seasons, and they’re not all primarily defined by the sun being out. It turns out that while those concerns about a solar Idaho may seem to make somewhat intuitive sense, and may have been more applicable several years ago, the Gem State is actually a great place to get solar power. And in a lot of ways, Idahoans are a great population for solar—here’s why. It’s the Light...

A good argument could be made that there is no bad time to invest in solar power. Idaho solar installations have exploded in popularity in the past decade for quite a few reasons. One of the most important and commonly cited of those reasons is price. The cost of buying and installing a photo voltaic (PV) cell solar power system has decreased exponentially over the course of that decade. It’s further offset by a series of tax incentives, rebates, and credits offered to reward the adoption of renewable energy sources like solar. Not to mention the cumulative savings on the power bill. Additionally, it’s become increasingly clear that Idaho is extremely well-suited for solar power. We get quite a bit of sun in the Gem State and Boise consistently ranks among the sunniest cities in the U.S.But we don’t get as hot as the states traditionally thought of as the sunniest ones. And, while sunlight is obviously necessary for solar power, excessive heat can make solar power pr...

Solar power is emerging as the energy source of the future. (It’s actually the energy source of the past and present too, but more on that later.) Across the planet, solar arrays are being built, solar vehicles are being powered, solar devices are being used, and solar panels are an increasingly common feature on rooftops. The trend hasn’t bypassed the Gem State. Idaho solar power production increases every year as the benefits of the sun’s rays in power production becomes undeniable. While the arguments in favor of solar power are unquestionably compelling ones: a cleaner, greener fuel source; savings on the power bill every month; independence from complete reliance on the power grid; and a source of energy that’s never going to run dry on us—there’s more to it than that. There are a number of fascinating features of solar power that sometimes get lost to a recitation of its more obviously appealing attributes. So to remedy that oversight, here are some interesting...

Solar power is the future, and that’s a good thing. While there’s some debate about how long it will take for the power infrastructure to switch over completely to solar power, there is little debate that far, far more of the world will be relying on solar power in the near future. Not only is solar power more abundant, cleaner, and often more efficient than other forms of energy, but it also enjoys some significant advantages compared to other forms of energy. While any renewable energy is almost certainly a better choice than non-renewable ones, even among the other renewable options, solar is still a top choice for Idaho. And from Twin Falls solar installations increasing to the Treasure Valley’s drive to go green, the future is on its way here. Fossil Fuels Being renewable gives solar power a number of obvious advantages over fossil fuels.It’s likely no surprise to anyone that solar energy is cleaner and greener than fossil fuels. That cleanliness isn’t just an ...

Perhaps the best thing about spring in Idaho (the retirement of the snow shovel notwithstanding), is how colorful everything gets. The monochromatic white and black of snowy (or brown and muddy) lawns and leafless trees give way to everything bright, beautiful, and blooming. The most abundant of those colors, and maybe the most restorative, is green. Flowers are great, but there’s something about the grass coming back thick and healthy, the trees budding, and the rest of the flora peeking up from the soil that really epitomizes the return of the sun. It turns out there’s another way that the sun can contribute to a greener Idaho in the spring: it’s the perfect time of the year to install your house with a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel energy system. The popularity of solar energy systems has surged in recent years with its affordability and the rising cost of more traditional, generally non-renewable energy sources making it a more universally viable option. That the...

As popular and common as solar installation in Idaho has become, questions about the details of the process remain common as well. From Twin Falls solar power advocates to homeowners looking to save money, among the most often-asked questions are about what roofing material photovoltaic (PV) solar panels can and can’t be installed on. And one of the most frequent concerns is whether or not solar panels can be installed on metal roofs. The good news is that not only can solar power systems be set up on houses capped by metal, but it’s also actually one of the best roofing materials for solar installation. Not that there are roofing materials incapable of accepting a solar power system, or even that installation would prove to be an issue on shingles or tile, metal just happens to be convenient. And convenient for a number of reasons. So, if you have a metal roof and have considered going solar, consider the following. Ease of Installation Mounting racks are avai...

Investing in a solar energy system is a big step (although not as big as is often assumed), and like any big step it can be an intimidating one. For most homeowners, however, it’s also an investment with a terrific ROI in a whole variety of ways. Additionally, installing an Idaho solar energy system is one of those relatively rare dynamics that’s a time- and money-saver that actively contributes to the world being a better place. And those are only a couple of the benefits of going solar. Monthly Energy Savings That the installation of a solar energy system will typically save a homeowner a considerable amount of money on their power bill is generally the most common reason for going solar. That makes sense, as everyone likes a deal, but just as the process of installing a solar energy system is less of a time and money investment than people often assume, the savings can be more considerable than they would have thought as well. For instance, according to Project...

Winter in Idaho and solar energy may not be concepts that necessarily seem like a natural fit. The disconnect makes sense: it’s cold and the days are shorter, meaning that there’s typically less sun out than during the summer months. However, it turns out that these often pretty harsh Gem State winters may be the perfect time to switch over to solar. That a solar energy system will provide winter savings on energy costs is a virtual certainty. The fact is, sunlight is free and virtually all of the other sources of heat and energy for homes are not. And while there are a number of reasons for going solar in the winter months, beyond solar being a clean and renewable energy source, the one that seems to inspire the most interest in solar is the savings. The money saved on energy bills, however, can be negated when heating efficiency is being lost elsewhere. Which is why investing in solar, be it Twin Falls solar energy or elsewhere in the state, should be just one pie...