Solar for New Construction
Solar for New Construction Building Your Dream Home? Plan Today for Solar. You made the investment. You’re ready to build your forever home with all the touches you dreamed about for so long. Putting solar in your initial blueprints helps you rest easy by securing electricity for your family’s future. Adding solar for your new […]
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?
INFOGRAPHIC: How Many Solar Panels Do I Need? Updated 8/29/2023 Have you ever wondered how many solar panels you would need to power your home? Like people, your home is unique. Even when two homes appear similar, they may have completely different energy needs and preferences. Solar is about more than just the panels, it’s […]
The Illinois Solar Battery Rebate
The Illinois Solar Battery Rebate Updated December 14, 2022 What is the Illinois Solar Battery Storage Rebate? Thanks to the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, any home or business located within Ameren Illinois or ComEd utility service territory can take advantage of solar battery storage rebates. These rebates can significantly reduce the cost of […]
VIDEO: How Does Solar Work for Your Home?
Just like photosynthesis captures the power of the sun to grow plants, a solar photovoltaic (PV) system captures the power of the sun for our energy use. Solar power provides a maintenance-free solution to your energy needs, reducing your utility bill, gaining you energy independence, and contributing to clean energy in our region. […]
VIDEO: How is Your Solar Array Designed?
Watch the demo video, featuring StraightUp Solar’s Project Developer “Professor Ky the Solar Guy” as he creates a custom rooftop solar array design for a residential home using Helioscope. Custom solar layouts are included in every proposal (at no cost!). This is just a small part of the solar process. Learn about the […]
3 Ways to Turn Your Energy Expenses Into Cash Flow Generators
By Dan Hancock, Senior Commercial Project Developer, StraightUp Solar Small businesses in the U.S. spend $60 billion a year on energy (U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR), and these expenses rise as reliably as the sun. However, business leaders can choose to turn their energy costs into cash generators. Now is a good time to look at […]
What is the difference between a kW and a kWh?
When you start researching solar panels for your home or business you start seeing kW and kWh everywhere, but what do they mean?!?! The Kilowatt (kW) Power is measured in watts, and kilo means a thousand. So a kilowatt is 1000 watts. For example, let’s say you have a 60 watt incandescent lightbulb, it […]
How fast do solar panels degrade?
Like all electrical devices, solar panels degrade over time. Climate, use, and maintenance alter their life expectancy. Remarkably, solar panels degrade slowly and require little to no maintenance. Panels in extreme climates degrade faster than panels in moderate conditions. In very cold environments, panels subjected to snow and heavy winds degrade the most. Panels can […]
What are the Various Components Affecting an Individual Solar Project’s Cost?
“How much does solar cost?” It is a question we get all the time. The short answer is that it varies. Solar arrays are tailored to fit each individual project and depend on answers to questions like: Would you like a roof mounted system, or a ground mounted system? How many solar panels do you […]
Roof Mounted or Ground Mounted System? That is the question.
Have you been looking into solar and cannot decide whether you want a ground-mounted system or a roof-mounted system? Here’s what you should consider when choosing between array types. 1) Typically roof-mounted arrays are cheaper overall, but if there are many obstructions (dormers, vents, etc) or many roof faces, a ground-mount may be less. For large arrays […]
