Solar Power Blog

The History of Renewable Energy Microgeneration (And How it Works)

In the last decade, the rise of microgeneration has helped millions of people around the world access affordable and reliable electricity. While many people may be unaware of their participation, it is safe to say that we are currently in a renewable energy microgeneration revolution.  At Solar Us Shop, the vast majority of our products utilize some form of renewable energy microgeneration. To help bring our customers up to speed with the history and terminology associated with small-scale renewable energy, we’ve developed this complete guide to microgeneration.   Microgeneration Fast FAQs To kick things off right, here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about microgeneration in the 21st century.  What is microgeneration? Microgeneration is defined as...

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The History of Earth Day - And Why You Should Care

Happy Earth Day!  It’s time to wear green, enjoy the outdoors, and talk about the environment. In an era where every day seems to have its own unique holiday (is there anyone else celebrating National German Beer Day tomorrow?), many people do not know enough about the history, legacy, and importance of Earth Day celebrations.  At Solar Us Shop, we have always been strong environmental allies and proudly supply solar and other renewable energy products to help support the modern green revolution. In this article, we outline all of the important things that you should know about Earth Day to help you celebrate and fight for our very worthy planet.   Earth Day Origins After decades of pollution and environmental degradation,...

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Solar Breeze Ariel | Solar Powered Pool Skimmer Full Review

On a nice sunny day, there is nothing better than enjoying an afternoon relaxing at the pool. A clean pool, that is.  When it comes to taking care of your pool’s conditions, natural debris and routine cleanings can be both time-consuming and expensive, which is why people are constantly looking for new ways to decrease the time, energy, and maintenance costs and considerations.  Today, Solar Breeze has released the Ariel, an automatic pool cleaning robot that is designed to keep your water clear of debris using nothing but the power of the sun. With a free source of energy and automatic cleaning, what’s not to like?  What do we think of the Solar Breeze Ariel? We previously mentioned the Solar Breeze...

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Zero Breeze Mark 2 Review: Complete Product Guide

In the heat of the summer, the Zero Breeze Mark 2 makes it possible to cool down anywhere life takes you with completely portable air conditioning. As one of the newest and most exciting products in our shop, we have decided to break down the features and benefits of this handy device in a complete Zero Breeze Mark 2 review.  Solar-us-shop is an environmentally minded retailer of small, energy-related consumer products. Below, we will outline the specifics, pros, and cons of the Zero Breeze Mark 2 to help our readers determine whether or not the product is right for them.   Our Quick Assessment To save you some time and energy, we will get straight to the point: this product is great for those...

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Our Favorite Color is Green!

Solar Us would like to wish you a Happy St. Patrick's Day, and remind you of our goal at promoting sustainability and green energy! This year we added to our pledge of being great stewards of the planet by joining the Green Business Bureau. You can learn more about our pledge here. Becoming "green certified" means much more than providing affordable renewable energy applications for our customers. We are also committed to making our operations as clean and green as possible. This year, we hope to build on this pledge and continue offering great and new products such as complete solar power system kits, outdoor solar landscape lighting, wind turbine generator kits, home battery storage applications, and more! Please be...

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Top 10 Energy Conservation Quotes

Have you ever heard the saying “a dollar saved is a dollar earned”? Well, the same principle applies to the energy that you use throughout your day and lifetime. Every bit of energy (electricity or heat) that you do not use, allows for that same amount to be conserved for another person on the planet.  If you grew up being scolded for leaving the lights on around the house, chances are that you practice a few energy conservation techniques in your day-to-day life. While conserving energy helps reduce your power bill, it will also help lower your carbon footprint when using fossil fuel resources.  With the impending consequences of global warming, energy conservation has become more important than ever on an individual, community, and global level. ...

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Top Ten Quotes about Wind Energy and Windmills

Wind energy is rapidly growing across the world, but many people have been championing its technology for decades. In the 21st century, advances in windmills and electricity infrastructure make wind energy at the forefront of the green revolution, and that’s certainly something to talk about! Solar Us Shop is dedicated to educating the world about the possibilities of sustainable energy. However, we’ve decided to take a step back, and let some of the world’s leading voices explain all of the benefits of modern wind energy. Below, you can see our top ten quotes for wind power.  Quotes About Wind Energy 1. Björk  "Solar power, wind power, the way forward is to collaborate with nature - it's the only way we...

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Do Solar Panels Work in the Winter?

One of the most common questions we get here at Solar Us, is "do solar panels work in the winter?" Or "do solar lights work in the winter?" We touch on this a little on our Solar Power FAQ page, but since we offer so many products relating to these topics, we thought it would be a great idea to do a special piece on the effects of winter on solar power. In this piece, you should leave with the ultimate knowledge on how winter can affect solar panels and solar energy in general. In order to better outline this we are going to separate this out by utility scale solar, residential solar panels, and home solar lighting. Does Winter...

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How to dispose of consumer solar products: A complete guide to responsible recycling and disposal

Small solar-powered products are a great way to go green for your wallet and the planet. But once it reaches the end of its useful life, that doesn't mean the legacy of green needs to end. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your old solar products end up in the circular economy, not the landfill. What are small consumer solar products? Small consumer solar products are becoming increasingly popular. The ability to perform a plethora of functions with nothing but the power of the sun is incredibly convenient and saves money in the long run. Common solar powered consumer products include: Fence post lights Battery charger banks Landscape lights Security lights Small solar panels Other products like...

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Solar Us Shop Becomes Green Business Certified!

Solar Us Shop is now a part of the Green Business Network!

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DIY Wind Turbine Kits: A Guide for Small-Scale Renewable Power

Here at Solar-Us-Shop, we do not discriminate against any energy choices, so long as they are renewable. While solar is in our name (and always in our hearts), we fully support the rapid growth of wind power in the United States.  Of course, we can’t all be the Alta Wind Energy Center, which is the largest wind-energy power plant in the country. Instead, homesteaders, experimentalists, penny-pinchers, and renewable energy enthusiasts have the opportunity to harness wind power with a DIY wind turbine kit.  In this article, we will break down the logistics, cost, and considerations of modern DIY wind turbine kits before recommending a few products for small-scale renewable energy production.  If you cannot find what you are looking for...

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The 10 Best Outdoor Solar Lights of 2021

  With 2020 in the books, it is time to take a look at what we believe to be the 10 best Solar lights for your outdoor space in 2021. At Solar Us Shop, we pride ourselves on the ability to source premium solar lighting. In this comprehensive list, we have picked out some of our best sellers, as well as some new products we are sure you will love!    Our Top Solar Picks   1. Best Overall Solar Lights: Colonial Fence Post Cap Lights To date, the Colonial Solar Powered Fence Post Caps by Classy Caps are one of our top sellers. Get a set of 2 for the low price of $59.99 2. Best Solar Pathway Lights: Nottingham...

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ETFE Solar Panels, PV Technology in Simple Terms

ETFE solar panels are yet another acronym in the fast-moving field of renewable energy. With PV (photovoltaic) technology striving to lower GHGs (greenhouse gases), it can be difficult to stay up to date with the latest innovations in solar energy.  Solar Us Shop is dedicated to breaking down complex renewable energy lingo into simple terms for everyone to understand. In 2021, ETFE solar panels are one of the most commonly searched terms, so we would like to define what they are and put them into perspective with other commonly heard terms.  In this article, we hope to answer any questions you may have about ETFE solar panels and provide a better understanding of how they fit in with today’s technology.   What...

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Biden’s Clean Energy Plan May Usher a Golden Age of Renewable Energy

Biden has laid out the most comprehensive clean energy plan of any president in United States history. And it comes at the eleventh hour: On Biden's first day in office, the world will have 9 years left to prevent the worst consequences of climate change. Biden's Clean Energy Revolution and Environmental Justice plan intends to create a near-zero grid in 15 years, with aggressive economic and justice elements to boot, including: Levy executive action to not only reverse Trump-era policies affecting the environment, but to create even more effective energy and environmental policy: Methane pollution limits for new and existing oil and gas operations Improved fuel economy standards designed to ensure all light and medium duty vehicles eventually reach zero emissions, as...

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Power Packs for Camping: Extra Battery Life in the Outdoors

Providing a little extra charge overnight, power packs for camping make it possible to continuously run electronics in the outdoors. Whether it is your phone, flashlight, or portable speaker, it is always nice to have spare electricity around when car camping or spending the night deep in the backcountry. Solar-Us-Shop makes it easy to bring the power of the sun (and other great renewable energies) to outdoor enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Power packs for camping are one of the most recognizable uses of the technology today, so we’d like to provide this no-nonsense guide for anyone looking to learn more about small portable packs of solar power.  In this article, we will define power packs for camping, explain how they work,...

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