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Working in the Solar Industry in 2023

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work in the solar energy industry?  Well if you aren’t one of the hundreds of thousands of people who are actively doing so in the United States today, exploring a career in solar is now easier than ever before.  Over the last few decades, solar power has experienced massive growth in the US, in terms of both capacity installed and industry size. With a wide variety of roles that support residential, commercial, and utility-scale development, the Solar Energy Industries Association estimated that more than 255,000 Americans worked in solar in 2021. With our eyes set on a sustainable future, in this article, we’ll look all around the solar industry to...

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Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Industry, Sustainable Energy

What is a Microgrid?

  Whether or not you’ve been paying attention to the news in the last decade, you may have heard the term “microgrid,” and not thought twice about what it may mean.  Although microgrids have been around for a long time, public interest in the technology is spiking, largely due to the lowering costs and increased availability of renewable energy generation around the world.  In this high-level guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about microgrids to demonstrate their value and showcase their role in a more sustainable global future.  Defining Microgrids  Compared to the large, interconnected electric utility grids in the United States, “micro” grids are essentially a smaller version of the way that most people receive their power. ...

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Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Sustainable Energy

Community Solar: Renewable Energy for All

Most people can agree that solar energy is a great way to generate emission-free electricity. but unfortunately, personal solar panel installations are not always a viable option. For example, residential solar panels must be installed by homeowners, so renters are often out of luck. Likewise, those that live in an apartment building or on a heavily shaded property lined with large trees may not have enough usable roof space for a cost-effective solar energy system.  That’s where community solar comes in.  At Solar Us Shop, we love all forms of solar, from handheld devices to massive utility-scale arrays. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how community solar works in order to help more people connect with renewable...

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Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Industry, Solar Panels, Sustainable Energy

Solar Air Conditioning: How to Stay Cool with Green Electricity (At Home and On the Go)

  Believe it or not, that glowing ball of fire in the sky that we call “the sun” can actually be used to cool down your home with the right technology.  It’s true: solar-powered air conditioning is a real thing that is happening right now, all over the world – in both small and large-scale applications.   And while heat capture has long been a part of solar-assisted thermal cooling systems, modern photovoltaic (PV) electric solar panel systems can now be used to power every appliance in your home, from the toaster to your air conditioning system.  Solar Air Conditioning for Homes Costing United States residents approximately $29 billion annually, running the air conditioning at home is typically done at the...

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Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Sustainable Energy

Gear up for a Solar Powered Summer

  Aah… the summer. Longer days, warmer weather, and a calendar full of vacations, BBQs, and outdoor get-togethers.  As Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, it's time to begin thinking about what gear you’ll need to make sure that the fun never stops, and at Solar Us Shop, we’d like to encourage our readers to look upward and power this season with solar energy.  Solar Powered Products for Summer 2022 Although the White House called 2021 the “Summer of Solar”, there is no reason to stop while we're ahead. From utility-scale projects to handheld renewable energy devices, solar is everywhere in 2022, and we are thrilled to be along for the ride.  With 12 hours of sunlight on...

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Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Panels, Sustainable Energy

How To Save Energy at Home: 10 Tips

  With gas and electricity prices on the rise, it's never been more important to keep an eye on your energy usage. A few simple changes to your daily routine will not only help you save on your energy bills but will also make your home more sustainable. Need some pointers? Read on for 10 effective ways of saving energy at home.  1. Carry Out a Home Energy Audit Before you start making any significant changes to your everyday habits, it makes sense to carry out a home energy audit. Many companies offer this as a service, but you can undertake an audit yourself with little effort. Inspect your property for things like air leaks that might lead to unwanted...

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Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Panels, Sustainable Energy

Discover the Future of Energy - 7 Types of Renewable Energy

  The world relies heavily on energy for manufacturing, transportation, lighting and heating. Traditionally, most of this energy has been produced by burning coal, oil and natural gas. These sources will run out at some point as we continue to extract them from the earth. As a planet, we need to turn to renewable energy to ensure we all have sufficient power in the future. We must also use energy sources that don’t damage the environment and impair our health. Renewable energy is the answer. What is Renewable Energy? Energy sources that do not deplete when used and replenish themselves infinitely are renewable. This includes sunlight, waves, wind and geothermal heat. By contrast, natural gas, oil and coal (fossil fuels)...

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Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Sustainable Energy, Wind Energy

How the Circular Economy can Support the Push for Sustainable Energy

  With the growing demand for renewable energy sources like solar power, it's easy to forget that the immediate source of energy is not the only area where the environment can suffer. We are increasingly facing supply chain issues and environmental concerns over the resources needed to make sustainable energy sources in the first place.  Much of this issue revolves around rare earth materials which, as the name suggests, are hard to come by, and get harder with every load that is pulled from the earth. Furthermore, there is much concern over the mining practices used to get these materials, specifically with regards to the damage it does to the surrounding environment. A Circular Economy Many of these issues can...

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Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Sustainable Energy, Wind Energy

Celebrate Earth Day with Us!

Celebrate Earth Day with Solar Us Shop April 22nd, 2022 is the 52nd annual celebration of Earth Day – how will you choose to spend it?  As the most widely observed non-religious holiday on the planet, over a billion people are expected to celebrate Earth Day this year, with plenty of environmentally-friendly organized and spontaneous activities to choose from, all over the world.   At Solar Us Shop, we believe that Earth Day is every day, which is why this is our favorite time of the year. To help people get into action and spend their time as effectively as possible, let’s take an inside look at Earth Day 2022, highlight the year's theme, and showcase how everyone can get involved...

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Global Warming, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy

The Top Ten Countries Using Solar Power in 2022

  As the sun revolves around the globe, more and more countries are generating solar power at small and large scales capacities. And in 2022, the decade-long boom of the international solar energy industry continues to grow. With geopolitics and supply chain shortages from the coronavirus pandemic limiting the world’s available resources, PV solar power has the potential to domestically generate tons of electricity, anywhere the sun shines. Below, we’ll take a look at which countries are producing the most solar power in 2022.  Which Countries are Producing the Most Solar Power?  First and foremost, we must start by saying that the amount of solar power capacity is always increasing around the world. While this is an exciting notion to...

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1 comment Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Industry, Sustainable Energy

The Future of Solar Energy in the United States

  The future is solar-powered, or at least that’s what it may look like here in the United States. And while we certainly still have a long way to go (and an enormous amount of red tape to cross) Solar Us Shop is happy to be a part of the renewable energy revolution, primarily powered by the sun, wind, and water.  In this article, we take a look ahead at solar energy’s potentially leading role in the future of United States electricity generation. Our Current Reality In 2020, nearly one-fifth (19.8%) of the electricity generated at a utility-scale level nationwide was powered by renewable energy resources. A slowly rising percentage in the country’s energy portfolio, the top two renewables in...

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Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Industry, Sustainable Energy

How to Heat a House With Solar Panels 

Energy costs are on the rise. The biggest contributor to the average fuel bill is heating. In the northern hemisphere, many of us still rely on energy converted from fossil fuels to provide year-round heating. If you're looking to make your home more sustainable, it's well worth exploring the benefits of solar panel technology.Solar panels are becoming increasingly affordable and easy to install, with many suppliers providing ongoing support for customers. With more products available than ever before, it's simple to find a solar-powered solution to heat just about any home. When properly implemented, solar-powered systems can provide you with all the energy required to meet your heating needs. Choosing the best solar heating solution for your home Thermal solar...

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Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Panels, Sustainable Energy

How is Solar Stored at Home?

  Solar energy is the least expensive form of electricity in human history. It’s clean and efficient. And contrary to what you may have heard, it’s incredibly reliable - as long as the sun exists, solar will continue to be an excellent way of creating electricity.  So why isn’t solar everywhere? It’s hard to store. That’s the main problem with solar energy. The batteries that are currently available can certainly store some electricity - a lot, even - but they can’t store it for very long. That means you can’t rely on solar batteries to carry you through the winter in northern climates. Fortunately, there are other ways of taking advantage of solar power. We’re going to discuss storing solar...

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Battery Powered, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Panels, Sustainable Energy

Environmental Risks that can be Reduced by Renewable Energy

  Since the dawn of time, man has been one with the environment, using its resources to create the best possible life on earth. However, after a few millennia of development, the human race has most recently had the greatest negative effect on the natural environment since the last ice age.  So who is to blame? Although there are plenty of deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, and industrial manufacturing processes that are contributing to the greenhouse effect of rising global temperatures, burning fossil fuels like oil and gas are the absolute main cause of the majority of human impact.  In today’s world, nearly everyone in the United States will admit that renewable energies are considered “green,” whether or not they have a...

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Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy

The Most Exciting New Solar Power Technologies in 2021

  Solar power has always had exciting prospects. When it was first developed in 1954, the idea of gaining electricity from the sun was quite revolutionary. Three or four years later, solar panels were being used to power some of the world's first satellites. It's now becoming commonplace to see solar panels on rooftops. But as 2021 marches on, there are still many more exciting solar technologies to look forward to.   Adaptable Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Not everyone likes the way solar panels affect the appeal of their home. Unfortunately, properties with traditional features can often appear mismatched with this innovative technology. However, BIPV is providing the means of seamlessly integrating solar energy with any home. Solar power roof shingles...

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Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Industry, Solar Panels, Sustainable Energy