Ever considered utilizing solar energy in your Maryland home? If not, you might give it a glance. Not only is solar energy tech really quite cool, it boasts some unique benefits as well. But, of course, like any decision you make about the home, it all really boils down to its effectiveness, and possibly more importantly, the cost.

At Kolb Electric, we want to bring you all of the latest information and tech! Our team is excited about the advent of solar energy, and sharing what we know is just part of the superior service we provide.

When being used? Practically nothing, aside from maintenance. For solar energy, it’s all about the installation. While solar power isn’t exactly a new thing, implementing it in a larger capacity in United States homes kind of is. In a mainstream sense, at least. Preppers, ingenuitive farmers, and tech nerds have been using it for years.

So, as a reasonably newer need, solar tech installation, such as panels and solar-supported equipment are understandably rather expensive. Assume your home uses the US average amount of electricity (between 600 and 800 kWh) per month. With this estimate, assume you’re wanting you fully solar your home.

You’d be looking at anywhere between $20,000 to $40,000. Do understand that this is a very broad estimate, as individual factors about your home can lower or raise that drastically. There is an endless number of variables involved here, including how much power you want, how large your home is, your solar energy needs, etc.

You would also have to take into account maintenance, as solar equipment will require very specialised training and tools to keep working at maximum potential. Bottom line, how much does solar energy cost? Next to nothing, if anything at all. The equipment, on the other hand, we…it’s an investment.

But Is Solar Energy Worth It in Washington, DC?

Above is a map of average energy savings in the US, courtesy of Energysage.

Depending on exactly how you’re going to utilize the solar power, probably yes. Especially (and almost exclusively) if you intend to make your current home permanent. As in you plan on staying there for fifteen, twenty years. To find more exact answers and suss out whether solar power might be something you’re interested, we would highly recommend consulting an energy specialist.

Need superior electrical services in Maryland, DC, or Virginia? Contact Kolb today!

One of the limitations of some grid-tied photovoltaic systems is that the owner will only benefit as long as there is sunlight while the grid is functioning. Otherwise, if there is an outage, they may not even use the energy they are generating from the rooftop. During such times when the grid is disconnected, the owner can neither use the rooftop solar nor export the energy to the grid.

Owners of PV systems without backup functionalities can upgrade by adding AC coupling. This enables them to store energy and use it anytime, including during emergencies and grid outages. The AC coupling converts a simple grid-tied system into a Grid/hybrid or grid interactive system. This provides grid-ties savings whenever the grid is up and running, and off-grid independence, as well as security when there is a utility outage.

The main components of AC coupling include an energy storage system, a grid-interactive inverter/charger, a coupling device and the second panel with additional wiring for the critical loads to supply during outages.

Battery storage enables better power management by providing a number of benefits which include:

How many times have you looked at your electric bill and felt “dizzy”? Solar Energy For Residential applications can provide an incredible relief from this monthly occurrence. Costs for photovoltaic cells, also known as solar panels, have drastically decreased over the years making Solar Energy For Residential applications a much more viable solution. Now your Renewable Energy Electrician, ElectricMan Inc. is offering a solution that will be incredibly valuable for homeowners.

In conjunction with the Indoor Generator, which allows you to store your own produced energy and program it to use that electricity when you want it, whether it be in an emergency or to avoid peak usage charges, highly cost effective solar panels can be installed in areas that you may not have thought were possible. Whether you want a solar panel that is easily portable and storable, like these collapsible solar panels, a small solar panel for condos or apartments, or if you have room on your roof for stationary solar panels, Solar Energy For Residential applications can be flexible to nearly any situation.

Not only will solar energy lower electric bills, but it also allows you to do your part in reducing your carbon footprint on the environment, and start producing your own green renewable energy, increase your home’s value with its own electrical independence, and even start profiting by selling surplus energy back to the electric company depending on the application. Your children and your children’s children will appreciate the steps that you have taken to improve the environment that they will live in.

Another incredible value is the tax credit that the government has created for homeowners who install renewable energy solutions in their homes! The government is putting such an emphasis on green energy solutions, that if you install a system like Solar Energy For Residential applications, or any other renewable energy source in your home, the entire system is eligible for a 30% federal tax credit, making this solution even more cost effective than ever before. To be eligible for this tax credit, the system must be installed before December 31, 2016, but why wait?

You can start declaring your electrical independence now by contacting your local, Renewable Energy Electrician, ElectricMan Inc. to discuss Solar Energy For Residential applications. Visit our website at www.electricmaninc.com or call us at 972-792-7270!

Come check out our booth at The Iowa Home Show January 15-17 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds! Featuring on Saturday country music artist Matt Snook!  And seminars with Design Star Winner Jennifer Bertrand both Saturday and Sunday!  You will also be able to tour 2 complete homes!  Custom Electrical Services at The Iowa Home Show!  Friday 1-7 , Saturday 10-7 , Sunday 11-4.

Please come out and see all the vendors and stop at the Custom Electrical Services booth.  Custom Electrical Services at the Iowa Home Show will have a variety items on display.  Check out the latest LED options for your home.  Inquire about a whole house backup generator.  Upgrade some electrical devices and more!  Please print the coupon photo and enjoy a complementary buy 1 get 1 free entry coupon!

Of course you will want to check out the Custom Electrical Services booth at The Iowa Home Show, there will also be a large variety of vendors. Ranging from general contractors, remodeling contractors, flooring and tile vendors, countertop vendors and more!  If you coming for ideas, trying to find a contractor, or just looking for something to do.  Please come out and say hi!

Electronics are some of the most expensive investments in any home. So how can you be sure you’re safely protecting them from electrical surges? With a whole-home surge protector, you can rest easy that all of your electronics and appliances are protected in the event of a lightning strike or electrical surge.

A whole-home surge protector is installed in your main electrical panel in order to cut off potential electrical surges from flowing into your home’s internal wiring. Whole-home surge protectors can protect up to 40,000 amps of current flowing into your home. When an electrical surge takes place, the device detects the excess energy and safely diverts the surge through the home’s grounding path. This will protect your home from:

This provides an easy, catch-all system that ensures every plug in your home is safe from a surge. Never have to worry about plugging your expensive electronics into standard plug-in surge protectors.

According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, the Maryland/Virginia/Washington, DC area is considered at moderate risk for lightning strikes. These, along with other powerful weather events, are strong enough to fry both large and small electronics, including:

By investing in full-home surge protectors, you save yourself the risk of potentially paying thousands to replace your expensive electronic devices and appliances. Don’t suffer later when you can prevent damage up-front!

It is important that typically, it is recommended that you double protect against electric damage by also using standard wall surge protectors. This will make sure that no matter how strong the electrical surge is that hits your home, your valuable electronics will stay safe.

Everyone from the National Fire Protection Association to the Institute for Business and Home Safety recommends the use of whole-house surge protection. Fortunately, great whole-home surge protection is available and affordable! For maximum protection, you’ll want to install a whole-home surge protector at the circuit breaker box and supplement it with smaller surge protectors on individual outlets. A whole-house surge protector can protect your home from up to 40,000 amps of current (normal household power is between 200 to 300 amps). When something like a lightning strike causes such a surge, the surge protector detects the excess current and safely diverts it through the house’s grounding path. Whole-house surge protection provides homeowners in MD, DC, and VA peace of mind when a powerful thunderstorm passes the area.

Kolbe Electric’s electrician team can easily install a top-of-the-line surge protector with ease. Our whole-house surge protectors usually come with lifetime warranties and added protections for possible losses. This means your electronics are double-protected against future loss due to electrical surge! Call Kolb Electric today to learn more about our whole-house surge suppressors for your Maryland, Washington, DC, or Virginia home.