Renewable Energy Archives

Questions to Ask about a Solar Powered Generator

September 9, 2019GENTECH-QARenewable Energy

First things first; a solar generator uses energy from the sun to produce voltage. You are going to feel pretty confident about installing a solar-powered generator in your home. After all, a lot of people already do it so there is nothing wrong with doing it too, correct? It would feel great to give in to what is trending. However, you need to focus on whether or not the current circumstances will fit it. Besides, you must check out a number of factors so you can decide whether a generator will fit your home. Your home may be located in the middle of the dessert but keep in mind the generator will depend on the sun a lot. If it shows up often then you are in good hands. However, if it rarely shows up then you may be in trouble. Besides, the weather is one thing that will definitely affect the performance of the product. It is not enough to check out what the weather guy has to say each day though. After all, you should already know the seasons in your area. It is one thing to be prepared and it is a totally different thing to be knowledgeable about what usually happens in your area. Here are a few questions you must ask the manufacturer before actually thinking about buying it:

How much does it cost?

A generator that is powered by solar usually costs a lot of money. It is known to be one of its cons. Thus, those who are careful about spending their hard-earned cash will think twice about buying this product. There are some companies that accept credit card payments through which means you have several months to pay for it. Of course, that would depend on the person as some people don’t really like having a long-term debt. It would be better for them to pay it in a one-time payment. Its price may make you think about buying a second-hand generator instead. Keep in mind it is a different feeling though compared to buying a brand new one.

Will you install it?

Installing the item is a task easier said than done. Besides, a generator is pretty bulky and there are a lot of wires involved. Thus, it would be better to ask the manufacturer if they will also be the one to install it. If they won’t do that then you will need to find someone who will. It is definitely not going to be easy to do so as you may need to employ the services of a local handyman. Good thing, some manufacturers already install it as part of the actual price. You may do yourself a favor if you let them install it since that would be one less thing to worry about. Also, you are going to learn something new when you install it yourself. However, it is not like you will do it again. You’re not working for a solar-powered generator manufacturing company anyway so why would you want to learn to install it?

electric generator 380x380 - Questions to Ask about a Solar Powered Generator

Will you deliver it?

This would probably depend on their location. They may certainly agree to that if they are located just a few blocks away. Of course, it would be a whole new different story if they are located hundreds of miles away. They may charge a delivery fee if that is the case so you may want to compute the costs if it would be cheaper if you can just pick it up. If you have a motorcycle and another fellow willing to help out in carrying it, why not do it yourself? That will definitely encourage you in installing it yourself even though you may need to research a lot for that. If the effort is a bit too much, it may be better to just pay them the delivery charge.

What are the features?

You would want to know what you are going to get out of the generator. There are a lot of people who are not familiar with generators being powered by solar. They may not know what that means and if you are one of them then you must ask immediately. All generators have their own features that would set them apart from the rest of the competition. Besides, why would a manufacturer make a product that is almost the same as another manufacturer’s product but slightly cheaper? It would be a no-brainer when a buyer finds out the reputation of both companies.

Is there a warranty?

solar generation diagram - Questions to Ask about a Solar Powered Generator

Perhaps, the most important question of them all is whether there is a warranty or not. If there is a warranty, then the next question you must immediately ask is how long the warranty is. There is no doubt you will be confident of the generator’s performance if it has a long warranty. That means the manufacturer is very confident of the people who put the product together. In addition, they are also confident of the materials they used. If they spent a lot of money for that, you have to believe they used the best ones available. They believed it would not make any sense with wasting time taking on secondhand products. Besides, those things may not last long. There is a reason why you should never lose the warranty card. You must place it somewhere safe so you won’t lose it in the future. It is pretty important because they will disregard the warranty without it.

After you got the answers to all the above questions, you’re now going to look at where you can buy one. Good thing, there are many companies that sell this item so you are not going to have a hard time finding one. In fact, you can Google the related words online and it won’t be long before you find a few companies. Better check out the testimonials of each company so you will make the right choice. Besides, you would not want to regret making your choice when you have already bought the product. By that time, it would already be too late.

Going Solar: 7 Things an Energy Firm Should Let You Know

June 12, 2019GENTECH-QAEnergy Firms, Renewable Energy

Solar energy is just one of the few sources of renewable energy. The use of it is most common in households as it can be installed without having to make drastic changes in your home.

However, before you hire a firm to do the work, you need to make sure that you know them well and they have oriented you with the following things, or else, you have to change firms because you can never trust a company that wouldn’t comprehensively discuss to you what you need to know.

Roofing’s Sun Accessibility

Remember that a solar energy’s source is from the sun thus the need for it to be exposed to a high volume of heat. Also, think about how your neighbourhood will involve in the future. Will there be a chance that buildings will be situated there that would hinder that access? And before we forget, make sure that your roof is ready to support the weight of the panels.

Cut-off Electricity Usage

The amount of electricity that a solar panel can give off will depend on the number of panels that will be installed. One solar panel roughly produces 30kWh for a month which would mean that if you consume 600kWh in a month, you need to 20 panels to give off the required energy to support your regular activities. If you don’t have the finances to buy that many panels, then you will have to lower your consumption every time you shift to solar energy.

Appropriate for Your Home

Two of the most popular solar technologies are photovoltaic and thermal. In order to save more, your energy firm must explain to you which technology would work best in your area.

Reliability of the Installer

Whether in-house or not, you must be aware of the qualification of the people who will install these panels. We are dealing with electricity here and one wrong move could cause everything. Make sure that the installer is accredited or has a board certification which states that they can practice.

Leasing vs Buying

Make your firm elaborate on the advantages and disadvantages of each option. To provide you with an idea, leasing might provide cheaper electricity but the firm has the choice of revoking the equipment after the agreement; on the other hand, buying it will mean an initial hefty outlay of cash but its usability will not be subject to the will of the firm.

Contract Details

Before agreeing and signing to anything, you must dig-in on the important parts of the contract. Of course, in contract signing, firms tend to let their clients read the entire contract and when you agree, you sign.

That’s fine, but, if there are things that you don’t understand make sure that you ask the firm so that you won’t be caught off-guard in the future.

If this has made you more interested in going green and shifting to renewable energy, contact a local servicing firm now but don’t forget about the things that are mentioned above.

The Perks and Downsides of Using Renewable Energy

April 13, 2019GENTECH-QARenewable Energy

A lot of talks is happening with regards to the topic of shifting towards the usage of renewable energy. As someone who has been used to nonrenewable sources, this might be one of the biggest decisions that you will be making.

In order to shed light, we have combined the perks and downsides of using renewable energy to help you organize your thoughts, weigh your options, and come up with a logical decision.

Perks

The first thing that makes renewable energy very attractive is the fact that its sources do not perish and on top of it, being free to use. Supply of nonrenewable resources would look like there’s more where it came from but that’s not really the case. It is called nonrenewable because it is unlikely for it to produce more once it has been used. Sooner or later, it will all be consumed and there’s nothing left for us to use but the alternative sources of energy.

Another thing that makes using renewable energy great is its low carbon emissions. This means that it produces fewer greenhouse gases, one which affects biosphere and causes the greenhouse effect, and is, therefore, safer to use for the environment as compared to the use of petroleum, coal, and other sources which emits high-carbon economy.

Furthermore, it costs less if compared to consuming the local electrical supply. Again, this supply is non-renewable and is dependent on the price of crude oil. Once the world market sees that their supply is getting smaller and smaller by the day, they will jack up the price and in return will lead to soaring electrical bills.

Lastly, there are government policies which allow various tax incentives for people who are deciding to go green. This means that you will pay lesser taxes and that will equal to more savings for you.

Downsides

Even though we have stated how one could save by choosing to have an alternative source of energy, you will still need to invest a somewhat large amount of money in order to have it installed. Although you don’t have to worry because this expense will only occur during the initial phase, after that, it will be saved after savings.

Energy sources like solar and wind can only be used on specific hours and places. Since a solar panel requires the heat of the sun to generate electricity, it can’t be used during the night and while it is raining. On the other hand, wind energy cannot be generated unless you have strong winds so you will have to find a place that would be suitable for it.

And most of all, the changes that will be brought about by choosing renewable sources of energy could greatly affect the natural flow of wildlife if not planned carefully. Animals only have their instincts to trust and if we disturb it, they might not know what to do in order to survive anymore.

In every decision you make, the existence of its advantages and disadvantages must be made known. A sound decision should have undergone weighing of all the good and the bad. If you feel like there are more things that you need to know about renewable sources of energy, feel free to contact any servicing firms to guide you in making the right call.

5 Sources of Servicing Firms for Renewable Energy

March 11, 2019GENTECH-QAEnergy Firms, Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is a kind of energy that is produced by non-depleting sources. As far as we are concerned, most of the energy that is currently used comes from non-renewable sources, thus, the possibility of it being exhausted in the future.

Before you start thinking about shifting towards alternative energy, you may want to know what its sources are so that you can evaluate which of it you should use.

Solar

Probably the most common source of energy which is presented by energy firms. Its power comes from the sun which just proves the notion that this source of energy will never perish. Solar panels have already gained popularity and are mostly used by households.

Wind

Although it might seem to be easy to get some wind, it is not advisable to use it for households as compared to solar. But on a brighter note, farms usually use this source in order to generate electricity and pump water.

Geothermal Energy

There are two aspects of this energy. The first one is its ability to generate electricity and the other is to regulate temperature. Geothermal is not a very popular way to produce electricity as there are only certain areas that can produce such massive heat which is a requirement for such generation.

Biomass

This energy comes from plants. Recently, biofuels like ethanol and diesel have been created in order to power-up service vehicles.

Hydroelectric Energy

This is another common source of electricity. However, it is mostly used on a wider scale. Some cities in other countries use hydroelectric energy to provide electricity in their vicinity.

Of course, there are still a few sources that haven’t been discussed here and we do recommend that once you decide to hire an energy firm, you need to ask them about things that aren’t clear to you. Always remember that you have to be as inquisitive as possible to ensure that you will not be making any mistakes in your decision.

5 Qualities to Look for in Renewable Energy Firms

March 2, 2019GENTECH-QAEnergy Firms, Renewable Energy

Due to our inclination to technology, our household is swamped with items that need electrical energy in order to function. With this, most of our electrical bills have, since then, shot up. This is the reason why a lot of energy firms are offering their clients with renewable energy option.

However, since this industry has started gaining momentum, it is quite easy to get lost in the moment especially when they start talking about the perks of having a renewable source to power-up your area.

This is the reason why we will be providing you with the top five (5) qualities that you need to look for before committing to a firm.

Experience and Certifications

In order to provide you with the best service, you need a firm that has experience both renewable and nonrenewable energy. In this case, it will be easier for them to give out suggestions and illustrate the situation and impart a better understanding to you. Certificates are used as a hard-proof of their qualification.

Commitment

Find a company that doesn’t just promise but actually do something. You may not believe this but there are quite a lot of companies that usually over advertise the kind of service that they can provide but couldn’t really deliver.

In order for you to have an assurance, read reviews or ask people about the performance of the company you are eyeing on. This way, you’ll be able to gather actual results and assess whether they are a good fit for you.

Can Communicate

What’s the point of having all of those experience if they can’t communicate with their clients well? A good firm must be able to tell you exactly the perks and the downside of the choices that they present to you because your decision strongly relies on that.

In addition, it is needed for them to answer all your questions, especially when renewable energy is new to you, to provide you with a better understanding and develop a fresh perspective.

Accepts Criticisms

We are all human, thus, we are prone to committing mistakes. A good company will accept their errors and just choose to learn from it instead of trying to cover it and deny what they have done. Make sure that when you are talking to their clients, you won’t forget to ask this.

Rate of Service

It is not just about comparing one company’s price to another, it is more than that. If you are going to compare rates, you have to also consider the value of the output that you are going to get in return.

Sometimes, a good quality service requires an outflow of a hefty amount and vice versa. Again, this is not always the case, it can vary from one option to another which is why you need to be very careful in choosing.

All of these qualities can be assessed through thorough research and study. Don’t just settle for what is readily given, think bigger, deeper, and never settle for less than what you deserve.

Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Shift to Renewable Energy

February 23, 2019GENTECH-QAConsultations, Renewable Energy

Most of the world uses non-renewable energy such as petroleum, coal and natural gas which at the moment might seem to be abundant, and to be honest, it is much more affordable.

On the other hand, renewable energy is an energy that can easily be replaced by wind and sun. With this blog, we will be providing you with reasons as to why it is more logical to invest in renewable energy now.

Cost-Saving

You may have read above that non-renewable energy are affordable as compared to other sources but what we’re pertaining to, here, is the cost that you will save in the long run.

Once you choose to shift to an alternative source of energy you will surely need to invest quite the sum, but after that, you will be able to pay less for the energy you need because of how readily available the sources are.

It Will Never Run Out

Again, since we are talking about renewable energy, the source of energy will continue to exist no matter how long. This is the reason why it is a great idea to invest in it now, instead of later.

Keep in mind that once our current source of energy runs out, everyone will turn to an alternative source of energy and a possible price hike would eventually happen.

Safe for the Environment

Since renewable energy gives off little to no waste products, its effect on the environment is minimized. As compared to non-renewable energy sources, where we need to mine – in the case of digging up fossil fuels, and could potentially destroy a large part of the area being mined and even those areas near it due to the chemicals used. It is undeniably safer to use an alternative source of energy.

If you want to know more, there are energy firms that offer consultation with regards to managing your energy. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and ensure a brighter future.