The Pros And Cons Of Solar Energy

A lot has changed in the recent years of solar energy. Science has advanced and our understanding of the changing climate has called for more serious efforts in the solar energy market. In 2015, 10% of the energy consumed by Americans was from renewable sources. By 2017 that number was 11%, which is almost nominal. However, half of that renewable energy produces electricity and accounts for 13% of U.S. electricity consumption. Now renewable energy accounts for 17% of U.S. electricity consumption.

What that data dump ultimately means is Americans are generating around the same amount of electricity from renewable energy sources, but utilizing it more efficiently to create electricity.

That being said, there are still some pros and cons you should be aware of if you're looking to start using green energy.

Pros of Using Solar Energy:

• A Sustainable Renewable Resource
• This is the biggest pro because solar energy comes from the sun. This particular resource keeps on giving day after day.
• Generally Cheaper Than Traditional Energy
• In general, green energy services are often cheaper than other forms of energy. Because of up and coming solar farms and community solar energy projects, solar energy is a beneficial option for both you and the environment.
• Tax Credit For Using Solar Energy
• The federal solar tax credit was extended to 2020, giving you more savings for your solar energy.

Cons of Using Solar Energy:

• Can Be Costly To Install
• Though the overall cost of going solar can be a lot cheaper, getting fully installed solar energy panels on your home can cost more at one time than just staying with your current energy utility.
• You May Not Catch A Lot Of Sun 
• You could try to access a community solar farm if you're lucky enough to have one near you. Most likely you will want to install solar panels on your home. If your roof is covered by trees or you just don't catch much sun where you live, you may not be able to actually get solar power.

Green energy services are working every day to make it easier to access solar energy. Recent years have seen updates to important components to solar systems, like batteries which can hold better reserve energy when it's not too cloudy. Combine that with the falling cost of solar energy overall and you have a system where the pros are starting to outweigh the cons.

3 Ways to Save Energy

When it comes to reducing energy use seasonally, many people think summer is the best time when big savings can be seen due to cutting back on things like air conditioning. However, there can be some great opportunities to reduce energy use during the colder months too. With fall finally here, it's important to think about ways to save energy in your home. So let's take a look at a few easy energy saving tips to put into practice this fall.


Use your heat wisely: While it can be tempting to crank up the heat at the first sign of cool weather, it's important to use your heat cautiously. Try to keep your thermostat as low as possible -- it's easy to put on layers and snuggle up in blankets for extra warmth. At the very least, turn the thermostat down while you're away from home or sleeping. Just think about the impact lowering your thermostat can have on the environment. In the colder months, lowering your thermostat just two degrees can reduce 6% of heating-related CO2 emissions, which certainly adds up over time.


Seal any leaks: One of the biggest wastes of energy is when a home has leaks around windows, doors, and in its duct system. When there are leaks, the HVAC system has to work harder to replace the air that is escaping the house, which increases energy use. So before the cold weather arrives, make sure to check all windows, doors, and attic insulation to ensure there are no places where air could escape. Additionally, have your ductwork checked for leaks -- and consider having it cleaned while you're at it.


Unblock registers and radiators: Many homeowners make the mistake of moving furniture in front of heat registers and radiators in hopes of hiding them from sight. However, doing this can decrease the amount of heat that can come out of the systems, forcing the HVAC system to work harder. So next time you're doing some cleaning, make sure your furniture, carpet, and draperies are all away from heat registers and radiators. Additionally, it's important to note that having items in front of radiators and registers can be a hazard, so moving them is a win-win.


It doesn't take a whole lot of effort to reduce energy use at your home. So if you're thinking about conserving energy throughout the colder months, keep these simple energy saving tips in mind.

Stay Warm Without Wasting Energy

With fall finally here and the temperatures starting to drop, you may be wondering how you can reduce your heating bills this year. Being smart about your heating can not only help you save on energy costs, but reduce energy use overall as well. Energy savings are important for both your bank account and the environment, so how can you reduce your energy use? Let's take a look at a few simple energy-saving tips for fall.


Have proper insulation: Even if you are mindful about your heating and cooling system use, that won't matter if your home is not properly insulated. Without proper insulation, heated air can easily escape your home, meaning your HVAC system has to use more energy. This is why insulating your walls and ceilings, especially in your attic, can help save 20% to 30% of home heating bills. Doing this also reduces CO2 emissions by 140 to 2100 pounds each year. So by insulating your home, and maybe even investing in energy saving windows and doors, you can reduce your energy use.


Turn down the thermostat: While it can be tempting to crank up the heat at the first sign of cold weather, it's important to try to resist that temptation. Turning down the heat in your home by even just a few degrees can give you an immense energy use reward. A programmable thermostat can be great too -- it can turn down the heat when no one is home or when you're sleeping so you don't have to worry about manually adjusting it all the time. Sacrificing a few degrees of heat and turning towards some warm blankets instead is something easy that all homeowners can do.


Change your filters: If you notice that your air isn't coming out as strong or as warm as normal, it may be as easy to fix as changing the filter in your HVAC unit. Air filters should be changed every few months, but this is something homeowners often forget about. And when filters aren't changed regularly, they can become clogged with debris. When this happens, your HVAC system has to use more energy to work harder to get the air through. So if you're looking for a simple energy use reward, then change your air filters.


Saving energy at home doesn't have to be hard. Keep these simple tips in mind and you'll stay warm all fall and save some energy too.

Answering Questions About Energy Deregulation

As the world takes major steps towards addressing climate change, the energy market is shifting greatly towards renewable resources. In 2015, hydropower accounted for about 6% of all U.S. electricity generation and 46% of electricity generation from all renewables; this number has continued to climb in recent years. What allows companies to make this shift towards sustainability? Deregulated energy states. Read on to learn more about energy deregulation and what it can mean for renewable energy.

What Does Energy Deregulation Mean?

Energy deregulation allows you to shop for energy providers as you need, giving you a wider variety of options when purchasing your energy. This means that rather than being limited to a single electricity or gas supplier, you are able to select the service that best suits your needs and offers the ideal product for your home or business.

Currently, energy regulation is managed on a state-by-state basis. Some deregulated energy states offer both deregulated gas and electricity, while other deregulated energy states only offer one or the other. Deregulated energy states, however, deregulated they are, allow you further freedom of choice and control over how you access your energy.

Is Deregulation Good For The Environment?

When you have access to energy deregulation, you're better able to control where your energy comes from, both in terms of your energy company as well as the energy source. This allows you to gain your household energy from green energy providers that primarily draw their electricity from renewable resources, such as solar and wind.

Energy deregulation gives you greater access to sustainable sources of energy and also encourages companies to offer more types of renewable energy for their customers to choose from. Because energy companies in deregulated energy states have a greater degree of freedom in products they can offer to their customers, these companies are more likely to expand into renewable energy options, pushing a greater degree of energy consumption to come from sustainable options.

Looking to make the switch to renewable energy for your home or business? Contact Starion Energy for more information on what renewable and sustainable energy options are available for you.

Saving Energy at Home: How to Use Your Thermostat Properly

The way we use energy has changed drastically over time. Just think, wood supplied almost 90% of our energy needs over 150 years ago! Now, people tend to focus more on renewable energy and ways we can reduce energy use. Fortunately, with today's technology, this is easier than ever to do. One technological tool that can help with energy conservation is a thermostat. So let's take a closer look at how thermostats can help save energy when used right.

How Does the Right Thermostat Save Energy?

Most homes are equipped with a thermostat to help keep the indoor temperature nice and comfortable. And while it may be tempting to crank up the heat in the colder months, setting your thermostat back even just a few degrees can reduce heating and cooling costs immensely. Programmable thermostats are something every home should have. It can be difficult to remember to turn down the heat or air when you're sleeping or not home. But with a programmable thermostat, you won't have to remember. You can simply set your thermostat to turn down the heat or AC when you're not home or sleeping and you can easily reduce your energy use. Additionally, you should ensure your thermostat is in a central location in your home. If a thermostat is installed in a poor location, like near a garage, it can misread the temperature. So with the right thermostat, you can save energy at home with ease.

What NOT to Do With Your Thermostat

When using your thermostat, it's important to not make mistakes that could lead you to use more energy than necessary. One big mistake homeowners often make is cranking up their heat or AC because they think that will help them reach their desired temperature quicker. Not only does this not work, but it can actually make your HVAC system run slower and use more energy. So to focus on energy conservation, don't set the temperature too high or too low. Furthermore, you should try to change the thermostat temperature as little as possible. If you constantly change the temperature on your thermostat, you're going to end up using more energy because your HVAC unit will have to stop and start repeatedly.

When it comes to energy conservation, using the right thermostat, and using it correctly, can be a big energy saver. So keep these tips in mind and use your thermostat wisely.

How to Throw an Eco-Friendly Party

Party planning is a task that involves a surprising amount of work -- from sending invitations to choosing amazing decorations, you're sure to put a lot of time and thought into planning parties this summer. But one factor that many party-throwers fail to think about is the environment. Parties can amount to a lot of waste that can be harmful to the environment. So to help you keep your parties eco-friendly this summer, here are a few tips.

Go paperless: Unfortunately, many party aspects involve paper: from the invitations to paper cups and plates, there can be a lot of paper waste after a party is done. But it's quite easy to go the paperless route with your party. Instead of paper invitations, consider e-invites -- these won't waste paper and can actually be more convenient. And when it comes to cups, plates, and silverware, don't choose paper or plastic. Instead, use real cups and plates that can be washed and reused. This way, you won't have a ton of garbage after the party is done and you can feel good about saving some trees. If you do have to use some paper elements, make sure they get recycled properly.

Reduce and reuse decorations: When it comes to decorations, many party planners rely on streamers, balloons, and more decor that can't be reused or has to be thrown out after it's been used. This can amount to having a lot of waste when the party is done. So instead, consider reducing the number of decorations and reusing items you already have. For example, empty wine bottles and other vases can be filled with wildflowers and serve as beautifully simple centerpieces. Or if you don't have party-approved decorations laying around, check out local thrift shops for some second-hand goods that can be used again in the future.

Choose eco-friendly lighting: One of the easiest ways to see a reward for using less energy is choosing energy-efficient lighting. Lighting can use a lot of energy in a home but fortunately, choosing the right lighting is one of the easiest ways to save energy in your home. By doing something as simple as switching to energy-efficient LEDs and halogen incandescent bulbs, homeowners can reduce energy use by about a third up to as much as 80%. So if you're choosing lighting for your summer parties and want some fancy string lights, make sure you're choosing the right type of bulbs. Additionally, you can go for lighting options that don't use any energy, like candles or solar lights. Either way, you'll have the opportunity to have some great party lighting and see a reward for using less energy.

Parties don't have to produce a ton of harmful waste. By following these simple tips, you can feel good that you're helping the environment and seeing a reward for using less energy, all while having an awesome party.

The Undeniable Benefits of Solar Energy

Over the past years, solar energy technology has evolved immensely. More people are using solar energy than ever -- which is a good thing because each year, 75 million barrels of oil are saved by those utilizing solar energy. But despite all the good solar energy and green energy services offer, people still aren't quite sure if solar energy is worth the investment. Well, we're here to tell you that it definitely is, and here are just a few reasons why.

It's good for the environment: This is one of the most obvious benefits of solar energy. As one of the most popular sustainable energy options, solar energy has little to no effect on the environment. This is compared to other non-renewable energy sources, like oil and coal, which emit harmful gases and contribute to global warming. When people decide to use energy from a renewable source, like the sun, they're significantly reducing their carbon footprint and overall impact on the environment. So when you choose to consider green energy services and invest in solar energy, you're doing your part to protect the environment from further harm.

It's affordable: Many people make the mistake of thinking that solar energy is extremely expensive and only the wealthiest of people can afford it. But that's not the case at all. In fact, solar panel systems are more affordable than ever because so many people have started using them. While the upfront cost of installing solar panels may be a little expensive, the money saved on energy costs down the line will outweigh that initial cost. Within a few short years, the system will pay for itself and then continue to help homeowners save money on energy bills for as long as the system is installed.

It's a secure energy source: Unfortunately, the resources we currently depend on to provide us energy will run out eventually. And then what? When we invest our time and energy into using things like coal and oil, we're just buying ourselves time. But that big, fiery ball in the sky? That's not going anywhere. That's one of the many great things about investing in solar energy -- you know you'll never run out of an energy source. Solar panels use next to nothing compared to the amount of energy the sun produces, meaning we'll never run out of energy when we utilize solar energy.

As you can see, there are a number of reasons to invest in solar energy -- and other green energy services as well. With the right services and equipment, you can enjoy clean, inexpensive energy from the sun for years to come.