Longhorn Solar Blog

Is now a good time to finance solar for your home?

If you’ve been contemplating the purchase of a solar panel system for your home using solar financing, is now a good time to explore your options? In this post, we take a closer look at the Fed’s interest rate cut and how it could affect financing in the booming Texas solar market. Residential solar offers Texans a multitude of benefits. Aside from reducing utility costs, solar can boost the value of your home, keep the lights on during power outages (when paired with battery backup), and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment. Now, with the expected decline in lending interest rates, [...]

Is now a good time to finance solar for your home?2024-10-01T21:50:57+00:00

Four Ways to Protect Your Home Against Solar ‘Bad Actors’

Going solar in Texas is a great investment – saving on electricity bills and reducing your carbon footprint. But it's important to be cautious and informed to avoid scams and make the best decision for your home. The rising incidence of fraud and bankruptcies in solar is well documented. One-star ratings on Solar Reviews have increased more than 1,000% since 2018. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has even gone so far as to issue a consumer advisory about the pitfalls of solar loans and finance schemes. Just last week, SunPower – one of the largest and oldest solar technology companies in [...]

Four Ways to Protect Your Home Against Solar ‘Bad Actors’2024-08-23T04:04:59+00:00

New Braunfels Homeowner Prevents Power Outages and Saves with Solar and Battery Backup

For most people, installing a rooftop solar system might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience – usually, that’s all it takes. Solar energy systems last 25 years or longer and with regular maintenance they’ll often churn out power for another 25. But Robert B of New Braunfels, TX, is now on his fourth solar system, his first from Longhorn Solar. Robert and his wife have moved around a lot, and everywhere they go, their home is powered by the sun.  After several years living everywhere from Hawaii to Florida, the couple settled down in beautiful New Braunfels, Texas. Their back porch looks out [...]

New Braunfels Homeowner Prevents Power Outages and Saves with Solar and Battery Backup2024-08-05T03:42:01+00:00

Hurricanes and Solar: Can Battery Backup Power Through the Storm?

At the peak of the Hurricane Beryl power outage, more than 2 million Houston-area residents struggled to get by in the sweltering summer heat without electricity. The delayed restoration of power — still not complete — highlights the advantages of having rooftop solar power paired with battery storage. Those equipped with their own power generation and backup systems were able to weather the hurricane and its aftermath with some degree of normalcy. Hurricane Beryl caused extensive storm damage throughout the Houston area. Photo: Meridith Kohut/NY Times Solar panels aren’t immune to storm damage, of course, but they’re built to [...]

Hurricanes and Solar: Can Battery Backup Power Through the Storm?2024-07-18T01:23:24+00:00

Harnessing Solar Power for Rural Businesses in Texas

Rural communities and agricultural industries in Texas are at the forefront of an energy revolution. Two pivotal factors are driving this change: the lower cost of installing renewable energy and the expanded Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The ability to greatly reduce energy costs while also promoting environmental stewardship, economic growth and energy independence across Texas is causing many rural businesses – Hill Country wineries and breweries in particular – to take a new look at going solar.  The Rise of Solar Energy for Texas Wineries and Breweries Red Rock Vineyards, Red Rock, Texas In the world of [...]

Harnessing Solar Power for Rural Businesses in Texas2024-07-09T22:25:35+00:00

Texans Prepare for Extreme Heat with Solar + Battery Backup

It’s not your imagination: It’s really hot out there. Texans are experiencing a heat wave the likes of which we haven’t seen since, believe it or not – ever. Not surprisingly, we are not alone, as the entire country and especially the Southwest is in the grips of dangerously hot conditions. Whether or not you already have solar panels on your roof, the question is, how can you prepare for the worst? First, the weather stats May 2024 was earth’s 12th hottest month in a row, making 2024 the hottest on record since records were first recorded in 1850, according to [...]

Texans Prepare for Extreme Heat with Solar + Battery Backup2024-06-11T21:54:53+00:00

Tesla’s VPP Pays Texans for Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition

If you’ve been frustrated by the number of utility texts and emails you receive every time the mercury spikes, there’s a solution: the Tesla Virtual Power Plant (VPP). Tesla’s VPP program gives energy consumers in deregulated areas in Texas the opportunity to help stabilize the grid. And for the first time, Texas consumers get paid  for accelerating the transition of the ERCOT power grid to renewable energy. So, what’s a Virtual Power Plant?  In a nutshell, a Virtual Power Plant is a network of decentralized energy resources, seamlessly connected to form a unified, intelligent energy ecosystem. In this case, the Tesla [...]

Tesla’s VPP Pays Texans for Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition2024-05-14T18:43:35+00:00

Green Mortgages: Financing Solar for New Homes

Did you know solar panels can be included in a new home loan in Texas? Here’s how. New homes today are often built from the ground up to be more energy efficient, particularly those that are ENERGY-STAR certified. With the addition of solar on a new home, homeowners can eliminate their electric bill altogether while doing their part to reduce carbon emissions associated with conventional energy sources.  Builders who offer solar panels as an option on a new home are on the leading edge of a nationwide trend to build net-zero homes. Net zero homes are just like any other home—except [...]

Green Mortgages: Financing Solar for New Homes2024-03-26T21:48:29+00:00

Seven Myths About Residential Solar: Separating Fact from Fiction

Texans are increasingly choosing to go solar as a way to both reduce electricity costs and protect their homes from grid instability. A residential solar system is a great way to hedge against rising utility bills, and when paired with battery backup can provide energy independence during our hot Texas summers and increasingly unpredictable winters.  But despite the growing popularity of solar, several myths and misconceptions persist. In this blog, we aim to debunk some of these common myths and shed some light on the truth behind residential solar energy. Myth #1: Solar Panels Are Only for Green Consumers One pervasive [...]

Seven Myths About Residential Solar: Separating Fact from Fiction2024-03-13T19:04:15+00:00

VIDEO: Solar FAQs for Homebuilders in Texas

Homebuilders have a lot on their plate. Why should they add solar to the list? If you've been considering adding a solar option to your home designs, you may have questions. Meet Juan Facundo, manager of our homebuilders program at Longhorn Solar. Juan has years of experience in construction and solar and can answer any question you have. In this educational video, he answers three of the top questions for homebuilders in Texas: Why should builders include solar in their new homes in Texas? What is the solar installation process like for homebuilders? Why choose Longhorn as your solar partner? [...]

VIDEO: Solar FAQs for Homebuilders in Texas2024-03-06T19:38:44+00:00
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