Longhorn Solar Blog

Top 10 Tips for Lowering Home Energy Costs in Texas

Making the decision to install a solar system on your home is one of the best ways to reduce your overall energy costs in Texas. But with the summer we had, even with a solar system your utility bill may be higher than you expected. What can you do to maximize your savings and lower your energy costs even further? You don’t have to live in the dark. Here are our top 10 tips for optimizing your savings on energy: 1. Monitor Your Energy Usage. As the saying goes, you can’t manage what you don’t measure. Tracking your electricity consumption with [...]

Top 10 Tips for Lowering Home Energy Costs in Texas2024-01-31T15:32:11+00:00

Are You Ready for the Next Texas Grid Failure?

As the summer months continue, residents and businesses in Texas brace themselves for the possibility of yet another energy crisis.  The Texas grid has a history of struggles during hot and cold seasons, leaving millions without power during critical moments.  This article delves into the challenges the grid faces, the recurring issues with reliability, and the ways in which solar energy plus backup battery storage emerges as a dependable alternative to safeguard against future failures. The Texas grid has faced several challenges over the years, leading to severe disruptions in power supply. The most notable and catastrophic event occurred in February [...]

Are You Ready for the Next Texas Grid Failure?2024-01-31T15:36:07+00:00

Don’t Pay the Price for Hot Summer Temps

As the summer temperatures ramp up, Texas residents start to see their energy bill climb rapidly as well. A common question we get in the summer is, “How does solar save money on an electric bill?”  To answer this question we need to start with the basics and explain how a solar system works.   From Sunlight To Power First, the sun has to hit the solar panels. Next, the panels turn the sun into Direct Current (DC) electricity.  This electricity flows to an inverter which changes the electricity to Alternating Current (AC), which is what most things run on in your [...]

Don’t Pay the Price for Hot Summer Temps2024-01-31T15:37:19+00:00

Solar FAQ: How Much Solar Do I Need?

We get this question a lot, and there's no easy answer.  How much energy your home or business consumes has to do with several factors, including: How many people live in your home and how often are they there? Do you have children living in the home (they're MASSIVE energy suckers). How comfortable to you like to keep your home?  Do you run the AC at 72 at night, or 75?  76 during the day or 82? Do you and/or your spouse work from home? How energy efficient is your home? How old is your HVAC system and what is the [...]

Solar FAQ: How Much Solar Do I Need?2024-03-07T21:54:52+00:00

Lower Your Energy Bill: A Guide to Switching from Traditional Energy to Solar

In our last blog post, we discussed the benefits of going solar and how it can help you save money and contribute to a cleaner environment. This month, we're diving deeper into the process of switching from traditional energy to solar power. We'll guide you through what you need to know before your energy contract renewal, the differences in rates, the potential savings, and the overall process. So, let's get started! Step 1: Research Your Options Before Energy Contract Renewal Before your energy contract is up for renewal, it's essential to explore all available options to ensure you make the best [...]

Lower Your Energy Bill: A Guide to Switching from Traditional Energy to Solar2024-01-31T15:42:33+00:00

Why Go Solar: The Financial Benefits of Solar Energy

Are you tired of paying high energy bills every month? Do you want to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment? If so, it's time to consider going solar. Solar energy is a clean, renewable source of energy that can power your home or business with sunlight. But the benefits of solar energy go beyond environmental responsibility. By going solar, you can save money on your energy bills and enjoy a steady, lower rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity. The Rising Cost of Energy Bills Energy bills have been on the rise for years, and the trend shows no signs [...]

Why Go Solar: The Financial Benefits of Solar Energy2024-01-31T15:43:36+00:00

The Benefits of Having a Battery Backup for Solar Panels in Central Texas

Central Texas may be known for its blistering hot summers, but it can also experience severe weather conditions such as power outages during winter storms. If you have solar panels installed on your home, having a battery backup system can ensure that you have a reliable source of energy during these outages. At Longhorn Solar, we are happy to offer Tesla Powerwall and the Qcells Q.Home Core if you are interested in a battery backup. Keep reading to learn more about the top benefits of having a battery backup for solar panels in Central Texas. You can also learn more [...]

The Benefits of Having a Battery Backup for Solar Panels in Central Texas2024-01-31T15:44:43+00:00

Generators vs. Home Battery Storage for Winter

Texans are still reeling from the 2021 February freeze, which left 4.5 million Texas homes without power and led to statewide heating, food, and water shortages. In addition to those shortages, burst pipes and other weak infrastructure lead to flooding and extensive property damage, including a massive number of pollutants being released into the atmosphere from the stopping and restarting of the fossil fuel infrastructure.   It was a disaster. With summer to our backs and winter not far ahead, the trauma of the crisis is leading Texans to start preparing now for potential outages in the future.  Gas Generators for Texas [...]

Generators vs. Home Battery Storage for Winter2024-02-29T20:09:54+00:00

FAQ: Solar Backup Batteries

Solar consumers frequently ask, “Will my solar panels work during a power outage?” But, what they really want to know is if solar will keep their lights on even when the power is down. And, unfortunately, the answer is no — solar alone will not shield your home from experiencing power outages, but a solar backup battery will.     What is a Solar Backup Battery? Solar backup batteries, like the QHome Core or the Tesla Powerwall pair with your solar panels to store the excess energy your system produces for later use. Rather than going back into the grid, your surplus energy is [...]

FAQ: Solar Backup Batteries2024-02-29T18:40:54+00:00

The Zero-Energy Movement in Texas and Beyond

The zero-energy, or net-zero, project has been changing the way people build residential and commercial properties for years. Designers, developers, builders, and buyers have been collaborating on shifting the real estate market to buildings with zero energy consumption. Generally, zero-energy buildings (ZEB) rely on renewables as their primary energy source, paired with high-efficiency features like windows and insulation, to maximize their energy consumption.  Texas Zero-Energy Movement   Texas, a leading solar state, is no stranger to renewables. You may even remember in 2015 when Georgetown, Texas aimed to power itself with 100% renewables. Unfortunately, the small city’s ambitions were not totally realized. Nevertheless, the attempt [...]

The Zero-Energy Movement in Texas and Beyond2024-02-29T16:35:04+00:00
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