Solar Delivers for Young Family in Austin

Making the Solar Decision When Danny T. began looking into going solar, he had a good example to follow. Danny’s father had hired Longhorn Solar to install solar on their family home years ago. Danny knew that the system had delivered substantial savings for his family as well as environmental benefits for the community. Now that he was married, with a house of his own in Austin, Texas, he was interested in learning more about solar. Danny did his homework. He researched solar technology and reached out to several installation companies, including Longhorn. He was about to pull the trigger on [...]

Solar Delivers for Young Family in Austin2024-03-06T19:39:11+00:00

What to Know about Solar before Hail Season Hits

Springtime in Texas means two things: bluebonnets and hail storms. While the state flower of Texas is a welcome sight in Central Texas, spring hail often wreaks havoc on our homes. Fortunately, most solar panels are built to withstand hailstorms, but roofs are not always as tough. (We’ll walk you through the steps of solar inspection after a storm later in this post.) When Does Hail Hit in Texas? Hail season spans from March to June in Central Texas, with peak activity in April and May. Through a phenomenon known as “updrafts,” high winds during a severe thunderstorm can carry rain [...]

What to Know about Solar before Hail Season Hits2024-02-16T16:30:40+00:00

How Referrals Pay Extra Dividends for Solar

Positive word of mouth and referrals are highly influential in the solar buying decision. And they pay extra dividends for Longhorn Solar customers. Remember that new restaurant you couldn’t stop telling people about? Or the new car you bought on the recommendation of your car buff friend? Word of mouth is crucial for many buying decisions. In fact, 74% of consumers say word of mouth is a key influence in their purchase decisions. For many small businesses, positive word of mouth is a key part of their marketing strategy. As a Texas-owned and operated business, Longhorn Solar is highly dependent on [...]

How Referrals Pay Extra Dividends for Solar2024-01-30T19:36:19+00:00

Preventing Texas Winter Power Outages with Battery Backup

In Texas, where winter (and summer) power outages are becoming increasingly common, many Longhorn customers are installing battery storage to protect their home from weather-related grid events. Installing a battery backup system with a solar power system allows homes and businesses to store excess clean energy generated during the day for use at night or during a power outage. Texans had a wakeup call about the unreliability of our electricity grid during the winter of 2021, when power outages across the state were responsible for hundreds of deaths. It became clear that the state’s standalone electricity grid needed major upgrades. While [...]

Preventing Texas Winter Power Outages with Battery Backup2024-07-02T20:51:37+00:00

A Guide to Going Solar in Austin

Food, music, sustainability — Austin, Texas is the perfect place for solar. That's why we've put together a guide on going solar for Austinites just like you. Read along and we'll walk through the process of putting solar panels on your home or business. Step 1. Determine if your home or business is right for solar. There are a few indicators that can help you decide if your property is right for solar. Does your home or business have a lot of exposed sun and is the roof in good condition? Is it relatively free from roof obstructions or trees? Does [...]

A Guide to Going Solar in Austin2024-01-30T19:41:15+00:00

Powering Your Home with a Tesla Powerwall

Texans have endured their fair share of power outages over the last few years and have experienced unprecedented blackouts, leading many of us to experience a phenomenon that’s becoming ever more common as our climate changes: energy insecurity. Energy insecurity isn’t just the feeling of not being sure if your power will be there when you need it. It’s also the economic risk of relying on grid power. How many times this summer did you turn up your thermostat, instead of down – as your body may have wanted – to avoid an astronomical bill? Many customers ask us about the [...]

Powering Your Home with a Tesla Powerwall2024-01-30T19:44:01+00:00

Comparing Batteries and Generators: What You Need to Know

With grid outages increasing and the constant drumbeat from lawmakers, news outlets, and policymakers about how unstable our grid is, you might be wondering, should I add a battery or generator to my solar system? The answer as in most situations is “It Depends.” The two main things to consider are what problem are you trying to solve and your budget. Batteries have many advantages over generators such as: Batteries such as the Tesla Powerwall typically can last 8-12 hours providing power during an outage without the need to go get fuel. Batteries are quiet. A generator can emit 50 to [...]

Comparing Batteries and Generators: What You Need to Know2024-01-31T15:30:43+00:00

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

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