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Wednesday, January 27, 2016

What to Expect When Installing Solar Panels

As the price of electricity and other fuel sources continue to skyrocket as the resources they depend on diminish, many are looking toward environmentally friendly energy sources that can be maintained by a single home owner to help both the environment and their wallets.

While other forms of green energy are available on an industrial level, the easiest way to transition to an environmentally friendly electricity source on a budget is to invest in solar power system. A lot of electricity can be made from sunshine by a process called solar photovoltaic, which can easily make enough energy to handle a majority of home owner's needs. Any house can be equipped with solar panels, but depending on the location and the amount of sunlight the area gets while determine whether it is the best option.

Solar energy will not fully remove a consumer's reliance on an electrical grid but it is still a great way to save money. For houses that live in an area that get a sufficient amount of sunlight, electricity costs can be substantially reduced and can be installed with ease. In order to begin the process of setting up solar panels it is probably a good idea to first contact the electrical company. When setting up solar panels, the electrical grid is still used, but only for days when there is low sunlight. As an added bonus to being connected to the power company, any excess electricity that the panels make can be sold back to the electrical plant resulting in extra money that pays for the investment.

After consulting with the local electricity company, the next step is to find a nearby solar panel retailer. Nearly every large area that gets sun has a company that deals exclusively with the selling and installation of panels. However if an area does not have a native solar panel store, ordering them online is a great alternative. For those with a local company, give them a call and they will be able to assess the roof and house location in order to get optimal electricity from the sunlight, and will begin planning the installation from there.

Once the solar power company has determined the best setup for the household, they will set a date to install the panels. A team of qualified professionals will work with your power company to get a modified power box that is compatible with a new solar system. After the power box is properly configured, the solar panels are ready to be installed. This process can take a few hours to a few days, but once the solar panels are installed and configured, they will last a lifetime. When thinking of installing solar panels, make sure to weigh the positive environmental and budgetary benefits versus the effort and process of choosing and implementing a system.

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Monday, January 25, 2016

Solar and wind power is thriving despite the low oil price

The renewable energy market is booming today, even if the oil has reached a price of only $32 per barrel.

Clean energy is becoming more interesting among investors this year, and this foreshadows the beginning of an era of massive development for wind and solar power all over the world.

The trend started last year (2015), when the new installations of renewable power capacity attracted $329 billion in global investments, representing 57 GW of solar and 64 GW of wind power capacity installed.

The investments made to increase the clean power generation capacity represented an increase of almost 30% compared with the previous year, 2014.

Sensing the danger represented by a massive development of the renewable energy sector in the world, the oil industry tries to maintain the oil barrel at a very affordable level in order to somehow reduce the booming effect produced by the clean energy revolution.

The most investments made to increase the clean energy generation capacity were made in countries like the U.S., China, India and Latin America.

Solar and wind power becomes competitive in many countries around the world, but not with the oil, instead they can compete with the natural gas that is used by power plants to produce electricity.

Despite the low price of natural gas, the new solar and wind installations accounted for 60% in the U.S. in 2015, and for this year is estimated to increase to 70%.

The agreement on climate change signed at the Paris summit in December, 2015, means a reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere, which can be achieved only if we start using less fossil fuels, while we increase the renewable energy generation capacity at global scale.

Another trend shows that the use of coal in the world is slowly diminishing even if coal has a pretty attractive price for the investors.

The worldwide support for the development of the renewable energy sector is extremely important because it shows a global interest to create a cleaner and healthier future for us and the future generations.

How to Achieve Your Goals

People ask me quite often how they can achieve their goals. They start off great, but then something happens and they peter out. They fall off the path. They break their ten or fifteen day streak. So, how do you keep going and start seeing wins on your goals?

How to Achieve Your Goals

I'm not a wizard at this, but I've got some very simple systems you can steal and make your own that would probably get you further down the road. As this is the month of Personal Leadership at Owner Media Group, I figure this is a great time to teach you how leaders get their goals finished.

The post How to Achieve Your Goals appeared first on chrisbrogan.com.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

How Switching to Solar Power Helps the Environment

A lot of people switch to solar energy in an attempt to help their wallet and while it is a cost effective transition to make, it also has a noticeably positive impact on the environment and the owner's carbon footprint. A properly set up solar panel grid can eliminate over three tonnes of greenhouse emissions every single year per household. Since solar panels are durable enough to last multiple decades, an investment in green electricity isn't only beneficial to your wallet but also to the environment. For people considering making the change to solar power system as their primary electrical source it is important to ensure that their system is properly set up to get the maximum efficiency out of them.

Most power grids rely on inefficient fossil fuels in order to provide power are responsible for a majority of the current emissions crisis, solar power avoid harming the environment by harvesting all of their electricity from abundant rays of photons from the sun. Since the sun is producing energy regardless if it is being used as an electrical source, this means there is very little pollution being produced in the process.

Smaller startup solar panels still require assistance from the power company's grid in order to ensure a constant supply of power but larger panels are able to be completely self-sufficient by storing excess electricity in batteries. In fact larger solar panels that produce more electricity than can be stored in reserve are able to sell back the electricity to the power company which means that less of their energy comes from harmful sources helping their pollution output as well.

A common concern with the environmental impact of solar power is that they are produced in a way that negates any potential ecological benefits. Luckily solar panels are made of silicon, which is one of the most abundant resources on the planet and require very few harmful chemicals in order to be processed. While the manufacturing of solar panels does produce a small amount of emissions, these are very insignificant when compared against the alternative of using fossils fuels as a primary energy source. Also most companies who specialize in solar power system have environmental impact in mind, and do their best to produce them in the cleanest way possible. Since a good system will last for a couple of decades, any negative effects of their creation gets negated by the abundant clean electricity they provide for the coming years.

While other forms of green energy are obtainable at an industrial level, for residential and small business use, solar power is the only viable option. For environmentally conscious consumers looking to reduce their carbon footprint, making the switch to solar power system is the best way to do your part in preserving our planet for future generations.

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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Back to Business in 2016

It’s the beginning of a new year, where resolutions have been made, sales projects are top of mind, and we’re wondering what’s going to make the difference. How do we improve on the previous year’s results. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. I’ll walk you through how I do what I do, especially because it’s a fun way to highlight the parts of my business where I use Staples to help me succeed.

The post Sponsored Post: Back to Business: Are You Set Up for 2016? appeared first on chrisbrogan.com.

Monday, January 18, 2016

How to Choose the Best Solar Panel Company

Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular due to its ability to produce electricity at home with no monthly fee. Strategically located on its property, a solar panel company will ensure that the panel absorbs sunlight and provides power 24 hours a day.

The production of energy from the solar panel can be translated into costs of your electricity bill. If your panel generates 75% of the required electricity, the monthly payment of its electricity will also be reduced.

In the long term, the solar panel will create added value to your home as an asset. If you decide to sell your home, your investment in a solar panel to pick a healthy return.

When looking for a residential solar contractor, look for someone who has extensive experience in the installation of a solar panel and make sure they are licensed and insured. It never hurts to ask if both are accredited by the BBB.

The longer someone has been in business, the more experience they have and other tips and tricks you know. It also tends to be a reflection of good business due to bad company do not stay for long! Probably also they experienced more problems than a person who has been in business for a short time in order to have the knowledge to help avoid these problems.

Feel free to ask questions or ask for references. A good contractor will be happy to provide you with everything you need and take the time to explain all the details and make sure you are comfortable. Learn about financing options and ask if you can show an estimate of energy savings over time. A reliable and qualified contractor offering residential solar financing options include lease with zero down so you can save money on electricity costs immediately.

There are state and federal incentives programs that can be tapped to help finance the cost of your solar panel. Ask what kind of incentives are available in your area, a competent contractor update this information.

Ask about warranties and learn about the best manufacturers – not all solar panels are created equal and are manufacturers. You want to make sure to protect your investment by using a top manufacturer and receives a guarantee not only of the panels, but also the installation and manufacturing.

Friday, January 15, 2016

Chris Brogan and Owner Media Group in 2016

It's okay if we lose track of each other from time to time. I knojw that keeping up is a full time job in this world, and one that most of us don't really have. To make it easier, I wanted to give you an update on me, my business, and what's going on in 2016.

Chris Brogan in 2016

I'm a fairly simple guy. I have just a few jobs:

The post Chris Brogan and Owner Media Group in 2016 appeared first on chrisbrogan.com.