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Introduction Solar Panels and Pollinators Why Bees Matter The 412% Increase in Honey Production It’s Not Just About Honeybees Turning One Piece of Land Into Multiple Sources of Value Could This Work in Canada? Conclusion Introduction When most people think about solar panels on farmland, they probably think about one thing: solar panels taking up…
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Upgrading a Houseboat’s Lithium Battery System Introduction A few years ago, I had the opportunity to work on a houseboat that was as beautiful as it was interesting from an energy perspective. The goal was simple: create an energy-efficient boat that could enjoy the comforts of a modern home, including full AC power, without needing…
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And Solar Is Part of the Story Introduction If you live in B.C., you may not realize just how much is changing in our energy system right now. For a long time, we’ve been pretty spoiled here. We have a huge amount of hydroelectric power, so electricity has generally been reliable and relatively inexpensive compared…
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Introduction One of the most common questions I get from people looking to add solar to their property, RV, or boat is, “How many solar panels do I need to run a couple of things?” Usually, they aren’t trying to power their entire home. They might want to run a refrigerator, a few lights, a…
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7,500 Watt Dual-Fuel Digital Inverter Generator BE7500ID Introduction I recently had a customer contact me because one leg of his generator had stopped producing power. He wanted to know how he could disconnect that one leg from his inverter so he could continue using the generator. Shortly after that, he contacted me again and said…
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What Actually Happens When the Grid Goes Down? Introduction One of the questions I get quite often is, “If I have solar and the power goes out, won’t my solar panels keep my house running?” The answer is not necessarily. This is one of the most misunderstood parts of grid-tied solar. Having solar panels on…
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How to Shut Down and Restart Your Off-Grid Solar System for the Season Introduction I know I’ve talked about this before, and I’m pretty sure I’ve even written an article on it. But recently I had a customer ask me to write down a simple step-by-step guide for shutting down their solar system for the…
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Understanding the Most Common Causes of Transfer Switch Cycling and How to Fix Them Introduction I recently had a customer call me after purchasing an RV equipped with a complete Victron Energy system. They were frustrated because every time they plugged the RV into a standard 15-amp household outlet, they heard a constant “click…click…click” coming…
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Absolutely not… Picture taken from solarpanelsbrisbane.com Introduction Imagine a homeowner with a quarter-acre property. Instead of building a conventional patio cover, they install a solar pergola. The roof generates clean electricity while the space beneath becomes a productive garden for lettuce, herbs, strawberries, spinach, or other shade-tolerant crops. They’re harvesting vegetables, reducing grocery costs, enjoying…
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The future of home energy isn’t just generating electricity…it’s storing it for when you need it most. Introduction For many years, installing solar panels was the ultimate goal for homeowners looking to reduce their electricity bills and become more energy independent. While solar panels remain the foundation of any renewable energy system, the industry is…
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