Welcome to the EnergySage Blog

Our blog covers the latest trends in home electrification, from news to product launches to tips for lowering your energy usage.

See our featured stories below.

Brighten up your holiday with solar-powered Christmas lights

One of the best parts about the holidays is seeing all the light displays in your neighborhood. You want to spread holiday cheer, but no one wants the Clark Griswold-esque scuffle with string lights and extension cords. Not to mention, weeks of holiday lights may have you unwrapping a big electric bill when the holidays are over.

If paying for those plug-in string lights turns you into a Grinch, consider switching to solar-powered Christmas lights. Think of them as a present to the planet and a win for your wallet.

Read more about going green this holiday season
Consumption only battery

Home batteries store energy produced now for use later. When paired with solar panels, they let you access the free electricity your panels generate at any time—even when it's dark out.

Most home batteries also provide backup power, so if the grid goes down, you can keep the lights on. But with a $9,000+ price tag, this type of solar battery setup isn’t always feasible—or financially wise—for all homeowners to invest in. Now, there’s an alternative: a consumption-only battery.

Learn what consumption-only batteries area and who should get them
Will the Inflation Reduction Act survive Trump's second term?

By now, you know that Donald Trump will start his second presidential term in January. What that means for the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides various clean energy incentives to homeowners, is still very much up in the air. In this article, we'll explain what we know, what incentives are at risk, and why solar makes sense for everyone—regardless of your politics.

Read how solar can benefit you
Solar installers installing solar panels on a residential roof

The Federal Reserve on Thursday cut interest rates for the second time this year, dropping the federal funds rate another 25 basis points, bringing the benchmark lending rate down to 4.5% - 4.75%. November’s rate cut comes after the Fed in September lowered rates for the first time in four years – and is further good news for homeowners looking to go solar.

Read more on this breaking news
What is direct pay?

Homeowners have been able to take advantage of federal solar tax credits for years. However, nonprofits and other tax-exempt organizations weren’t able to take advantage of similar valuable incentives until the Inflation Reduction Act was passed in 2022. Under the new rules, tax-exempt entities — such as state and local governments, tribes, nonprofits, and houses of worship — are now able to claim tax credits for a qualifying project through a direct pay option. 

Read more about how nonprofits can claim clean energy tax benefits
Why now is the time to go solar in North Carolina

They say there’s no time like the present—that’s especially true if you live in North Carolina and are thinking of installing solar panels. North Carolina has some of the best solar incentives in the nation thanks to its major utility, Duke Energy with its biggest incentive, The PowerPair program.

But this opportunity won’t be around forever, and PowerPair is creeping closer to capacity.

Learn about the changes coming to North Carolina’s Electric Code in 2025
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