Kicking your utility to the curb sounds like a great deal, but it's more difficult than it sounds. Here's what it takes to go off the grid with solar panels. CNET contributor Eric Mack knows all too ...

Having spent 30+ years in residential construction, contracting, remodeling, maintenance and home repair, Deane now contributes DIY, informational and financial content as a freelance writer and ...

The last step in building your solar array can make or break your system. I break down the process of connecting your ...

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that most solar systems stop working during an outage — even on sunny days. That’s why many people add a backup generator (or solar batteries) to make sure their ...

Solar panels can only generate electricity; they can’t store it, so you must pair them with a stand-alone battery bank or a power station. For home emergency power (for a few hours of power), we ...

Enphase Energy just launched a new off-grid system that lets homeowners power their homes without a utility connection – even for extended periods. The California-based Enphase says the off-grid setup ...

Solar panels can only generate electricity; they can’t store it, so you must pair them with a stand-alone battery bank or a power station. For home emergency power (for a few hours of power), we ...

In an age where power outages are becoming increasingly frequent and unpredictable due to extreme weather events and other emergencies, the need for a reliable and efficient power source has never ...

Utilizing energy storage with a solar power system is a way for power generators to help balance the supply of energy with demand for electricity. Energy storage can be used during periods when the ...

Mark Rowe was tired of living in the "stone age," always having to light candles and use flashlights every time a storm hit or rolling power outages occurred. After Hurricane Ike, he decided to ...

LAINDEHA, Indonesia — As Tamar Ana Jawa wove a red sarong in the fading sunlight, her neighbor switched on a light bulb dangling from the sloping tin roof. It was just one bulb powered by a small ...