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 ...

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 ...

Find the best solar options for your home and budget. Exciting advancements in solar energy are encouraging more and more folks to jump on the sustainability bandwagon and look into solar panels.

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 ...

As a former realtor, general contractor and greenhouse operator, Kristi has touched nearly all aspects of homeownership, from the foundation up. Today, Kristi is a full-time investing and real estate ...