Sungate Energy Solutions

Posted By Sungate Specialist on January 6, 2011

At Sungate Energy Solutions, we’re always looking at the most recent trends for saving the planet and for saving money for our customers. We’ve talked with you before about the efficiency gained by swapping out your incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescents. But, did you know that  LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights are even more energy efficient than compact fluorescents? It’s true; and they last longer, too.

However, though LED lights are very efficient, they haven’t caught on for homes and businesses, with a few exceptions. “Open” and “Exit” signs are commonly lit with LEDs. The reason that LEDs haven’t caught on is their initial cost. You can purchase a compact fluorescent bulb for about $2. The same LED bulb will cost you nearly $30.

Even with the upfront cost, however, LEDs are a very efficient way to light homes and offices. That $30 LED bulb will use less than half the electricity of the compact fluorescent bulb and will last for up to 30 years. LEDs offer a more pleasing light and are mercury free, too.

The good news is that the cost of LEDs is coming down. Soon more businesses will be able to afford to light their offices with LEDs, saving money and energy over the long haul. Eventually, that lower cost will make installing LEDs in our homes more affordable, as well.

To help propel the LED movement forward, some utility companies and some state programs are offering rebates on LEDs that help make it easier for small businesses to make the investment in the lights.

If you’re a business owner, check for rebates from your state or utility company on installing LED light s in your business.  At Sungate, we believe it’s our job to keep our community informed about all the ways we can work together to save our planet and lower our energy costs.

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Posted By Sungate Specialist on November 18, 2010

Do you dread getting that electric and gas bill every month? Are your payments to PG&E as high as your car payment? At Sungate, we feel your pain.

Already high costs with the utility companies continue to rise, and many people feel that there’s nothing that can be done about it. After all, we need heat, lights and hot water, right?

But, there is definitely something you can do. Let Sungate Energy Solutions help you get SC&E (or whoever your utility company is) out of your wallet by installing a solar energy system in your home. With a solar energy system in place, you’ll generate your own energy. You can generate just enough for your own home, or potentially generate enough extra that the folks at SDG&E are actually buying your excess energy from you! Wouldn’t that be a nice change?

It’s easy to do, and the timing is perfect. Right now, if you install a solar energy system from Sungate Energy Solutions you’ll get a 30% tax credit on this year’s federal income tax. You’ll also get credits from the state of California. These credits can dramatically reduce your out of pocket costs for installing your solar energy system.

The best news is that once the installation of the system is paid for; there are no more costs. Your energy is now free! If you stay with the utility company; you can expect costs to continue to rise. But, with your own solar energy system, you’re harvesting the power of the sun at no additional cost.

When you consider how much of your money PG&E takes every month; it only makes sense to find alternative energy sources for your home. We spend a large chunk of money on utilities, and that cost is only going to rise. Installing your own system is a great way to cut costs down the road.

So, talk to us at Sungate about how we can help you get the utility companies out of your wallet – once and for all.

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Posted By Sungate Specialist on November 16, 2010

The end of 2010 is fast approaching, and Sungate Energy Solutions wants to remind you that there are some energy tax credits that are set to expire on December 31, 2010.

Improvements to your home that make it more energy efficient, like the purchase of Energy Star rated appliances, high quality insulation and new windows qualify for tax credits through the end of this year. You’ll receive a tax credit of 30% of the cost of these items, up to $1500.

Taking advantage of these tax credits is a great way to save money not only on your tax bill at the end of the year, but on your energy bills for the long haul.

New insulation can give you one of the biggest bangs for your buck. Experts from the Lawrence Berkeley National Library estimate that about 50% of homes are improperly insulated.  They also estimate that an investment of $850 in insulation for your home will save you roughly $125 a year in energy bills, paying for itself in about seven years. There are few energy efficient improvements that will pay for themselves in savings that quickly.

When you choose insulation, look for the right R-Value for your climate. The R-value measures the insulation’s resistance to heat flow. The colder your climate, the higher the R-value you’re looking for.

New windows are also great money savers, and they make your home look great too. You’ll also notice a huge difference in how quiet your home is when you have new windows.  Switching from single pane to double pane windows can cut your heating and cooling bills by as much as 30%.  When you’re ready to purchase, check for three numbers on your windows:

• Air leakage
• Solar heat gain coefficient  (this is the amount of solar energy that passes through the glass )
• U-factor  (this is how much heat moves through the window )

The lower the number, the better on all three of these indicators.

Sungate Energy is ready and waiting to help you increase the energy efficiency in your home with these and other improvements. Don’t let those tax credits run out without taking full advantage!

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Posted By Sungate Specialist on October 23, 2010

Phoenix, Arizona residents certainly have reason to be green; but it’s not green with envy. Phoenix residents can go green and protect the environment even more easily because they now have access to the same great solutions from Sungate Energy that California residents have been enjoying.

Sungate offers Phoenix area residents great solutions for alternative energy, like solar panels for your home, solar water systems and other products to make your home more energy efficient.

If you’re ready to make your home more resilient against the heat of a Phoenix summer, consider adding energy efficient doors and windows. You’ll make your home more comfortable and save money by keeping that Arizona heat outdoors where it belongs. Or add a Fafco tankless water heater to reduce the amount of money you’re spending each month to heat water for your home.

When you’re really ready to go green, Sungate Energy Solutions can install a complete solar energy system to supply some or all of your energy needs. A solar system can be designed to be the perfect size for your family and can reduce or eliminate your dependence on the energy companies. Wouldn’t it be great to have the power company paying you money for a change? You’ll even get great tax credits from the federal government for installing your solar panels.

At Sungate Energy Systems, we’re dedicated to offering our Phoenix customers the very best in alternative energy solutions. Our engineers are knowledgeable and professional, and can design solutions to meet all your energy needs at a price you can afford. Once your system is installed and paid for, your system becomes virtually free.

So, give Sungate Energy Systems a call! We’re ready and waiting to help you solve all of your energy problems while we work together to save the planet. You’ll be glad you did.

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Posted By Sungate Specialist on October 21, 2010

Eurus Energy, one of Japan’s largest energy companies announced Monday, September 27, that it will build 45 megawatt solar farms in a joint venture in California. The solar farms will be a joint venture with a subsidiary of NRG Inc.

These solar initiatives are just part of the alternative energy work going on in the state of California. Just last week, California regulators voted to raise the state’s renewable energy target to 33 percent by 2020. This is good news for all alternative energy companies, of course, but it’s also good for California’s residents, who are some of the most environmentally conscious in the country.

At Sungate Energy Solutions, we’re always glad to see new strides in the world of alternative energy.  As California increases its renewable energy targets, we see the ability for even more Californians to have access to solar power and other renewable energy forms.

But, as a consumer, you don’t have to wait on Japan to build new solar farms or even for California to increase the amount of renewable energy available. The fact is: solar energy is available and easy to obtain from Sungate Energy Solutions right now. We’ve installed thousands of solar energy systems for our customers already, and we’re ready when you are to install one for you.

As renewable energy becomes mainstream, more consumers will flock to renewable energy companies for their own home systems. After all, only with a home system like one of Sungate Energy’s solar energy systems can you gain independence from the power company!

So, don’t wait. The time for your own solar energy system is now and there may never be a better time. We have the experience and the knowledge to design and build a solar energy system that is perfect for your home and for your family’s particular energy needs. You’ll even get a 30% tax credit from the Federal Government when you install one of our solar energy systems.

The world is definitely headed in the alternative energy direction – and California is leading the way. But there’s no need to wait for Japan to build those solar farms; everything you need for your own solar energy is waiting for you at Sungate!

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Posted By Sungate Specialist on October 21, 2010

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” is a mantra that has become ingrained in our brains over the last few years. As a nation, we’ve gotten pretty good at the recycle part. Reducing and reusing is the part most of us are becoming really conscious about today. We’re all taking small steps to change the way we use energy and products, and it is really beginning to add up. But, we all can do more.

One of the best ways I can think of to reduce the energy you’re using is to install one of Sungate Energy Solutions’ on demand hot water systems. On demand hot water systems heat water for you only when you need it. Traditional hot water systems keep heated water sitting in the tank at all times. It heats it over and over, whether you’re using it or not.

When you think about it, traditional hot water heaters are a really big waste. Why heat water all day long while you’re at work and the kids are at school? Reducing the amount of water we heat each day is the perfect example of living out the “reduce” portion of the mantra.

On demand hot water systems from Sungate Energy Solutions can be sized to fit your family’s needs, so that you have all the hot water you need when you need it, but that you never heat water when you don’t. This simple reduction technique might save you as much as 70% over what you’re paying to heat your home’s water now. Since heating water is the second biggest energy expenditure in your home, that’s a pretty significant savings.

So, reduce your hot water energy usage by calling Sungate Energy Solutions today and asking for your own on demand hot water system. It’s one easy way to save money and put that environmentally friendly mantra to good use at the same time!

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Posted By Sungate Specialist on October 3, 2010

The reality of global warming seems questionable at best to some people. There is, of course, evidence that the earth has gone through periods of heating and cooling multiple times during its long history, though it is certain that, during those periods, there were no humans polluting the air and causing environmental problems.

However, many people who don’t believe in global warming are really missing out on some benefits that environmental awareness has brought us. After all, we all want to save money whether we believe in global warming or not!

So, even if you’re skeptical about our need to “save the planet”, Sungate Energy Solutions can still give you some great products to save your wallet.

Let’s start with insulation. Good insulation from Sungate Energy Solutions keeps your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter without the help of your heating and cooling systems. And, energy efficient windows keep your inside air inside and your outside air outside, which also helps your heating and cooling systems run more efficiently.

Sungate Energy Solutions also offers tankless hot water heaters from Fafco and other brands. Even if you aren’t “going green” you know that there’s no reason to keep water hot that you’re not even going to use.

The most effective solutions from Sungate Energy Systems are solar panels. You can install a solar hot water system that keeps your water very warm, before it even hits your hot water heater, significantly reducing the hot water heater’s workload. This, alone, can reduce your costs of heating your water by as much as 70%.

You can also add solar panels to furnish energy to your home in other ways. Sungate Energy Solutions engineers can design a solar energy system for your home that can significantly reduce, or even eliminate, your dependence on your local electric company.

So, you see, “being green” doesn’t have to be the issue. Instead, it can just be all about “saving green”.

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Posted By Sungate Specialist on October 2, 2010

We’re all looking for ways to improve our environment. There are many small things we can do. But, when you’re ready to move onto the bigger things, Sungate Energy Solutions is there to help you do those things in a way that minimizes your upfront costs, protects the environment and gets you on your way to saving a lot of money in the future.

Clean energy is one of the best ways you can help save the world and save money at the same time. At Sungate Energy Solutions, we offer solar energy systems that are clean and reliable sources of alternative energy. With one of our solar energy systems, you will literally be harvesting the power of the sun to heat and cool your home, and to run your appliances. What could be cleaner than that?

You may have heard of solar energy systems, but also heard that they are expensive to install. It’s true that solar energy systems have an upfront cost associated with their installation and equipment. However, over the long term, they are far less expensive than dependence on our energy companies. As soon as you get finished installing your system, you eliminate, or greatly reduce your electric or gas bill. If you’ve financed your system, the money you save can go directly to paying the system off.

Once the system is paid off, your energy is free! So, while you may take a few years to pay off your system, think about how many more years you’ll have of free energy.

Right now is the perfect time to install your alternative energy system. The Federal Government offers a 30% tax credit to Americans who install solar energy systems. This significantly reduces the cost of your upfront investment in your clean energy solution, ensuring that you’re on your way to getting that free energy even faster.

What’s not to love about clean, free energy for your home? Call Sungate Energy Solutions today to speak with one of our engineers. We can design your clean energy system so that it works perfectly for your home and your lifestyle.

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Posted By Sungate Specialist on September 24, 2010

Sungate Energy Solutions is receiving lots of questions about solar energy systems for residential homes. It is, in part, because people want to do their part for the environment, but also because people want to save money! Solar energy can make you less dependent upon energy providers as well as helping you with your efforts to go green.

At Sungate Energy Solutions we offer solar panel systems to do all sorts of things to reduce your energy bills. Solar hot water is a very popular one, but many people are going even a step further. Solar PV systems are being installed that can essentially eliminate your dependence on the electric and gas companies. Free energy from the sun is a possibility for most homes!

You’ll see our solar panel systems referred to as “solar pv”. PV stands for photovoltaic. Solar photovoltaic systems are the most popular solar systems. Essentially, it works like this:

Sunlight is made of photons, which are small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel, which contains electrons. Think of it as the protons irritating these electrons. They begin to move, and the system routes them to a current. That’s all electricity really is – electrons moving along a path.

Photovoltaic systems use wire to conduct these electrons either to batteries or your home’s electrical system, where you use it to power appliances, etc.  In most cases, you’ll have a battery that will store the energy produced, especially during hours of strong sunlight. This is how solar photovoltaic systems provide you energy even when it’s dark outside.

So, now that you understand how photovoltaic solar energy works, you may want to own a system for your home. Sungate Energy Solutions can give you exactly the system you need to reduce or eliminate your dependence on the utility companies by powering your home with the sun. And, now is a great time to do it. Don’t forget that the Federal Government is offering a 30% tax credit for installing solar energy systems to your home.

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Posted By Sungate Specialist on September 17, 2010

Do you ever look at your kids and wonder what their world will look like when they’re your age? I do it all the time, and it’s a bit of a frightening proposition, in many ways.

Our water and our air are already dirty; how much dirtier will they be in 30 years? Our landfills are already full; how many more will we have to build to hold all our garbage? The marine life in our oceans is dwindling and our jungles hold fewer animals than they did 30 years ago. Which creatures will be extinct in another 30 years?

When we worry about these things, our fears should do more than simply scare us; they should be a call to action. While we can all acknowledge that, as a society, we’ve gotten a bit of a late start on our environmental consciousness, we do have one, and many people have reason to feel good about the steps they’ve taken personally.

At Sungate Energy Solutions, our employees and our customers do feel good about the steps they’re taking to create a healthier future for their children. Every day our employees see progress toward a better environment as they design and install solar energy systems, solar hot water heaters, insulation, energy efficient windows and other environmentally friendly solutions for our customers.

Our customers can see the impact their making on the environment each month when they see lower energy usage and enjoy the financial benefits of those lower energy bills. They can use their solar panels as a teaching opportunity to show their children the power of the sun and how we can harvest it for our benefit and that of the earth.

So, when you worry about your children’s environmental future; don’t just worry. Do your part. If you take the steps today to reduce your own carbon footprint by letting Sungate Energy Solutions work with you to increase your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your dependence on the utility companies, you’ll not only be creating a better future for your children, but you’ll also be giving yourself peace of mind.

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