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 ...

Switch to solar with a system built for you. Exciting advancements in solar energy are encouraging more and more folks to jump on the sustainability bandwagon and look into solar panels. Before you do ...

Like all solar energy systems, off-grid systems use solar panels to harness the sun’s energy for residential or commercial buildings. However, unlike more common grid-tied systems, they store some of ...

Look closely at a solar panel, and you'll see a series of thin metallic lines running across the surface. They're not there to look nice — they have a specific purpose. Those lines are called the grid ...

If you own solar panels or are thinking about installing them, the following question might have crossed your mind: Will they work during a power outage? Unfortunately, there is no simple yes or no ...

Utility companies have worried that solar panels drive up electric costs for the people who don't have panels. Renewable energy researchers show the opposite is actually true -- grid-tied solar ...

Value estimations for grid-tied photovoltaic systems prove solar panels are beneficial for utility companies and consumers alike. Beyond the environmental benefits and lower electric bills, it turns ...

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 ...