The Energy Show
Listen to our weekly podcasts providing practical money-saving tips on ways to reduce your home and business energy consumption.
Solar Investment Tax Credit
30% of the costs of a solar or battery storage system are paid for with the Solar Investment Tax credit. The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is the biggest renewable energy incentive in the country, and helps make solar affordable for just about every business or...
Living With Public Safety Power Shutoffs
PG&E, our local utility in Silicon Valley, caused a number of wildfires -- including the recent Camp fire that destroyed the town of Paradise, killed 86 people and destroyed over 13,000 homes.The primary reason for this and other similar fires is that PG&E...
2020 Solar Policy Hindsight with Adam Browning
The United States is a representative democracy. Citizens vote for politicians who, theoretically, advocate for their needs: things like better healthcare, lower taxes, cleaner air, and new technologies such as solar. But one cannot check off the “solar” box on a...
Hidden Barriers to Building Electrification
Studies show that electrifying our transportation and building sectors are the fastest ways to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These sectors combined generate nearly 70% of total greenhouse gases in many states, including California. Our country is making...
Electrifying Buildings with Jeff Byron
California was the first state to set aggressive goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Senate bill 32, AKA Cap and Trade, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. We are well on our way to meeting these goals, and happily a dozen other...
Politics of Energy and the Environment
The 2020 presidential election has been in full swing for months, even though it’s still only 2019. Are things going faster as I get older, or are we in a constant stage of electioneering? Hmm, don’t answer that. With one notable exception, all of the presidential...
Public Safety Power Shutoff Programs
California utility companies recently announced their Public Safety Power Shutoff programs across the state. Bloomberg News said “California May Go Dark This Summer and Most People Aren’t Ready.” California’s Governor Gavin Newsom was quoted as saying “I’m worried. We...
Electric Panel Upgrade – With Sue Kateley
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions we need to electrify all of our buildings. New electric appliances — such as heat pumps and induction stoves — are often less expensive to operate than conventional natural gas appliances. For example, at $2/therm for natural gas and...