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Palmetto
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You don’t have to travel far to take climate action. In fact, you can take climate action from the comfort of your own home – by electrifying it. By choosing electric alternatives for typical household appliances that deal with heating, cooling, and cooking, you can ditch fossil fuels in your home, and help create a more resilient and sustainable world. Today, just over one-quarter of homes in the United States are fully electric. This means that nearly 75% of US homeowners rely on fuels other than electricity for everyday life. To help solve the climate crisis, we need to ensure the transition toward 100% of American homes being electrified. Fortunately, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides federal tax rebates and incentives, making it easier to electrify your home, and retail stores now offer a wide selection of electric appliances for purchase. Taking climate action from Home It may seem daunting to completely electrify your home, but the good news is that you can start small and electrify it appliance by appliance. With the IRA, American taxpayers can tap into $8,000 on individual home electrification purchases and up to $14,000 in total rebates to begin electrifying their homes. Items that qualify for energy-efficient home improvements include heat pumps, new circuit wiring, and many more! If you don’t know where to start your home’s appliance electrification journey, here is our guide to some typical household appliances that can be replaced: - Heating and cooling systems: A great way to make the switch from gas-powered heating and cooling systems in your home is to use heat pumps. A heat pump works by transferring heat from one space to another, providing both heating and cooling capabilities by utilizing the natural temperature differences in the environment. The IEA estimates that global heat pump implementation can have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 500 million tonnes in 2030 – which is equal to the annual CO2 emissions for all cars in Europe today. - Cooking appliances: It’s increasingly common to see electric cooking appliances being offered in retail stores. These electric appliances not only help fight against climate change, but they offer health benefits as well. For instance, switching from a gas stove to an electric stove can reduce indoor air pollution and avoid harmful gasses such as nitrous dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. Additionally, replacing a fossil fuel-powered stove with an electric stove won’t compromise your culinary endeavors since electric stoves offer quick heat-up times, fast water boiling, and the ability to stop producing heat. - Laundry: According to the New York Times, American households typically do 300 loads of laundry every year, and one study points to America’s laundry’s carbon emissions being as high as 179 million tons a year — which is equivalent to 933 roundtrip flights from NYC to London! Unless your household has transitioned away from fossil fuels, the energy-intensive activities of heating water in the washing machine and operating the dryer can lead to a significant reliance on fossil fuel-supplied energy. You can reduce the energy footprint of your washer and dryer by choosing electric appliances such as electric water heaters and buying newer electric dryer machines that are much more energy efficient. - Vehicle: While not fitting the conventional mold of a "household appliance," vehicles still play an important role in widespread electrification in the United States. Electric vehicles are unique because they are interconnected with your home’s energy system and can bring serious climate benefits and drastically cut your transportation costs. American taxpayers can qualify for a tax credit of up to $7,500 if they buy a new, qualified plug-in electric vehicle. Electrifying your home with Solar Energy Your home is important, and even the small choices you make to electrify it can bring reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that will help to solve the climate crisis. When considering the overall energy mix of your home, we’d like to point out that you can always electrify it further by adding solar panels. With solar panels added to your home or property’s energy mix, it will help guarantee that your home’s appliances will run on carbon-free electricity while dramatically reducing your monthly electricity bills from the utility company. If you’re interested in learning more about how your home can benefit from solar energy, check out our website to learn more.
Palmetto
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The fact that the sun is an excellent free provider of clean energy for American homes and businesses comes as no surprise. But did you also know that solar energy can bring about many life-saving health benefits? The science has shown that public health challenges will increase as the climate crisis worsens, even while people are living in these homes and operating these businesses. In this article, we’ve decided to offer a different perspective on why everyone should be supporting clean and renewable energy, namely that clean energy will support healthier living environments. We want clean energy to be for everyone, and this also means that we want all the benefits associated with clean energy to be felt by everyone. The Climate Crisis is a Public Health Crisis To understand the health benefits of clean energy, we have to zoom in on the clear link between the burning of fossil fuels and the climate crisis. Fossil fuels are the main driver of this accelerating crisis, and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, climate change is affecting people’s health in two main ways: - People that face health problems will see a change in the severity or frequency. - There will be new or unanticipated health problems in people or places where they have not been before. It’s crucial that we support clean energy uptake so we can avoid new or worsening health problems. We have compiled a few climate change issues associated with public health problems that contextualize why clean energy adoption is so important now. - Air Pollution. According to the US Energy Information Administration, in 2022, over 60% of the electricity produced in the United States was generated by carbon-emitting fossil fuels. At the same time, only 21.5% of US electricity was generated from renewable resources such as wind, hydro, and solar. By removing fossil fuels from our energy consumption and using renewable energy sources instead, we can see a dramatic reduction in carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter emissions. There can be drastic public health consequences if there is no shift from fossil fuels to renewables. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates suggest that without regulatory changes or shifts in population characteristics, there could be 1,000 to 4,300 additional premature deaths annually in the United States by 2050 due to combined health effects from ozone and particle pollution. - Extreme Heat. Heat waves and extreme heat were once a rare occurrence, but with the onset of the fossil-fueled climate crisis, they are becoming more frequent. Extreme heat has various health issues associated with it, such as hospitalizations for cardiovascular, kidney, and respiratory disorders, and can lead to people dying. - Longer pollen season. The climate crisis is increasing pollen concentrations and extending pollen seasons. Exposure to pollen can trigger various allergic reactions and, in some instances, aggravate respiratory illnesses like asthma. - Warmer temperatures lead to expanded disease-carrying ranges. Due to climate change, the range of insects carrying diseases like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes can expand. According to the CDC, North Americans are currently at risk from numerous diseases such as Lyme, Dengue Fever, West Nile disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, plague, and tularemia. Clean Energy now By switching to solar and other renewable energies, the subsequent reduction in fossil fuel emissions will help our planet mitigate global warming and avoid public health complications. To learn more about the health and environmental benefits of solar energy, check out our Palmetto Blog. What did you find interesting? Let us know in the comments! Keep up to date on our climate journey by following us on our We Don’t Have Time page, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. -
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Solar power should be a priority, our government should help with the pricing of solar systems to be more affordable for all
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The climate crisis is also elongating the pollen season? I'll have to get more allergy medicine 😢
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The right to life should be safeguarded by ensuring that the world transitions to clean energy.
Palmetto
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The road to decarbonizing the American power grid has hit a new milestone. US renewable electricity surpassed coal in 2022 for the first time ever and solar energy can now power one in five homes. With the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, we’ve seen a tremendous impact in the clean energy sector, with renewable energy like solar power, making strides in its uptake across the country. Last year, we saw coal usage decline from 23% of the US’s power supply to 20%, and it’s forecasted that it will go down to 17% in 2023, which is a promising sign that we are on the right track. In 2022, it was also reported that the US had a new solar project installed nearly every 44 seconds, with 700,000 American homeowners installing solar panels. The United States' renewed position as a leader in climate action has a global impact. By choosing to install solar energy, American households and businesses are contributing to this climate action. Our efforts at Palmetto are part of the larger movement to increase the use of solar power in the US, which is essential for generating clean energy for the American electrical grid. Even though we are now four months into 2023, it’s important that we take the time to reflect on 2022 and what insights we can gain about solar energy and the surge in its adoption. 2022 was a Record Year for Renewable Energy The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently produced a report that outlined just what a bright year for solar 2022 was. Here are some of our main takeaways from the report: - For the first time ever, renewable energy generation has surpassed coal as an energy source in the US. - US utility-scale solar power capacity increased from 61 gigawatts to 71 gigawatts in 2022. (To put it into perspective, 1 gigawatt is the same as 3.125 million solar photovoltaic panels, and 71 gigawatts amount to the same energy powered by 221,875,000 solar photovoltaic panels.) - The largest producers of utility-scale solar electricity in 2022 were California (26%), Texas (16%), and North Carolina (8%). While the EIA report didn’t indicate all the reasons why solar power was so popular, we thought to do some more digging and tell you what we found. One reason why we are seeing an uptick in solar energy popularity in the energy landscape is that the price of solar energy technology has declined 53% over the last 10 years, which makes it more affordable and attractive for Americans. The influx of tax credits has helped homeowners and businesses adopt solar energy. If you read our survey, you can find out more about how Palmetto solar customers feel about the tax credits and what upgrades they plan to invest in. Being a clean tech company with a strong interest in solar energy, it was only natural that we would want to read the Solar Energy Industries Association's US Solar Market Insight 2022 Year in Review. We want to share with you some of its key solar energy statistics that helps to put 2022 into perspective: - 700,000 homeowners installed solar energy systems in 2022. This is a new record! - Solar energy accounted for 50% of all new electricity-generating capacity, and it's been the 4th straight year that solar energy was the top addition of new technologies. - It’s estimated that, over the next 10 years, the US solar industry will grow five times larger than what it is today. It should be noted that solar energy still faced some hurdles last year, despite the reduction in costs and tax incentives. There were issues with the solar energy supply chain, a tariff investigation, and equipment detainments. And yet, in spite of all the obstacles, residential solar installations still saw a record growth. Clean energy is for everyone Ever since 2010, Palmetto has grown to help thousands of people across 25 states (and counting!) make the switch to solar energy. The green transition remains a top priority when it comes to meeting climate goals, and we care deeply about the environment and how we can empower everyday Americans to take their own climate action. At Palmetto, we firmly believe that clean energy is for everyone. We also recognize that the more time that passes, the greater the impact of climate change. We are proud to be a part of the green transition movement and to uplift Americans across the country by supporting them to take climate action while also saving money along the way.
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Very encouraging!!
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Great news, let's hope it continues like this in the years to come, and the US can say goodbye to coal forever
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very brilliant news
Palmetto
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The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) seeks to incentivize renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades in the home. But which ones are most attractive to solar homeowners? We polled more than 350 Palmetto solar customers to find out which energy-efficiency home and vehicle upgrades they plan to invest in, now that they’re incentivized by the IRA. This includes upgrades like heat pumps, electric vehicles, solar panels, and battery storage. We also asked them which investments would have the biggest impact on their lives. Here are some of the key findings of our survey: - 61% of solar homeowners are interested in solar energy battery storage now that the Inflation Reduction Act has passed. Among the home energy-efficiency upgrades presented in our survey, solar battery storage captured the highest level of interest in four out of five U.S. markets. - 71% of solar homeowners selected price as a key factor in the decision to invest in home or vehicle energy-efficiency upgrades. When we wanted to determine the factors that will motivate homeowners to invest in energy-efficient solutions, we found that price is the important factor. It’s normal to want to get your money’s worth when you invest, so it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that financial incentives can play a key role in encouraging homeowners to make energy-efficient upgrades. - More than 78% of people are considering buying a hybrid or electric car because they could get a discount through the Inflation Reduction Act. Only 11% of surveyed solar homeowners currently own or lease a hybrid or electric vehicle, but the IRA has increased their interest in purchasing one. - 48% of solar homeowners are satisfied with their home energy efficiency. When asked about their level of satisfaction with their home energy efficiency, the majority reported being moderately to highly satisfied. Solar homeowners are mostly happy with their homes' energy efficiency, but there's still space to improve their happiness — which presents additional opportunities to maximize solar energy generation. - More than half of solar homeowners have already invested in high-efficiency appliances. The Inflation Reduction Act could make high-efficiency appliances more attractive to homeowners looking to upgrade. - More than 50% of solar homeowners consider incentives and credits to be a key factor in deciding to invest in energy-efficient upgrades. Solar homeowners also shared that the savings they receive from the IRA are an important factor in their investment decision. - 58% of solar homeowners report an increased interest in energy-efficiency investments in response to the new credits. One solar homeowner says, “They make me want to invest more in saving energy and the environment. It never hurts to take advantage of good incentives on things to help our world”. Follow the download link in our blog to read the white paper and learn more about the survey. https://palmetto.com/learning-center/blog/inflation-reduction-act-homeowner-survey Do you want to go solar with Palmetto? Click here. You can stay in the loop with Palmetto by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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Which things were you surprised to learn? Let us know!
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Great article! I was surprised to read that - "More than 78% of people are considering buying a hybrid or electric car because they could get a discount through the Inflation Reduction Act." Will Palmetto be making a follow-up survey this year to see if attitudes or changes have shifted since the passing of the IRA?
Palmetto
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Palmetto believes that clean energy should be accessible to everyone. We work under a mission focused on mitigating climate change; a global initiative requiring international partnerships. Our full support is for clean energy for everyone, as our CEO and Founder Chris Kemper says so well. To ensure that everyone has access to clean energy, we work locally to make an impact globally. With our Palmetto’s Get Solar, Give Solar Program, we have helped provide underserved communities with access to solar energy products. That’s why we’re so proud to have been working with Solar Sister and their mission to invest in women entrepreneurs that spread clean energy across their local and rural communities in Africa. When we kicked off the Get Solar, Give Solar program during Climate Week NYC 2021, we knew working with Solar Sisters would be a rewarding partnership. Solar Sister takes a focused approach to ensuring that women are the key part of the clean energy solution – and we love this. The $5 million we committed to Solar Sister was an easy decision since we view clean energy as the vessel to bring the world closer together while saving people money and the environment along the way. On this $5 million commitment, Chris says, ”Solar Sister’s focus on bringing clean energy to last-mile communities in Africa is deeply aligned with our values - it is a true personification of what we at Palmetto are ultimately here to contribute. Together, we can bridge a growing clean energy resource gap by harnessing global technology to deliver locally-led solutions in the most overlooked and underserved communities.” About Solar Sister Solar Sister envisions a brighter world powered by women entrepreneurs. With more than 600 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lacking access to electricity and over 700 million people relying on harmful fossil fuels, women are disproportionately sustaining the effects of energy poverty and climate change. Independent research from the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University has shown that Solar Sister’s approach to centering clean energy solutions through women not only improves a woman’s household income, but also strengthens their health, education, status, and control over resources. When the clean energy revolution is women-focused and women-led, it has led to some fantastic results. From 2015 to 2022, with 87% of women entrepreneurs leading the way, Solar Sister has been able to: - Make 8,047 people entrepreneurs - Reach 3,400,000 people with clean energy - Sell 718,669 products https://youtu.be/CmHYYZx8v5c Interested in learning more about Solar Sister? Check out their website. You can send Solar Sister a Climate Love by clicking here.
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Clean energy is the new norm!
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Well Done for a great result and empowering our African sisters. Keep it up!
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This is great, clean energy is our future
Palmetto
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We are a clean energy technology company fueling the rapid expansion of residential solar energy across the US. The clean energy revolution has been long overdue, and we want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to adopt clean energy for their homes. Palmetto’s mission is to harness clean energy innovation and apply clean energy technology across the US while saving the environment and homeowners their savings. We believe you don’t have to choose between your money and your values to make a climate impact. And the time has never been better to install clean energy in your home. There has been a record surge in residential communities applying solar energy projects to their homes, with more than 500,000 US households installing solar panels in 2021. Along with that, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides for a 30% tax credit that can be applied to individual adopters of solar technology. Our CEO, Chris Kemper, worked for years in the world’s leading organizations tasked with tackling the climate crisis. Chris soon realized that the worst effects of the climate crisis could be averted if societies across the globe quickly harnessed software and technology in the fight against fossil fuel energy infrastructure, a movement that he describes as the New Utility Revolution. At Palmetto, we know that the more time passes, the more significant the impact of climate change is. Despite American households taking the initiative to utilize clean energy technology, the whole American electrical grid hasn’t adopted enough clean energy, nor has American electrical grids freed themselves from their toxic energy dependence on fossil fuels. As it stands today, solar energy provides a measly 3% of energy output for the United States. Still, the potential upside to Americans utilizing solar energy is monumental for clean energy independence and reaching global climate goals. Did you know if the US devoted 22,000 square miles toward solar energy, it would be possible to power the entire United States with clean energy? While 22,000 square miles may seem like a large number, it's only a fraction of the US’s total land area. We invite you to think about all the bare rooftops, empty parking spaces, and spacious backyards that could have solar panels. Americans have proven that they are taking the bold climate initiative to supply clean energy in their homes, but why is the whole electrical grid still shackled to dirty fossil fuels known to wreak havoc on the environment and communities? By using solar energy, you’re in control of how you spend your savings rather than letting the utility companies dictate it for you. Not to mention, you are saving the environment at the same time. You can play a role in today's clean energy revolution and build a climate-friendly future with Palmetto. As of the Summer of 2022, Palmetto homeowners are on track to prevent more than two million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere. And we have calculated that for the 25 years of energy production for every system installed and activated by Palmetto, we can impact equivalently – - 1,964,250,000 fewer pounds of coal burned and emitted into the atmosphere - 4,466,310,000 fewer miles driven by fossil fuel vehicles - 23,390,000 trees being grown for ten years Are you interested in learning more about Palmetto? Check out our website and follow us on We Don’t Have Time, Twitter, and LinkedIn to hear more about how we are making a difference in fighting the climate crisis!
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I think it's a great way to encourage people to choose the planet indirectly if they just don't naturally think that it's super important, cost-effective yet clean energy can help. 💡
Simon Bergbom
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There are currently 13,299 active solar panel installation companies in the U.S. While this surge of new companies drives competitive pricing & innovation, it has also made it difficult for many consumers to gauge expectations for the process of going solar. This is why Palmetto is launching their new Clean Energy Operating Platform. "Energy is important to everyone. Yet, most consumers are not equipped to understand and control how they use energy, where it comes from, what options they have, and how it all relates to their lifestyle, their budget, and the environment. Our platform is helping enterprise partners to make it simple, accessible and affordable for their customers to make the switch to clean energy." says Palmetto's Founder & CEO, Chris Kemper. For Palmetto's customers, their relationship with their solar provider doesn't end after installation. The company continues to work with their customers throughout the life of their solar system. To maintain open lines of communication and ensure long term customer satisfaction, the company launched a new warranty, maintenance and monitoring offering called Palmetto Protect. After Palmetto installs a solar system, they wirelessly connect it to their virtual energy intelligence software to proactively monitor the system 24 hours a day to measure energy production, to detect potential malfunctions and alert their team to devise solutions. If a malfunction is detected, Palmetto can inform the customer, investigate the problem and dispatch maintenance crews if necessary, to repair the system. Read more: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2022/07/2022-most-forward-thinking-contractor-palmetto/
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This looks really useful. I wish I would have known about Palmetto when I was looking into getting solar panels for my house...
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In most cases an electrified home should be cheaper as well, once you get past the installation costs. So if that can be paid or subsidized, it's a win win for everyone!
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75% seems like a crazy number! 🙀 Do you think there are enough incentives for people to change their appliances from gas/oil to electric?
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So interesting to learn about household appliances and their climate impact! I have an electric tea-kettle in my house, but I'm hoping we opt for more climate-friendly devices soon!