Monday, December 1, 2014

An Off the Grid Mountain Home

Bright Light Solar recently completed a solar panel installation in Bradford, NH. This mountain top cabin is now off the grid. Our system allows this property owner to heat the cabin, water, and supply enough electricity to support the cabin year round. The cabin is roughly 1700 square feet.


The system installed is 3.5kilowatts and is capable of retaining 4-5 days of battery capacity. You may be wondering why does it matter if the system has battery capacity? When designing a solar panel system for a property that needs to be “off the grid,” meaning it cannot be connected to the standard utility grid, there must be enough battery life to support a few cloudy days. It is also important that the battery system put in place is not so big that the solar panel system cannot support it. This property’s solar panel system can store enough energy for the home to last 4-5 days without sun.



To keep the cabin warm, a boiler system that uses solar hot water was installed to make sure the home stays warm during the harsh winter months.

Going off the grid is easier than you might think. Call Bright Light Solar today to discuss your solar energy needs! We can design a system for any property, commercial or residential! Our number is: (603) 961-0045

Thursday, August 7, 2014

A Solar Dream Home

Center Barnstead, NH

Bright Light Solar recently completed a “net zero” solar panel installation for a stunning lake home in Center Barnstead, NH. A “net zero” home means that the amount of solar energy the home generates is roughly equal to the amount of energy the home uses in a year. What does this mean for the home owner? No more electric or hot water bills! You can see this beautiful home and the completed installation in the picture below.


In addition to saving on their utility bills, this homeowner was able to receive tax incentives, state rebates, and federal rebates to help cover the costs of installation. The common misconception with solar panels is that they are expensive to purchase and install. However, Bright Light Solar has thoroughly researched the various rebates, incentives, and money saving practices consumers have available to them to help reduce the costs of installation and maintaining the panels.

Once the panels are installed, consumers see a lifetime of savings on their energy costs. Some even earn money on the energy they generate by selling excess energy to the conventional grid. Worried about the resale value of your home if you install solar panels? According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, home values increase an average of $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills. (For more information click here) So if you save an average of $1,000 on your utility bills each year, that will add $20,000 of value to your home!

Whether you have a lake home, regular home, land, or a rental property there is a solar energy option available for you. Bright Light Solar is here to help you navigate the solar energy world. We are available at any time to discuss the various solar energy options and money saving incentives available to you. Please feel free to contact us on our website (www.blsus.com), on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BLSUS), or by phone at 603-961-0045!


Thursday, July 31, 2014

An Oil Free Home

Dunbarton, NH

Bright Light Solar recently completed a 7.7KW (kilowatt) solar installation for a home in Dunbarton, NH. Before connecting with Bright Light Solar, this home was using oil to heat the home and their hot water. They were grid dependent for their electricity needs as well. With the help of Bright Light Solar, this home is now completely oil free and using solar for all of their energy needs.


We were able to install a system that will heat and cool their home and generate all their electricity needs. They are independently generating everything they need to keep their home running. 


We installed a ground mounted system. This means the panels are not installed on the roof but in the ground on the sunniest part of their property. You can see the completed project in the photo above. 

Ground mounted systems are a popular choice for those who have sunny spots of land on their property. Some even install ground systems to utilize group net metering and generate excess electricity to sell to the grid and consumers. To read more about group net metering check out our previous blog post by clicking here.

This home owner will receive numerous tax incentives for installing a solar panel system for their home. They will also have NO electric or oil bills anymore!

If you are interested in eliminating some or all of your utility bills, contact us today at (603) 961-0045! You can also check out our website www.blsus.com or visit on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BLSUS).  We are always available to discuss the various solar options that will work best for you and your energy needs. 

Monday, June 23, 2014

Another Home Goes “Net Zero”

A “Net Zero” energy building means that the total energy produced by the solar panel system covers ALL of the building’s energy consumption for both electricity and water heating. Bright Light Solar helped a residential home go “net zero” with the completion of a combination solar energy and solar hot water 6Kw (Kilowatt) system.


This home, located in Newington, will no longer need to use conventional energy and will be completely solar dependent. The completed system looked like this:


There are many benefits to a “Net Zero” home. Besides not being dependent on the conventional grid, you will see drastic reductions in your water heating and electric bills. There are also added rebates and tax incentives for “Net Zero” homes and businesses.

Here is what the customer, Dr. James, had to say about his installation:

"Your crew did a very good job. We are very happy with all the work they have done and the systems we have." - Dr. James. B.

Would you like to see your home or business go “Net Zero?” Contact Bright Light Solar today to learn what we can do for your energy costs!

Monday, June 16, 2014

Passive Solar Home Owner Goes Greener With Solar Panels

There is a green trend in building design called passive solar building design. This type of design entails building a house or building so that it collects solar heat in the winter and rejects solar heat in the summer. Typically this is achieved by window placement, type of windows used, thermal insulation, shading, and thermal mass. Buildings can be retrofitted with these features or built with these features incorporated into the original building plans.

The reason for passive solar building design is to utilize as much natural heat as possible without the use of solar panels. It can also be done to reduce the amount of solar panels needed to take a building “off the grid.”

A passive solar home in Manchester, NH came to Bright Light Solar for assistance in taking the next step in going green. With the installation of a 3Kw (Kilowatt) system this home is now utilizing solar energy to cover ALL of their electric usage.


Here is the finished installation:



This home required fewer solar panels to become completely solar dependent because of its passive solar building design. Our customer could not be happier with the completed system:

"Our meter started spinning backwards from day one. Lenn Johnson [Bright Light Solar’s trusted electrician] was absolutely great explaining things  to us and walking us through."

Whether you have already built your home with going green in mind or are looking to start the green process, Bright Light Solar is here to help! Contact us to find out how you can save on your energy costs!