California is one of the country’s most environmentally conscious states. They are also one of the states offering some of the best incentives for their residents to go green. Northern California residents, like those in San Jose can now get great green solutions for their homes from Sungate Energy Solutions just like those in Southern California have been receiving.

Sungate offers San Mateo residents great ideas in alternative energy. We can put solar panels in your home to provide you with a complete energy system.  A solar system can be designed to be the perfect size for your home and can reduce or eliminate your dependence on the energy companies. Or, if you’re not ready to go quite that far, how about a simple solar water system for your Redwood City home?

At Sungate Energy Systems, we’re dedicated to offering our Northern California customers the very best in alternative energy solutions. Our engineers are knowledgeable and professional, and can design solutions to meet all your energy needs while staying within your budget.  And, once your system is paid for, you no longer have those pesky monthly bills.

There are great tax credits available for many of the solutions that Sungate can provide for your home. The Federal government offers a 30% credit on many energy efficient home improvements right now, which makes upgrading your Hayward bungalow an even better idea than you realized!  The state of California also offers some tax credits for improving your home.

So, give Sungate Energy Systems a call when you’re ready to get new insulation or  windows for your Palo Alto historic home. We know all the ins and outs of making your home more energy efficient, saving you money and ensuring that your home still looks fantastic and true to its period. You’ll be so glad you chose Sungate Energy Solutions to make your home greener and more comfortable for those chilly northern California evenings.

Alternative energy is certainly a hot topic in the US. Here at Sungate Energy Solutions, we keep our eye out for what the rest of the world is thinking and doing, too.

A recent article from Russia Info Center discusses some of Russia’s plans for alternative energy, on the day that their first solar power plant, in the Belgorod region of the country is going online for its trial run.

Because Russia is so vast and its climate so diverse, the country is pursuing several forms of alternative energy, so that each region can embrace the type of alternative energy that works best for their environment and weather. For example, the article discusses wind energy as being a good alternative energy source for northern regions of the country, where strong winds blow year round. The country is also pursuing agricultural waste as an alternative fuel source. They report that bio gas plants can pay for themselves in 2-3 years. You can read the original story from Russia Info Center here.

At Sungate Energy Solutions, we are watching the rest of the world. But, in the meantime, we’re providing clean solar energy solutions to our customers today. With a solar photovoltaic system in your home, you can reduce your dependence upon the gas and electric companies while feeling good about your contribution to the environment. Solar power is clean and makes good common sense. It’s also one of the forms of alternative energy that is fully ready for our use today.

So, talk to Sungate about installing a solar energy system in your home today. Whether you want to start with a simple solar hot water system that reduces your cost of heating water for your home, or you want to completely convert your home to solar power, we can help you. Alternative energy is a great way to make a contribution to our planet and a great way to save money. And, that feels good in any country.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we always begin to reflect on the things for which we’re most thankful. This year as you’re counting your blessings, don’t forget to be grateful for all the resources we get from the earth.

The sun warms us and the rain washes us. The trees give us oxygen, and at the same time, wood for building shelter from the weather. We live in a world that offers us many resources that we use for a wide variety of purposes in our lives.

The best way we can show our thanks to the earth is to use those resources wisely. Humans are in the bad habit of using many resources excessively and inefficiently. Changing those patterns is critical if we’re to continue to enjoy the fruits of the earth that we have taken for granted.

At Sungate Energy Solutions, it’s our mission to help our customers use the earth’s resources more wisely each and every day. We’re here to help you save the planet and your money through the following products and services:

• Energy efficient appliances
• Energy efficient windows and doors
• Insulation
• Solar energy systems

Whether you’re looking to cut your energy bills through better doors windows and insulation or you want to ditch the electric company altogether by installing a complete solar energy system, we can help you get the job done.

You may have no idea how much energy you’re wasting until you start seeing the savings you create by making changes. Simply installing a solar hot water system can save you as much as 30% on the costs of heating water for your home. Even small changes can make a big difference.

So, how will you say thanks to the planet this year? Call Sungate Energy Solutions today and let us help you decide which products can help you give Mother Earth the thanks she deserves this year.

We’re all looking for ways to be green and save green. There are some ways to go green by making some big investments, like adding a solar energy system to your home. But, some of the best tips for cutting energy costs are also the simplest; and at Sungate, we’re interested in saving energy in both little and big ways. Washing clothes in cold water, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and letting your dishes air dry rather than heat dry in the dishwasher are all easy ways to cut the energy bills. Some of our other favorite simple ideas include:

• Using a programmable thermostat
• Hanging insulated drapes over windows
• Unplugging parasitic devices like phone chargers and toasters when not in use

But, now, we want to hear from you!! Tell Sungate what you’re doing to save energy in your home. We want to hear even your simplest ideas.  Sharing suggestions and tips with each other is a great way for all of us to learn ways to be even greener.

We’ll be publishing some of your tips next month, so look forward to more information on ways to go green and save green!

And, when you’re ready to really save some green by installing that energy efficient solar energy system in your home; just give us a call. Remember that in addition to reducing your dependence on the utility companies, installing a solar energy system will get you a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost of your system – with no cap. There’s no better way to save money on energy bills than by harvesting the power of the sun. So, let Sungate help you put in your own personal energy system, right in your own home! You can save money on both your tax bill and your energy bill right away!

You’ve likely come to expect Sungate Energy Solutions to give you great advice when it comes to alternative energy and energy efficient products. However, we  may not be the first company that comes to mind when you start considering a new roof.

However, Sungate is a licensed roofing contractor, too! We provide lots of customers with energy efficient roofs, as well as solar panels on their roofs. A Sungate roof is the best choice for your home for several reasons.

First of all, our roofing materials are eco-friendly and energy efficient. An energy efficient roof is a great way to keep that warm air inside in the winter and that cool air inside in the summer.

Secondly, at Sungate Energy Solutions, we can not only install a roof for you, but we can also install solar panels in that roof. Putting in a solar energy system and a new roof at the same time saves you money and time in the long run. And, that solar energy system will qualify for a 30% tax credit from Uncle Sam this year. That’s right, you’ll get back 30% of what you spend on a solar energy system back on your taxes at the end of the year: and there’s no cap!

Finally, Sungate Energy Solutions is the right choice for installing your new roof because we’re a professional organization with the knowledge and the expertise to do the job right. We have the answers for your roofing because we know how to perfectly integrate the solar panels with your roof line, making them work seamlessly and look great. We stand behind our work as both a roofing company and as a solar energy company.

So, talk to us about your roofing needs. Our energy efficient roof with solar panels can make your home look great. And, even better, they can save you money for years down the road.

One of the questions we receive most frequently at Sungate Energy Solutions revolves around solar energy systems and how they work on cloudy days, as well as how they keep your appliances working at night.

Solar energy systems work quite well on cloudy days, though they may not produce as much energy as on bright sunny days. But, your solar power system can work quite well with the diffused light that the sun provides on even the most overcast days. In addition, most solar applications include a back up system that reverts to the regular electrical grid in the event that your solar panels just can’t keep up with the demand. This way, you’re never out of power because the weather is not cooperative.

Solar electrical systems are also typically equipped with a battery that absorbs the energy from the sun on the sunniest days. This energy is stored by the battery for use when the sun isn’t shining. So, on those very sunny days, it’s likely that you won’t revert to electricity on the grid even in the evening, after the sun goes down. Instead, you’ll use the energy stored during that day.

Very few people who have solar energy systems live entirely “off the grid” with no hookup to the power company, though it is possible. Instead, they produce most of their own power through their solar energy systems and get the rest from the power company as needed. However, since there will be many days when your solar system will produce more energy than you need, your electric meter may actually turn backwards. This means you’re selling energy to the electric company, and they’re offsetting your power bill for doing so. With a system like this, you will very rarely actually owe them any  money at the end of the month, because you wind up sort of “trading in” the excess power you generate for power from the electric company when you need it.

You needn’t be concerned that you can’t get enough power from a solar energy system. Your Sungate Energy Solutions representative can design the perfect solar energy system to fit your home’s energy requirements.

Was that summer electric bill just too much for you? Are you looking for ways to get a break from your utility costs as well as the heat? Before you panic about that electric bill, make sure you’re doing everything in your power to shave it. There are so many simple things you can do to lower your electricity usage. Sungate Energy Solutions offers these ten easy ways to shave your electricity bill.

1. Swap out your incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescents in your three most frequently used lights. Aim to eventually use only compact fluorescents in your home. If every American home replaced just one light with an Energy Star compact fluorescent bulb, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000 cars.

2. Buy a programmable thermostat. There’s no reason to keep your home warm enough or cool enough when you’re not going to be there, or when you’re sleeping. With a programmable thermostat, you can set the right temperatures for various times of the day, and your thermostat will adjust automatically.

3. Change your air filters once a month. Clogged air filters reduce air flow and make your heating and cooling systems work harder.

4. Vacuum air vents and registers regularly to aid circulation.

5. Use light colored blinds or curtains on south and west facing windows and keep them closed during the hottest part of the day.

6. Use small appliances like crock pots for cooking during the summer. Not only do they use less electricity than your oven, but they keep your kitchen cooler, too.

7. Give up a degree or two. Keeping the home one or two degrees cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer will help you save money. Your family will may complain at first, but they’ll quickly adjust to the difference.

8. Turn off those lights. Many people have lights on when they don’t really need them. Make it a point to keep lights out when they’re not really needed.

9. Turn off your tanked hot water heater when you go out of town. No need to keep water heated when you’re not going to use it. Even better; buy a tankless hot water heater so that you never heat water unless you’re using it.

10.Contact Sungate Energy Solutions for energy efficient windows, insulation, tankless hot water heaters and solar energy systems to really make a dent in that power bill!

At Sungate Energy Solutions, we’re always looking for ways to help our customers fight those high utility costs and do their part to protect the environment. That’s why we offer lots of options, including solar hot water. Solar hot water is one of the hottest technologies going today, and with good reason.

By switching to solar hot water, you can fight those rising utility costs even while working with your existing hot water heater if you choose. You see, with solar hot water, your water is heated by your solar equipment before it ever reaches your hot water tank. Because the water is warmer to begin with, it requires less energy to heat it to the temperature you desire. Experts estimate that the costs of heating water are reduced by about 70% by using solar hot water. I’m sure you’d agree that reducing the energy required to heat your water by 70% is a great way to save money on your gas bill. You can save even more money by simply making a few changes to your daily routine. Using more hot water while the sun is shining, and less in the evening will allow you to take the greatest advantage of your

Installing solar hot water requires knowledge and skill. The engineers and installers at Sungate Energy Solutions have both. They’re expertly trained in Fafco Solar hot water as well as other systems. You don’t have to worry about sizing your solar hot water system or where the system needs to go to get adequate solar energy.

When you trust your solar hot water solution to Sungate Energy Solutions, you can spend your time thinking about all the money you’re going to save and feeling good about helping the environment by reducing your energy footprint. Leave the rest to us; it’s what we do best!

Sungate Energy Solutions brings you the easiest way of getting hot water whenever you need it, and that too, without burning a hole into your pocket. We are talking about tankless water heaters that are powered by solar energy.

It is a big nag when you run out of hot water at a crucial moment.  This is because your hot water is stored in a tank and it can can only hold a finite amount of water and after that you simply start getting cold water.  An on-demand hot water system on the other hand heats up water for you on the go so that you get as much hot water as you need.

On-demand hot water system also helps you optimize your energy usage because only that much hot water is generated as you need.  In the conventional water heating system the water is heated up even when you don’t need it wasting lots of precious energy.

Sungate Energy Solutions can install on-demand hot water systems at various point-of-use locations or for the whole house: it depends upon your requirement.  Point-of-use on-demand hot water systems are installed exactly where hot water would be required, for instance, the washbasin or the shower or any other location where you specifically need hot water.  A single unit can be installed from where hot water can be supplied to the entire household all business premises.

There is no danger of getting excessively hot water because you can set your own limits of temperature.  The system simply uses the light from the sun to generate electricity needed to heat up the water. You don’t need bright sun (of course this may help) because instead of using direct sun rays the on-demand water heating systems use light from their surroundings and then convert that light into electricity.  So you don’t have to worry about not getting enough sun.  Some people may face problem during night but considering the amount of money you are going to save and the contribution you’re going to make towards keeping your environment clean, you can slightly modify the way you use hot water so that you can use it during daytime or even evening time when you have some amount of light in the atmosphere.

The on-demand hot water systems from Sungate Energy Solutions will help you not only reduce your utility bills but will also improve the way you use and enjoy hot water.  First of all, you are never going to run out of hot water when you have got soap all over your body. Secondly, you conserve energy by not needlessly having to store hot water into a tank (while the stored water keeps on losing heat, consequently wasting power and energy).

Need to know more about how you can save money and reduce your garden footprint as well by switching over to an on-demand hot water system?  Give us a call today and one of our helpful representatives will give you the needed information.

What is the benefit of an on demand hot water heater from Sungate Energy Solutions? Like the company name states, it’s a solution to save money and reduce energy use in your home. Unlike typical hot water heaters, an on demand hot water heater only produces hot water when it is necessary. Typical hot water storage systems store tanks of water at about 120° Fahrenheit all day and night; this requires more and more energy the cooler it is outside. This is one of the big ways your energy bill can soar in the winter. Also, the bigger your home is, the bigger your hot water heater tank will be and the more money it costs to maintain at 120° Fahrenheit.

How do on demand hot water heaters from Sungate Solutions save you money and save the planet’s energy?

On demand hot water heaters are also known as tankless hot water heaters. They are beneficial for the environment and your pocket book in several ways. The on demand hot water heater starts to work when you turn on a hot water tap. Cold water rushes through the pipes and either a gas burner or electrical unit heats the water for the duration the tap is turned on. Depending on your needs, the size of your home, and the number of hot water heating units you have in your home, determines the flow rate the on demand hot water heaters can supply, which varies from 2 – 5 gallons per hot water heating unit.

If you often use multiple demanding hot water amenities simultaneously, for example running the dishwasher, laundry machines, and/or shower at the same time, it would be a good idea to invest in a second hot water heater because it will stretch the hot water heaters to their limit, just like when the hot water storage tanks empty in a storage-based heating unit. You can even choose to install the on demand hot water heaters close to the appliances or fixtures that you them most in larger homes for the best results. This is added flexibility, unlike the stationary hot water storage unit that usually come with homes.

While conventional hot water heaters with storage units cost less up front, on demand water heaters from Sungate Energy Solutions will pay for themselves in energy cost savings over time. Your energy bills will be considerably lower than those of the conventional set up, and therefore off set the up-front costs in time. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home that uses 41 gallons of water per day or less saves 24% – 34% of energy costs on each bill. For large homes that use a much larger quantity of water, around 86 gallons per day, the savings range from 8% – 16% on each energy bill. This shows that by making the green choice to be environmentally friendly, can also save you green in the long run.