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There’s no doubt about it: setting up a solar power system, whether it’s going to be running in a residential or a commercial setting, is a serious investment.

Solar can offer big benefits—to your pocketbook and to the planet. But is it right for you? And if it is, how do you choose the best provider/installer and tailor the system to your home and your energy needs? Here are some tips for making the power of the sun work for you.

While studies show that the majority of Americans favor clean, renewable energy, including solar, old-paradigm energy interests, like the coal and fossil-fuel lobbies, are working to reverse the progress many states have made toward increasing the share of renewables in their energy tool kits.

Enter the solar advocates: people who know that solar can work for everyone and are willing to share their knowledge. People who take the growing movement for solar energy to their elected representatives, letting them know just how important it is for America’s future.

From rooftop receivers to multimillion-panel arrays, solar power is changing the way everyone from private citizens to national leaders to international organizations think about power generation. And the researchers and engineers expanding and improving solar are coming up with ingenious answers to the questions it poses.

We’ve all gotten used to a world of disposable technology, in which our latest “must have” gadgets need to be replaced with upgrades, updates and—inevitably—upcharges on an all-too-frequent basis.

The boom in solar energy for homes, offices and industrial uses also means an increase in the creation of jobs all over the world and close to home. In addition to its environmental and energy cost-saving benefits, solar power also brings economic-boosting power on the local, regional and national level.

Home solar typically refers to privately owned and stationed solar panels on your rooftop or hosted on your property. Community solar gardens (CSGs) are a way to “rent” available solar as a member of a community.

You do your best to be a responsible energy consumer, but even though you turn off lights as you leave the room and dutifully turn off other appliances and devices when you’re not using them, many of those items, even when not turned on, still require a shocking amount of energy.

Every home owner has one—that long, long list of projects to upgrade your home. Your list might include a kitchen remodel, a new deck or a much-needed coat of paint on the interior walls.

It’s easy to feel discouraged when reading news about climate change, but discouragement doesn’t have to turn to inaction. In fact, people all over the world are embracing the idea of making a positive difference, and grassroots support for responsible consumption continues to rise.