The Energy Show

After more than four decades in the solar industry, Barry Cinnamon breaks down the most common mistakes made by solar installers and homeowners and how to avoid them to ensure long-term performance, savings, and peace of mind.

In this episode of The Energy Show, you’ll learn:
• The installation mistakes that can cause leaks or system failures
• Why some systems are oversized or undersized
• How shading, roof orientation, and design affect performance
• The truth about solar loans, leases, and payment escalators
• How to compare quotes using price per watt
• What to look for in a reliable solar installer
• How to avoid high-pressure sales tactics

If you want solar that delivers maximum savings and reliability for 25+ years, this episode is essential.

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In this episode of The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon breaks down the science, economics, and practicality behind the proposed Trillion Trees Act — and asks the big question: Will it actually make a meaningful difference?

Trees absolutely help remove carbon from the atmosphere through natural carbon sequestration. But when you look at the numbers — global CO₂ emissions, land requirements, cost, and timing — the reality becomes clear: planting trees alone won’t solve the climate crisis.

• How trees absorb and store carbon (carbon sequestration explained)
• How much CO₂ a trillion trees would actually remove
• How much land and money the plan would require
• Why the timeline (decades) matters for climate action
• The unintended risks, including increased logging and land-use conflicts
• The solutions that make the biggest impact right now

The bottom line: Trees are valuable — but the fastest, most effective climate solution is reducing fossil fuel use and accelerating clean energy.

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Consider the poor photons! If your panels are dirty you are causing trillions of premature photonic deaths when they collide with dirt molecules. Please give those photons the chance to knock an electron loose from an eager semi-conductor. Instead of being converted to heat and banished to quantum hell.

Save The Photons. Clean Your Solar Panels

After just a week, your panels might look slightly dusty. But a light coating of dust doesn't significantly block sunlight. However, severe grime, especially on low-tilt panels, can slash your output by over 25%!

You can’t save all the photons all the time, but by watching your solar monitoring system you can tell mathematically -- as well as visually -- when your panels should be cleaned. If you have a larger system in an area with high electric rates and a dry climate, the economics of cleaning become more favorable.

When it comes to cleaning solar panels there’s lots of bad advice on the internet…and even from manufacturers. On this week’s podcast we address WHEN you should clean your solar panels, as well as HOW.

Please tune into the full “Save The Photons” podcast at www.energyshow.biz. And keep these three things in mind: safety, the type of water, and the best cleaning agents.

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Unfortunately, there are a few "quick buck" solar companies that take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. These ten tips will help you avoid these scam artists -- and get the best solar and battery installation for your home or business.

1. Beware of the word “Free”
2. Beware of TGTBT pricing and financing
3. Don’t sign up on the spot
4. Do not trust quotes generated completely online
5. Beware of “free maintenance and cleaning” commitments
6. Beware of optimistic system savings
7. Research the company that manufacturers the solar panels you will install
8. Research the company that manufactures battery SYSTEM you will install
9. Understand your backup power strategy
10. Do your own research on applicable incentives, credits and financing options

Don’t let a bad deal or poor installation quality ruin your solar investment. Tune into this week's podcast at www.energyshow.biz

This week on The Energy Show, we’re talking about solar + battery systems not just the equipment, but the customer service and troubleshooting that keeps these systems performing year after year.

Traditional “solar-only” systems can be wonderfully simple and reliable. But when you add batteries (plus transfer switches, CTs, load management, apps, and firmware), you also add more moving parts and that means it’s helpful to know what’s normal, what’s fixable, and what’s worth upgrading.

Barry is joined by the Cinnamon Energy Systems service team Frank Teague, Lucas Cordero, Lily Cinnamon, and Yvette Res for a practical, real-world conversation on what we see in the field and what homeowners can do to stay ahead of issues.

In this episode:
• Why batteries add complexity (hardware + software + communication)
• The truth about warranties (what’s covered and what usually isn’t)
• The most common “no production” scenario: it’s often monitoring/communication
• Why we often recommend waiting 48-72 hours before assuming the worst
• Firmware updates: why they matter and why they can be tricky
• Roof leaks, critters, and prevention tips
• When older systems (15+ years) may be better replaced than “patched”
• Cleaning + shade + winter production: what “normal” looks like seasonally
• VPPs + battery calibration cycles: why batteries sometimes discharge unexpectedly

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