Protect Yourself from Rising Electricity Prices Share This Story! As of November 1st electricity costs have increased in Ontario. This isn’t a temporary change, it’s only a sign of things to come. And the easiest way to lessen how much the price increase affects you, is by creating efficiencies in your daily life. The simplest –  ‘no cost’ – changes would be working or doing chores before  7 a.m. and after 7 p.m., during the week when electricity costs are the lowest, and on the weekends. But you can quickly see that the ‘off-peak’ hours don’t a ..read more

Humble Beginings I have been taking Ottawa’s public transit system for over 10 years now. Most of my trips on OC Transpo were to go to school, and now more recently, to go to work. Taking public transportation has been more affordable than driving and it reduces overall CO2 output. I have also been very lucky when it comes to public transit; my end destination is usually only one or two bus rides away. However, public transportation in Ottawa has its downsides too. For example, trips that would normally take me about 15-20 minutes via car would often ..read more

Do Solar Panels Work During Cloudy Days? Share This Story! Solar panels were designed to capture energy from the sun; but, do solar panels work during cloudy days? The simple answer to this is – yes! However, just not at the same rate or efficiency level. Solar Panels Can Still Generate Energy in Cloudy Weather While a clear, sunny day is the ideal weather condition for your panels to produce energy, this does not mean your panels are rendered useless when it is overcast out. On a cloudy day, your panels can still produce up to 10 – 25% of their ..read more

4 Environmental Benefits of Going Solar Share This Story! As the world continues to transition to a renewable energy future, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels is the key to a successful transition. Installing solar panels onto your roof is one of the best ways to contribute to a healthier environment. To better understand the positive impacts of going solar, here are 4 environmental benefits of Making The Switch. Clean Renewable Energy Solar energy is the most abundant and readily available source of energy available to humankind. The earth ..read more

4 Ways To Be More Eco-Friendly This Winter Share This Story! Everyone has a few valuable tips and tricks for staying warm in the winter without cranking up the heat. However, when it comes to Canadian winter, even the most hardened environmentalists could be tempted by the thermostat. We’re not suggesting you to freeze, so here are 4 easy ways for you to be more eco-friendly this winter! Use Less Fuel Using less fuel is an environmentally conscious practice for every season, but it is especially relevant in the colder winter months. Save fuel (a ..read more

Solar In The Dark Another week, another addition to our Winter Solar Series! This is part 3 of our solar series and we will be diving into how shorter winter days and fewer sunlight hours affect your solar production. But first, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out last week’s blog post about solar versus snow here. In The Dark As explained in part 1 of our solar series, solar panels don’t convert heat into energy, but rather the electromagnetic radiation. In the dead of winter, however, Ontario’s peak sunlight hours dramatically decrease. With this in mind ..read more

Why I Made the Switch – to Work with Switch Intro Hey there, reader, my name is Kevin Whalen and I am the CMO for Switch Energy. This blog post was written by me as I wanted to share the story of how I Made the Switch – to work with Switch. Finding a Path I remember back in the late summer of 2013, I was entering my final year of high school, but also getting worried about what I wanted to do after I graduated in June of 2014. I knew I was going to college and that business would be my field of study, but other than that I wasn’t quite sure. While I d ..read more

The 2019 CHEO Dream Home is Powered by Solar! Share This Story! Switch Energy partnered up with Minto Communities to make the 2019 CHEO Dream of a Lifetime Home fully net-zero! The 4500+ square foot house boasts an impressive 16.9 kWh rooftop solar panel system which allows the Home to be completely powered by solar energy all year round. We are incredibly proud to be part of such a meaningful project within the Ottawa community. Learn MoreCheck out the official page! Learn all about the net-zero CHEO Dream Home, the benefits of switching t ..read more

5 Ways To Be Sustainable This Spring Share This Story! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and Canadians are coming out of hibernation. That’s right, spring is finally here! As we ease our way into the warmer season after a long, dismal winter, start the season off right by caring for the planet. To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled some some eco-friendly tips you can implement today! Here are 5 ways to be more sustainable this spring. Turn Your Lights Off As the daylight hours grow longer, we can turn ..read more

Do Solar Panels Go Out Of Date? Share This Story! We often get asked “do solar panels go out of date?” The answer is… not as quickly as you’d think! Solar technology has been consistent for many years, unlike computers and smartphones that are constantly undergoing rapid advancement. Here’s some light reading on the speed of technological advancement of solar panels! Most People Don’t Worry About How Technology Works Most people are aware that renewable energy sources are practical and responsible options for the future. In fact, more people and ..read more