System Installation Process – Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers

Solar Panels

Why should I consider solar?

Lock in your energy costs and insure yourself against rising utility rates .

With a system that meets all your electricity needs your energy bill will never go up.
A partial system will significantly reduce your bill as the top tiers of your energy bill are removed
Your system will last for decades. Solar modules have a lifetime of 30 to 40 years and up
The state of California Net Metering system allows you to bank extra electricity produced during peak sun hours with the utility that can be used when your system is not producing, such as at night or on rainy days. This system works on an annual basis, so that excess electricity produced during sunny months can be used at any time during the net metering annual period.

Using solar is an opportunity to practice environmental stewardship by reducing CO2 emissions, the main contributor to global warming, as well as other major pollutants.

Almost 40% of CO2 emissions in the US are due to electricity generation.
About 1.5 pounds of CO2 is generated for every kWh of electricity used.

The average household uses 16 kWh per day of electricity, or 5,840 kWh per year.
By installing solar, at this rate of consumption you reduce the rate of CO2 emissions by 8,760 pounds per year.
This is equivalent to removing one mid-size commuter car from the road each year. (10,000 miles per year, 20 mpg)
Other pollutants prevented from entering the atmosphere are sulfur dioxides, nitrous oxides, and particulates

But isn’t solar expensive?

We rely on electricity for our homes as much as we rely on our cars for transportation.

The initial investment for a solar system is similar to that of a buying a new car. But that is where the similarity ends. With solar you never have to fill up the tank. It just keeps producing. Your car will depreciate in value every year, whereas solar does not depreciate. In fact when taking into consideration the rising cost of electricity your system will appreciate in value
The cost of your solar system will be reduced up to 40% with the CSI rebate program and the 30% federal tax credits. Payback times are now roughly 6 or 7 years.
You can finance your solar system using a home equity loan. Your energy savings with solar begin immediately, and will meet or exceed your monthly loan payment
Loan payments are tax deductible.
Your solar system will last upwards of 30 years. Once the system is paid off the rest is money in the bank. Solar is one of the best financial investments you can make today.

What are some other benefits of solar?

Solar electric systems require very little maintenance.
Solar is clean and quiet.
Solar systems are modular and you can add panels at a later date if desired.
Blackout protection can be included with your system.

But what if I decide to move. Won’t my investment in solar be wasted?

For every $1 you save annually on your electricity bill, the value of your house increases $20.
For example, if you save $1,000 annually the value of your house increases $20,000.
Increased home values from solar are exempt from property taxes

Can I be totally independent from the utility?

If you are already connected to the utility, there is no reason to disconnect. Being connected to the grid means you can have consistent electric service without the cost and hassle of batteries, plus it allows you to take advantage of the state rebates and net metering.

If you have, or are thinking of building, a home which is off-grid or remote from existing power lines, you can certainly make your own electric power using solar energy. In many cases this can be more cost effective than running utility power lines to the property.

Does a solar power system make hot water?

No. Solar electric cells and modules convert sunlight into electric current to operate appliances, motors and pumps, and other devices that need electric power. People often confuse solar electric products with solar thermal panels that involve water circulating through tubes to be heated by the sun for swimming pool water heating.

Can I generate heat for my home with a Residential Solar Electric System?

No. Our solar power systems are designed to provide electricity to run your lights, appliances, and any other electric devices in your home. Other solar technologies are designed to turn the sun's light into heat instead of electricity.

How do I know if a Residential Solar Electric System would work on my home?

Solar electric power works for most homes. You need to have an area on your roof or in your yard which receives unobstructed sunlight for most of the day, all year. Some roof configurations or other site factors can make installation more difficult or costly. Feasibility is best determined by a professional site assessment.

What happens to a Grid-tied solar system in a power outage?

In the standard system, power is not available to the home during a power outage, even if the sun is shining. If you are particularly worried about power outages, a battery storage system can be added to your grid-tied solar system, however this is generally not recommended because batteries add up front cost and maintenance to the system, and decrease efficiency, lowering pay-back potential. A small conventional fuel generator is another backup option.

What size system do I need for my house?

The size system you need depends on your power loads. If you wanted to completely replace your current electrical purchases from the utility with a PV system, the best thing to do is look at your kWh usage on your electric bills for a year and calculate an average. We can then size the system to produce all or nearly all of the annual household usage.
If you are building a new home, you could cut the annual electricity usage dramatically, by designing an energy efficient, well insulated home, and using high-efficiency appliances. This would drastically reduce the size of the system.

How are the panels mounted?

Modules can be mounted to an existing roof, on either the main house, a garage, or outbuilding, or to a fixed rack, shade structure, or tracker on the ground. If the array is mounted to the roof, a sturdy aluminum rack is used to secure the array to the rafters. Penetrations in the roof surface are then sealed to maintain its water proof properties.

Do I need a building permit?

Yes, a building permit should be obtained by your contractor prior to installation.

Do I need permission from the local utility to connect my solar system to the grid?

Yes. The local utility will have rules and procedures that must be followed to safely and legally connect any generator to the grid. These rules are generally based upon national standards to which our systems comply.

How long will the system last?

The industry standard warranty for solar modules is 25 years. Expected useful life is in the range of 30 to 40 years. Other system components have varied lifetimes. Power electronics are the most sensitive components, and they are required to carry a 10 year warranty.