FAQs

Solar electric panels and solar hot water panels are two separate technologies and independent systems. Solar electricity can be used to operate the small pumps needed to operate a solar hot water system, but the panels themselves either produce hot water or electricity, not both.

Solar hot water is produced by circulating a fluid through the solar collector panels and then transferring the heat absorbed in the fluid into the domestic hot water system.

Solar electricity is made by converting sunshine into an electric current which is converted into AC electricity and used in your home or business.

2- Which is more cost effective, solar hot water or solar electricity?

Solar hot water is the most cost effective solar energy solution available Using the available tax credits Renewable Energy Credits, and energy offsetting, a solar hot water system can pay for itself in 1 – 4 years and a solar electricity system can pay for itself in 5 – 15 years. Commercial systems fall in the lower part of the range due to additional tax and depreciation benefits available.

3- How does solar electricity Photovoltaic (PV)work?

The sun’s energy in the form of photons release electrons from their bonds in the silicon semiconductors that make up the solar cells. The flow of these electrons makes up the current that will ultimately be utilized in your home or building. The inverter in a solar electricity system takes the electricity and converts it, which comes from the solar panel in a DC current, into an AC current which can then be used in your home or business.

4- What is solar thermal?

Solar thermal systems (also called solar hot water) heat water for domestic hot water use. Solar thermal installations involve the placement of solar collectors on your roof or suitable location. These panels include an insulated copper piping system. As the heat transfer fluid (food grade antifreeze or glycol) runs through the pipes it is heated by the sun and then is transferred to the domestic water supply through a heat exchanger.

5- How much solar would it take to run my property?

The size of your solar installation depends on the energy demands of your building. We analyze 12 months history of your utility bills to determine the Kilowatt hours for electricity and Therms for hot water and heating used each month.

Next, using the assumption that a 1 Kilowatt solar electric system will produce approximately 100 kilowatts hours of electricity per month, we can estimate the size system to "run" your building.

6- How much will a renewable energy system cost?

Installing a solar hot water systems can cost much 3x less then a PV system. a limited budget for start by installing a solar hot water system. Next to conservation, there is no more cost effective and environmentally significant step you can take.

Solar electricity has a much wider range of costs due to the varying energy loads of different properties. Economies of scale make a big difference in cost, meaning larger commercial systems have a lower per watt.

7- How do I start?

The first step is conservation. Every dollar spent on conservation can save you $7 in energy costs. A properly insulated building, using efficient lighting, and Energy Star appliances are just a few of the steps that reduce your energy load. After reducing your energy load and installing a solar hot water system, we can help you size a Photovoltaic system which would best meet yours goals and budget.

8- What are the incentives for purchasing renewable energy?

State and federal tax incentives can make a substantial difference in the cost of solar for homeowners and businesses. Tax credits of up to $xxx exists for solar hot water, solar space heating, and solar electricity.

The Federal tax credit is a straight 30% of the cost of the system. An example, a $40,000 PV system would qualify for a $10,500 state tax credit and a $12,000 federal tax credit, for a combined total of more than half the system cost.

Commercial installations qualify for a CA state tax credit and 30% federal tax credit with additional tax depreciation benefits, which make the systems very cost effective.

9- Are there new technologies coming out soon that will make solar less expensive?

Solar increases in efficiency and decreases in cost have always been incremental. We all hope that there will be a technological breakthrough, to make solar more efficient and affordable, but those technologies may take some time to come to market.

10- Will solar energy work on my type of roof?

A solar energy system can be installed on a variety of roof surfaces including metal, composite, shingle, membrane and a variety of others. Solar panels are mounted in a southern orientation to gain the most solar energy production. East and west facing roofs will produce less energy; however, west-facing roofs produce more energy during “peak” times when the power can be worth more money and might be advantageous to utility customers with time of use charges.

11- How much does a solar energy system weigh?

Solar panels and mounting equipment add very little weight to a roofing structure. A solar thermal panel will add only about 5 pounds per square foot to a roof structure while a solar electric (photovoltaic) panel often weigh less. Storage tanks for a solar hot water system have a variety of storage options including ground floor locations, or enclosed outbuildings.

12- How do I know how much hot water or electricity I use?

Electricity use is a very simple number to determine by looking at your utility bills and figuring out the number of kilowatt hours consumed per month.

Solar hot water use can be a little more complicated to determine. For residential use, it is estimated each resident uses approximately 20 gallons of hot water per day. Commercial and industrial hot water usage is determined through a combination of factors, such as overall water usage, metering of domestic hot water usage, and individual design estimates.

13- How is solar energy stored?

Solar hot water is stored in insulated storage tanks connected to your hot water heater. They range in size from a residential 80 gallon storage tank to industrial tanks for up to 4,000 gallons. Adequate storage of hot water is very important. You must have enough storage, or the BTU’s produced by the solar hot water system will be wasted. The storage for a hot water system is calculated based upon the number and size of the solar hot water panels.

Solar electricity can be either stored in batteries or sent back into the power grid. Most people chose a grid tied system due to the additional cost and maintenance of a battery back-up system.

14- How much maintenance does a solar energy system require?

Solar electric systems are for the most part, maintenance free. We do recommend a yearly check to ensure the system is operating properly and depending on the area, a periodic cleaning of the panels can be beneficial. A solar electric system should still be producing 80% of the panel’s rated power after 25 years and can last 40 to 50 years.

Solar hot water systems have an expected lifespan of 25 or more years. Just as a plumbing system in a home or business may need periodic maintenance, solar hot water systems may need to have some electronics, pumps, or storage tanks repaired or replaced over time.

15- How does solar energy help the environment?

Your system will reduce the demand on existing fossil-fuel power plants and help reduce the need to build new facilities. Both solar hot water and electricity systems greatly reduce the CO2 emissions that individual homes or companies produce. Whether your concern is reducing pollution in your local town or reducing CO2 emissions globally, solar represents one of the cleanest and most abundant forms of energy available.

16- Is a solar electricity system a good investment if you live somewhere cloudy?

Photovoltaics use a narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum. When portions of the panels are obscured, output falls dramatically. If there is enough sunlight to create a shadow, then the panels can generate energy.

Solar Water Heating (SWH) uses a broad band of the electromagnetic spectrum and is less sensitive to variation of incident radiation on the collectors.

Evacuated tubes and flat plate collectors are different SWH technologies that have their own advantages and disadvantages. The acceptable performance of each system will vary under the local climate conditions.

17- What if there are clouds or no sun?

Solar energy systems do rely on daylight and sunshine. Their energy outputs are based upon long-term weather data for the area in which the system is being installed. Solar hot water and electricity (PV) systems are designed to supplement, not replace your existing water heating or electrical systems.

When you are not producing maximum energy, your building’s water heating and electrical systems operate normally. When the sun is shining, solar replaces the fossil fuel produced power with a clean and renewable source of energy. The amount of energy replaced depends upon the size of the solar energy system installed.

18- Should I wait for more efficient solar technologies?

Solar hot water is an extremely efficient and cost effective solution for both homeowners and businesses. With incentives, a commercial hot water system can pay for itself in as little as 3 years and last for 30. The technology is proven and reliable.

Advances in efficiency for solar electricity have been incremental and though a technological leap is possible, the most likely scenario will be continued incremental advancements.

With the combination of incentives through state and federal agencies, renewable energy credits, and depreciation there has never been a better time to purchase a solar electricity system. Also, a solar electric system can be expanded over time and as advancements are made new solar panels can be added to increase the overall efficiency of the total

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