Solar Installation Costs

There is no doubt solar installation requires a considerable investment at the beginning for your residential or commercial solar energy plan. When getting to know about the capital cost of a solar installation, many people believe that the solar electricity is not affordable for their homes. You must not take into account the upfront installation charges if you are looking for long term benefits of solar power systems by reducing your energy costs. However, there are some financing options you can choose to reduce the uproot costs of solar installation like Power Purchases Agreement (PPA) and solar leases.

Financing Option: Solar Leases

You can reduce the capital cost for the installations of solar panels and other equipment with the help of the solar lease; your plan for upfront cost reduction of a solar power installations. You will cover the charges for a solar installation by paying a fixed amount of installments each month, meanwhile producing energy from the solar panels. Your lease provider will own the solar panels and will also maintain them until you pay the final installment. Solar leases help you get the benefits of solar power system at low rates while eliminating high utility bills.

Financing Option: Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)

In the case of a power purchase agreement (PPA), you only pay for the electricity produced and used. You do not own the solar panels system and you have no need to pay for the installing charges Instead your PPA provider owns the solar panels and other equipment and covers the installation cost.  This agreement also sets you free from the worry of maintenance or repairs as your PPA provider maintain your equipment. You will only pay a fixed rate for the electricity produced which would be considerably lower than the electricity rate from the utility companies.

Right Financing Option for Solar Installation

It depends on the location of your home or business as to which installation option is suitable for you. Both a solar leases and PPA options reduce the installation charges making solar power system affordable for your home or office.

Benefits of Financing Installations of your Solar Power System

By choosing a solar lease or PPA for financing your solar power system installation, you will get some more benefits other than saving money. These financing options release you from the strain of repair and maintenance of your system because a third party owns the system and is responsible for maintaining your equipment. When you install the solar system of your own you pay extra fees for inspection, which may vary from place to place, solar installation financing options helps you avoid such additional charges.

Contact Smith Sustainable Design to learn more about different financing options and their benefits and make it possible to use solar power for your home or business without paying a heavy upfront amount. We will help you get a better understanding of financing option that fits in your budget. 

Solar Energy Monitoring System for A Home

Many people keep a check on the consumption rate, varying prices, and working process of electricity produced by the utility companies. Homeowners tend to switch to the electric solar energy for their homes for the purpose of reducing utilities. Monitoring, however, is something required in the case of electric solar energy systems as well. We can use a monitoring system in combination with electric solar energy system. Monitoring system alerts you in case the system is not working properly. It also provides useful data on energy use.   

You have the option of including monitoring system in electric solar energy system during the installation. Monitoring system are usually the web-based format used to display readings and data. The system collects information about electricity usage from your commercial or residential building, and displays it in an easy to understand method. You can access this data from any web-enabled computer or device. The remote availability of data depends on the type of monitoring program you use. You can effectively use the information provided by your monitoring system for the purpose of better energy use and system’s performance.

For electric solar energy systems, monitoring tools provide you the measurement of two important values, energy consumption and energy production. With the help of monitoring system, you can get information about different factors, which affect energy production. These factors include weather information, panel temperatures, the wind speed, solar irradiance, and more. Monitoring tool helps you plan the future and identify the trend by the analysis of production and usage data for the long past period of time. You can also receive an alert from the monitoring tool if your system is not working properly. Identification of the problem helps you to solve it immediately thus making the performance of your system even better.

Many monitoring tools provide information in terms of positive environmental impact of your solar energy system. Your monitoring system does not always generate a technical data which many of us hardly understand. Some monitoring systems interpret the electric solar energy produced into alternate benefits, like gallons of gasoline saved or hours to power the home. You can get a better idea from the relatable data your monitoring system provides about how the solar power system is saving your tons of money, benefiting your home and business.

Monitoring tools make your solar energy system more effective and organized, giving you valuable information about the consumption and production, performance and efficiency of your system, error in your system if any, and direct benefits of your system on the environment. Expert team at Smith Sustainable Design guides you about the best monitoring solution for your commercial or residential solar power system.

Solar Energy System for Homes

Before the installation of a solar energy system, many homeowners have some questions in their minds about the size of solar panels and their fitting process on the roofs. The design of your solar panel system depends upon a number of factors like available space, slope of your roof, orientation of your home. Let’s discuss how these factors play an important role in determining the design of solar panel installation.

Orientation of your home is an important factor and needs consideration before the installation of solar panels. For the purpose of collecting maximum energy from the sun, install solar panels where they face south direction. It is the possibility that your roof does not have a southern sunlight exposure due to some obstruction like trees or other homes. In this case, we may consider a ground mounted solar panels instead of the roof mounted solar panels.

Plan proper angle of the solar panels if the orientation of your home gives sunlight exposure from the south. The pitch of your roof also helps deciding the installing angle of solar panels. The best angle, to install solar panels, is an inclination of 40 degrees plus or minus 15% in the south direction. Steeper roof is not appropriate to get maximum sunlight, in this case ground mounted solar panels can work. If the roof of your home is not that steep, roof-mounted solar panels can be arranged to receive maximum sun exposure.

The size of solar panels for homes depends on your roof construction and effective areas. Load ratings of your roof and ideal available space for solar panel installations are two important factors which require consideration for the safe and effective solar panel installation. Ground mounted solar panels have a large capacity of 20 kilowatts as compared to the roof mounted solar panels, which have size range of 3 to 10 kilowatts. It depends on your required capacity to what type of solar panels systems would be appropriate for you - ground mounted or roof mounted.

Smith Sustainable Design has expert planners for solar panel systems ready to examine your homes for ideal 

solar panel installations. In order to design an effective solar power system, our team of experts carefully evaluates your site and its surroundings. Contact us to begin solar system planning for your home starting from the site evaluation.

Install Solar Panels at Home

If you are planning to install solar panels for your home, the first thing you need to do is a site assessment. But other than this there are some other factors you need to analyze before the installation process. The Environmental Protection Agency has defined certain specifications about the installation of solar panels in a new home you are preparing to build or in an existing home. If you are looking to install solar power, you may require only a few modifications in your home to help ease the installation process.

Solar Panel Installations Structure and Safety

It is important to know the load capacity of the roof of your home which tells the maximum safe load your home’s roof can bear without the chances of causing a severe damage. You are required to know about the maximum live load and dead load ratings for your roof. It will tell you whether your roof can withstand the weight of the solar panels or not. Another factor that needs your attention is the pitch or slope of your roof. Pitch analysis may help you decide whether or not your roof requires anchor safety system, which protects against falls.

Prepare your Home to Install Solar Panels

A considerable area is required to place solar panels, inverter and other components of the solar system. A 4’x4’ plywood area can serve the purpose of installing an inverter of the solar power equipment. You also need a 1-inch metal conduit as a connection between the area where you installed solar inverter, and the area designated to the array of solar panels. For the purpose of safety you need a dual-pole circuit breaker for your solar panel system. The addition of circuit-breaker in the electrical panel of your home protects from the overflowing of the electric power. 

To be well prepared for the installation of solar panel for your home, you must know about the additional components required for solar power system. In case you want to install solar panels for your new home ready to be built, you must accommodate the items of solar power system during the construction process. In order to retrofit solar energy system in an existing home, you may require few modifications in your structure to help the installation process. You can consult Smith Sustainable Design to get more information about the solar panels installation. Our expert team can provide you with a professional assistance about the planning of solar electric power for your home. 

Types of Solar Electric Systems

Solar panels are the most prominent components of a solar electric system however they are not the only part of a system that people should consider. Along with PV modules some other components of a solar system include inverters, batteries, and charge controllers. Different components are required depending on the type of a solar system you use.

 Solar electric systems are of different sizes and types depending upon environmental conditions, surroundings, energy need and other factors. This post discusses brief introduction of different types of solar electric system designs.

 Photovoltaic Direct Systems

The simplest type of electric solar energy system is Photovoltaic Direct System. The major component of direct system is photovoltaic panels, there are no batteries and other outside power sources attached. Due to the absence of batteries, the direct system doesn’t store electric power and produces electricity only when the sun is out. This system is good only if you want energy to power few applications of your home especially during the day time.

Off-Grid Systems

Off-Grid system is an independently working solar electric system which converts sunlight into DC electricity. It also stores DC electric power into batteries attached to it so it can be used to power DC appliances at any time of the day.  As the name indicates the off-grid system does not require any source of electricity (the grid) so it is more suitable for remote areas. Adding an inverter in off-grid system makes it capable of converting DC electricity into AC electricity. There are some other components of off-grid system used to prevent overcharge and protect the battery.

 Grid Tied System

Grid-tied system attaches to the power grid of your home sharing the energy load and reducing electricity bills. With the help of an inverter, grid-tied system converts DC electricity into AC electricity that adds into the power line of your home. It is the most common solar energy system that people prefer to install in their homes. It pulls the electricity from the grid when required and pushes it back when the energy need fulfills by the electricity produced by solar panels. It is one of the best solar power systems because it not only reduces your electricity bills but also totally eliminates it sometimes.

There is no battery to store additional electricity produced by grid-tied system. However, there are some types of grid-tied systems that include battery backup and work on the same principle as simple grid-tied systems do.

We help you decide which solar power system is the best fit for your power requirements and how. If you are planning to install solar energy system for your home contact Smith Sustainable Design for the expert’s opinion and experienced assistance in any part of PA and NJ.

How do photovoltaic solar panels operate?

Solar panels consist of several solar cells or photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaic cell, the basic unit of solar panels, converts solar energy into electric energy. With the help of solar photovoltaic panels, you can produce your own solar electricity to power your entire home appliances and devices. Solar power is a less expensive way of producing electricity as compared to the electricity provided by utility companies.  There are no burning fuels, moving parts and other harmful side effects of solar power. Instead, it is the most soundless and environmentally friendly way of electricity production.

Before you install solar panels for your home, you must have some knowledge as to how photovoltaic cells work to form electricity. Let’s have a brief discussion about the workings of a solar photovoltaic cell. 

Photovoltaic cells convert photons from the sunlight into voltage (electrical force). A semiconductor material is used to form photovoltaic cells which allows the electric current pass through. Silicon with little addition of boron and phosphorous is used as a semiconductor in solar cells. There are two layers of semiconductor in each solar cell - positive and negative. Small particles of sunlight called photons are absorbed by photovoltaic cells and release electrons. The electrons flow through the photovoltaic cells in the form of electric current producing energy to power your home.

Solar panels convert solar energy into Direct Current (DC), but the electricity we use to power our home is in the form of Alternate Current (AC). Solar panel transfers the DC electricity to an inverter. Inverter is another module of a complete solar panel system which converts the DC electricity generated by photovoltaic cells into the AC electricity.

Solar panels are the only visible and basic component of a solar power system that actually generate electricity from sunlight. There are no moveable machinery or other complicated parts in solar electric system as such there is less maintenance and cleaning required. For optimal results, it is important to install solar panels at the place where they are exposed to maximum sunlight. You must take care of factors that can affect the amount of sunlight reaching the solar panels like panel orientation, shade of different areas, and pitch and panels of your roof. Smith Sustainable Development extending its services to the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey for carrying out pre-installation survey for you to decide the suitable placement for solar panels.

We explained the working of solar panels in simple words without going into the deep procedure and science behind the production of electricity. However, if you are interested to know more details and complications involve in the solar panels we are ready to explain more details. 

Solar panels for the house

If you are planning to install solar panels for your home, you need to carry out a small survey, to make sure that your home site collects solar energy enough to make solar a viable power source for your home. Solar site survey is very important before you switch to solar electricity. The survey decides that your location is appropriate for solar electric power or not.

In order to determine that your location is suitable for solar photovoltaic cells or not you must gather the answers for these questions.

1.       Does your location collect enough sunlight?

2.       Are there any obstacles like trees, and buildings blocking the sunlight? Do obstacles need to be cleared to get more sun?

Let’s discuss these two questions to know what information you must have about pre-installation of solar panels.

Does your location collect enough sunlight?

It depends on the weather condition of your location. Overly cloudy weather is not suitable for solar cells. Fortunately, in the US almost all locations receive sufficient sunlight to effectively install solar panels. You can consult weather resource or solar resource map to gain knowledge about solar capacity of your location.

Are there obstacles in the path of sunlight?

This second part of solar site survey is more critical and requires more attention. It is very important to install solar panels at the location they are exposed to maximum sunlight. There could be trees, buildings and other structures obstructing the solar panels get maximum energy. To find out, possible obstacles in the path of sunlight different techniques can be used. For this purpose, you are required to find out the track of the sun across the sky. Sun changes its path throughout the year and adopts different track in different seasons. So if you are looking for obstacles it is very important to know the path of the sun for a whole year. Sun charts are available for different locations that can help you assess the track of the sun for your location.

There is another way to identify the different obstacles blocking the sun rays to reach solar panels. Build a three-dimensional model of your home and its surroundings or draw a map, in both ways you can locate the hurdles standing in the path of solar energy.

Smith Sustainable Design is experienced in performing solar site surveys to aide in installation decisions. We perform a thorough analysis of your space to determine the ideal location for your solar system panels.

Why use electric solar energy?

Everyone is looking for a cheap and feasible alternate electricity resource to meet their energy requirement in their homes and offices. People are promptly switching to solar electric power that is one of the best renewable energy resources.

The sun is a gigantic infinite power source that is never coming to an end and so is the solar energy. Solar power is important and popular because it plays its part in sustainable development and producing environmental friendly and economical electricity.

There are many reasons that make the solar electricity far better than the power generated by fossil fuels. Let’s consider our monthly power consumption and its cost that we bear in the form of utility bills or purchasing the large tanks of fuel. Traditional power sources have many negative impacts that we are not even aware of especially in terms of cost. To power our homes by paying utility bills or filling our fuel tanks, we spend a lot of money that impacts us in many ways.

Personal Costs

Electricity rate is never stable and varies continuously that is a major problem if you rely on to meet your energy needs solely from the utility companies. Prices of electricity keep on changing due to the production, transportation, and maintenance costs. Fossil fuels like natural gas, coal and petroleum are mainly used to produce electricity that are all non-renewable resources. The price of fossil fuels can increase every year due to their rapid consumption and limited availability.

Solar energy can meet your residential and commercial need of power within a cost far less than the other sources of energy. Solar panels allow you to generate your own electricity, preventing you to bear the effects of rising utility bills and fuel prices. Installation of solar energy system makes you energy independent and therefore releasing you from the worries of high electricity and fuel prices.

Shared Costs

Fossil fuels are a great threat to the environment causing global warming, air pollution, and acid rain. When we burn fossil fuels to generate electricity, they emit hazardous gases that are not only harmful to the environment, but also to human health as well. It means that to meet our energy needs we expose ourselves to a great threat by relying on fossil fuels. The whole procedure of mining, processing and transporting the fuel has negative impacts. There are oil spills and toxic pollutants that throughout the process cause land, water, and air pollution. So overall, we share negative costs caused by environmental damage and health concerns occurring due to the fossil fuels.

Solar power is a clean and environmental friendly system of generating electricity to power your home appliances and devices. There are no harmful emissions, no drilling, processing and transportation associated with solar energy. Installing solar panels allows you to produce your own electric power at the source without compromising about the surrounding environment. Most important thing is that you can play your part in reducing global warming by shifting to solar electric power.

We know that overall energy costs are never in our control and go beyond the utility bills and expenses of purchasing fuels. Moving to the solar panels to power your homes will dramatically reduce the energy costs you ever imagined. Smith Sustainable Design based in Pennsylvania and New Jersey States gives you the service of planning and installing solar power for your home in an affordable price.

Before you buy, is a solar installation right for you?

A solar installation is a big investment for any home or business. Before you buy, you need to be certain that a solar installation is right for you and will fit your power needs. Ask these questions before you invest in solar energy.

Is your site appropriate?

You’ll need to assess your site to make sure it’s ideal for solar installation. A trained solar installer can help you determine that your site has the qualities needed for generating solar power. Not only will the site and landscape need assessed, your roof will also need evaluated. In homes and businesses with aging roofs, it may be a good idea to invest in a new roof before having the solar installation started.

You should also consider the future of your site. If expansion is in the future, you’ll need to make sure your future plans won’t disrupt the functioning of the solar installation. If you anticipate using solar energy to power the expansion, you should also consider how to integrate the solar installation with the new addition now.

What size system do you need?

Oversizing or undersizing your new solar installation won’t help you use your funds efficiently. You’ll need to evaluate your home’s current electricity needs as well as account for changing needs in the future. If you’re not ready to switch completely to solar energy, size the system to accurately supplement your home or business’s electric utility usage. A skilled solar installer can be a huge help, and can work with you to determine the proper size for your solar installation.

Can you afford the cost?

Solar installations are expensive. Luckily, there are many programs which can help you cut that cost. Federal tax credits are available for homeowners who install solar systems at home, which can be good for up to 30 percent of the installation costs. Many states and utility companies offer programs which give rebates or credits which can further lower the cost to you. You may be eligible to receive a loan to help you pay upfront costs. Solar leases are another option that may be chosen which can eliminate upfront costs.

All about solar gardens and virtual net metering

Communities around the country are beginning to take advantage of solar photovoltaic power. Some communities utilize a solar garden, where solar photovoltaic panels are installed in a location other than the homes of those who use the power. Subscribers can sign up to co-own or lease a portion of the solar photovoltaic setup to receive its benefits. Solar gardens and net metering make it possible for homeowners to use solar power even if their home sites are less than ideal for installation.

In a solar photovoltaic system owned by the homeowner, net metering allows the homeowner to sell unused energy back to the utility gird. In a shared system, virtual net metering allows these energy credits to be shared between all the parties subscribed to the system. Unfortunately, solar garden subscribers aren't always eligible to receive these credits because the solar photovoltaic equipment isn't directly attached to their homes or buildings.

The growth of solar garden installation is creating new challenges for solar experts as well as legislators. These issues weren't a problem when systems were owned by single owners. With more communally-owned solar photovoltaic systems being developed each day, changes to the virtual net metering system are needed to allow members to receive the same benefits as single owners.

Luckily, some legislators are starting to realize this flaw of the virtual net metering system. New legislation is being passed in many states to allow solar garden subscribers to also receive the benefits of net metering.

To learn more about solar gardens and virtual net metering, call the solar photovoltaic experts at Smith Sustainable Design.

Solar panels for homes and your homeowner’s association

If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association, you know there are regulations which dictate what you can and cannot do on your property. Some homeowners associations are making it harder for homeowners to install solar panels for homes. While this may seem unreasonable to homeowners, a few of the reasons why homeowners associations are against solar panels for homes are listed below.

Solar panels for homes aren't aesthetically pleasing

Today’s solar panels for homes don’t look anything like the big, bulky units that first came out decades ago. Unfortunately, many homeowners associations are living in the past, and still view solar panels as ugly. Today’s solar panels for homes have come a long way and manufacturers have made great improvements to the look of home solar panels, so this should really be a non-issue for a homeowners association.

Some homeowners associations don’t like change

Some homeowners associations are reluctant to chance their policies. This may be because the board members don’t want the change. Whether it’s solar panels for homes or another change being pushed through, some people just aren't agreeable to change.

Homeowners associations are uneducated about solar panels for homes

Since this technology has really been gaining popularity in the last decade, not everyone is educated about the advantages and benefits solar panels for homes offer. To some who aren't aware of how the systems work, it may just seem like homeowners are wanting to switch utility providers, rather than give themselves the power to generate their own electricity. There are also many misconceptions about electric solar energy that can be a turn-off to those making the rules, such as the expense and the capabilities of solar technology. If board members don’t have all the facts about solar panels for homes, they are less likely to change the rules for homeowners wanting to install them.

Why choose electric solar energy

Many home and business owners today are choosing electric solar energy to provide the power they need each day. This clean and abundant energy source is widely available wherever you are, but previously, the upfront costs have turned off many. Luckily, costs are declining and attitudes are changing, making electric solar energy more popular than ever.

Electric solar energy systems are ideal for most homes and businesses. These systems empower home and business owners, giving them the ability to generate much, if not all, the electricity needed to power everyday needs and operations. Generating energy rather than paying a utility company for it also offers significant savings, and can help system owners recoup the cost of equipment and installation. Plus, electric solar energy system owners won’t be vulnerable to rate increases from utility providers.

Choosing to install an electric solar energy system can also increase home values. For every dollar in energy savings the system generates each year, the United States Department of Energy reports that the system can add $10 to $20 to the value of your home. Plus, the protection created by roof mounted solar panels can protect your roofing materials, making your roof last longer.

Installing an electric solar energy system at your home or business doesn’t only benefit you, it also benefits the environment. Using solar energy means less fossil fuels must be used, which saves these limited natural resources while cutting carbon dioxide emissions. These systems have great benefits to our country as well. They help us cut back on plant produced power, which add a great amount of pollutants to our air in production. Using electric solar energy systems also limits our dependence on foreign oil to power our home and business needs. Electric solar energy systems create many new jobs for your neighbors as well, from manufacturing to installation.

Winter care for solar photovoltaic panels

Winter is coming, and that typically means snow for residents of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It also means shorter days, which can decrease solar production because of less sunlight exposure. Don’t let snow build up and further hinder the production of your solar photovoltaic panels.

To remove snow from your solar photovoltaic panels easily, use a long, soft-edged tool to reach up onto the roof. Be sure the tool you use is not metal or another hard material which might hurt the panels For example, these sorts of tools would work perfectly and not cause damage to your panels:

• Brooms with soft bristles
• Squeegees

Snow isn't a danger to your solar panels. In fact, if you leave it alone, the sunlight we do get will melt it right off. If you find that the snow isn't moving off the panels on a sunny day, you can clear a small portion of the panel to allow sunlight to be absorbed to start generating power which will then cause the snow to loosen.

Removing a small portion of snow from the bottom of the solar photovoltaic panels will allow sunlight and gravity to do the rest of the work for you. Once the panels begin to warm up, the snow should slide right off. You may want to use that tool to clear any snow buildup from your gutters or equipment and walkways on the ground below.

If you have questions about winter care for your home’s solar photovoltaic panels, give us a call! The experts at Smith Sustainable Design are happy to advise you on the proper way to clear snow and keep your panels safe all winter long.

The benefits of choosing microinverters for your solar module

There are many components which make up your solar power installation. Choosing quality components which will help you maximize the power generated by your solar modules will be a great benefit to your home. Inverters are a crucial component which convert the direct current generated by the panels into alternating current which you can use for electrical power inside your home. There are a few types of inverters available, but a good choice for your residential solar modules is a microinverter.

Choosing microinverters can help you achieve a good return on your solar investment. They offer very high efficiency to help you generate the most power from your solar modules. They also offer an excellent warranty term of 10 years (or more depending on the manufacturer and model). Below are some of the benefits of choosing microinverters for use with your system:

• Microinverters offer greater energy production over other types of inverters used in residential systems. They offer 5 to 25 percent more power generation than string inverters.
• Microinverters are installed directly on each panel, rather than one per series of panels.
• With microinverters, your solar modules will be less affected by factors that can hinder solar power generation, such as shade, temperature, and dirt.
• Microinverters help protect against the hazards created by direct current electricity. They operate at lower voltages and reduce the risk of shock and fires.
• Microinverters require less maintenance than other inverter types.
• Microinverters are able to operate in more extreme temperature ranges than other inverter types.
• A system with microinverters uses multiple inverters instead of just one. Therefore, if one is malfunctioning, it’s much cheaper to replace one microinverter versus a string inverter.
• Using microinverters offers more flexibility in solar module system design, as they can be used with nearly all panels.

Microinverters truly are a good choice for your solar module system. If you have questions about microinverters or any of the components used in a solar module installation, feel free to call the experts at Smith Sustainable Design for answers.

Photovoltaic Solar Inverters

A key element of a photovoltaic solar system is the inverter. The purpose of the inverter is to take the direct current generated by the panels and change it into usable alternating current for your home. There are different types of inverters available, so below, we’ll take a look at the options available.

Micro Inverters

A micro inverter may also be referred to as a module inverter, so don’t be confused if you hear this term instead. Individual micro inverters usually attach directly to photovoltaic solar modules, and they work to extract the power from each panel. This is a very reliable inverter option which can enhance design flexibility. Micro inverters are particularly relevant for residential systems and rooftops with complex, shaded situations.  Micro inverters are exceptionally reliable and typically come with 15 year warranty. The potential downside is their expense, and they can add cost to the overall photovoltaic solar installation.

String Inverters

The panels in grid-tied photovoltaic solar systems are wired together, creating a string of panels. This is done to increase voltage while keeping current low, simplifying wiring needs and the size of the wire needed. String inverters can be wired into several strings of panels. A string is made up of 7 to 14 panels. String inverters are widely used and usually include a warranty period of 10 years to 20 years.

Central Inverters

A central inverter is a kind of string inverter, but it is best suited for use with larger photovoltaic solar installations. In these applications, a central inverter is a better choice because they can simplify installation and offer higher efficiency versus string inverters in large application scenarios. Using string inverters in a large application can drive up installation costs, whereas using central inverters can keep costs in check. 

How do solar system panels attach to a roof?

When you think of installing solar system panels, you probably picture them mounted on your roof. So how will the new panels affect your roof? If installed properly, solar system panels can actually protect your roof.

The design of your home’s roof will play a significant role in determining how and where your solar system panels will be attached. First, the system designer must consider the sunlight exposure of your roof area, as it is crucial for panels to face either south, east, or west and be free from trees or structures that can block the sunlight. Also, your roof needs to have enough space to accommodate the panels. In a typical residential installation, 300 to 600 feet of surface space is needed.

Next, the type of roofing you have and its age are considered. If your home has an older roof, it is a good idea to go ahead and replace it before installing solar system panels, as the panels will outlast the roofing material and will need to be removed and replaced when it’s time for a new roof. Composite shingle roofing is ideal for solar installations, as they aren’t as fragile and can better withstand being drilled through to mount solar panels. Tile, concrete, and slate roofs can still accommodate a solar installation, but extra care and components will be needed to protect the integrity of the roofing.

There are three types of mounts that can be used to attach solar system panels to a home’s roof:

• Direct mounts attach panels directly to the roof. We don’t recommend this mount because it doesn't facilitate airflow under the panels, which is necessary to cool them.
• Integrated mounts attach panels to roof rafters. Roofing materials will have to be removed to do so. Because of this, this mount is best suited for new construction.
• Stand-off mounts, also known as rack mounts, are most commonly used for residential systems. The racks are attached to roof supports, and panels attached to them. They promote good airflow and can be set at the proper angle for maximum sunlight exposure.

Understanding solar module financing options

Solar financing options have made it possible for more homeowners to reap the benefits of having solar modules installed. By eliminating the high price tag for equipment and installation, solar financing is becoming a popular option for installing solar modules. There are a few different types of solar financing options available, so we’ve gone through the basics below to help you better understand them.

Power Purchase Agreements

A Power Purchase Agreement, commonly referred to as a PPA, allows the homeowner to negotiate the purchase price for the power only. This is done through a third party financing company who owns and installs the solar module. The benefit of a Power Purchase Agreement is the ability to purchase energy at a much lower rate than a consumer could get from a utility company. Most Power Purchase Agreements have credit score qualifications which must be met.

Pros:

• In most scenarios, no money is needed upfront.
• Savings on energy prices for the term of the contract.

Cons:

• No ownership over solar module, so homeowner will not receive tax credits.
• Transfer of contract may not be permitted if homeowner is selling home.

Solar Leases

In a lease, the solar module is also owned by a third party. This option is just like what you would find if you wanted to lease a car. You’ll stick to a payment schedule which is determined by the cost of the system. Your agreement may also include a buyout option before the end of the contract term, so you may choose to own your solar module system in the end.

Pros:

• Usually no money down.
• Savings on energy prices.
• Potential for ownership of system.

Cons:

• Contract is only transferable to a new homeowner if they qualify credit-wise.
• You won’t receive tax credits.

Solar Loans

A solar loan is just what it sounds like. A homeowner can borrow money to pay for the installation and equipment. You’ll stick to a repayment schedule and have to qualify based on your credit score and other considerations.

Pros:

• You’ll own the system.
• You’ll receive tax credits.

Cons:

• You may be required to make a down payment.

Property Assessed Clean Energy

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a program ran by the government to help homeowners purchase solar modules. There are no credit score qualifiers and no money down is needed, but you must have 10 percent property equity. You’ll be billed when you receive your property tax invoice bi-annually.

Pros:

• No money down is available.
• Tax-deductible interest.
• You can receive tax credits.
• Financing usually will transfer to new owner upon sale of the home.

Cons:

• Your property tax bill will be higher.

More homeowners taking advantage of solar installation thanks to leasing

Have you been seeing more rooftop solar installations in your neighborhood? Their high price tag once put them out of range for many homeowners. Now, thanks to lease options, more homeowners are able to undergo solar installation and reap the benefits of generating their own electric power

Lease options eliminate upfront costs for installation, labor, and equipment. With a solar lease, you can enjoy immediate energy savings without the hefty price tag. You won’t have to worry about waiting until after your payback period has been met to truly gain energy savings from your solar installation.

In locations across the United States, solar lease options are helping new demographics of homeowners take advantage of using solar energy use. While you may only have seen them in more affluent neighborhoods before, solar installations are springing up in neighborhoods everywhere. The difference is that some homeowners choose to own their systems outright while others choose to lease.

A study performed by the United States Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory found a correlation between owning a solar panel system outright and a household’s income. Neighborhoods with households averaging income of $150,000.00 or more each year have been found more likely to own solar panel systems outright.

The solar lease options are more popular in neighborhoods with lower household incomes. While the upfront cost to own a solar panel system might be out of the question for many households, solar leasing makes the solar power option a possibility. Choosing to lease a solar installation has opened the doors for many new homeowners to add solar panels to their homes and reap the benefits.

Solar panels for homes can improve resale value

Installing solar panels for homes is a significant investment. These systems cost several thousand dollars and take years to recover costs through energy savings because of their high price tag. If you don’t plan to stay in your home for the entirety of your payback period, should you forgo solar installation?

The answer is no! Studies of home sales indicate that installing solar panels for homes can significantly increase resale value. If you don’t recoup the cost of installation over the amount of time you remain in the home, you will likely be able to recover a great deal thanks to a higher selling price. This benefit can make installing solar panels for your home the right choice even if you plan to move in the future.

Studies show that solar panels for homes increase the value by 3 to 4 percent. The average home has a 5 kW solar energy system, which can increase equity by about $9,000.00. Before you decide to install a solar panel system in your home, think about how long you plan on staying and then energy savings you’ll achieve during that time period. If you won’t be meeting the payback period on energy savings alone, think about how the raised resale value will benefit you come time to sell.

Not only are the systems a valuable addition to the home, they also create value. Interested buyers can be attracted to homes with solar panels because they present a higher potential for energy savings. Wouldn’t you want to move into a new home that is going to help you save for all the years you are living there?

Solar panels for homes are also attractive for buyers looking to go green. Because they limit utility use, homes with solar panels reduce pollution and greenhouse gases. Greening your home through solar panel installation not only improves resale value, but can also attract another market of buyers to your property.

Choosing an electric solar energy contractor

If you’re thinking about installing solar panels for your home or business, choosing the right contractor can improve your experience. Do you know the qualities you should look for in an electric solar energy contractor and the questions you should ask? There are some guidelines you should follow when selecting a contractor which can help ensure you have a positive experience and receive quality work.

Use this checklist when you interview contractors to help find the right fit.

About the company:

• Are you licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania to install electric solar energy systems?
• Are you insured for Liability and Worker’s Compensation?
• Do you know what permits are needed to install solar panels in my area? Will you be responsible for obtaining permits or will that be my responsibility?
• How many years of experience do you have in this field? What sort of training do your installers and technicians complete?
• Does your company complete all work or will you use subcontractors to install electric solar energy systems?

About the installation:

• How will my roof be protected during the installation?
• What type of equipment will be used to mount the solar panels to my roof?
• Will your design team help me to determine the best configuration of solar panels for my home?
• How long will installation take from start to finish? Do you foresee any delays when ordering my equipment?

About the aftercare:

• Does your company warranty the workmanship of my new installation?
• Will you provide me with information about the product warranties for system components?
• Does your company also provide service and maintenance for installing electric solar energy systems?
• Are representatives of your company available to provide technical support by telephone or email?

Make the most of your investment by choosing the right electric solar energy contractor for your job. Smith Sustainable Design is a reputable electric solar energy contractor serving New Jersey and Pennsylvania home and business owners; call us today if you have any questions about how to choose the right contractor for your job.