Lower electricity bills when you install solar panels

You probably know that solar power is a low-cost way to power your home or business, but do you know why? When you install solar panels, you can drastically cut your monthly electricity bills. Here are a few of the ways that solar panels help you achieve lower electricity costs.

1. Reduced utility power use

When you install solar panels for your home or business, we design your system with a number of factors in mind, including your home or facility’s typical electricity usage. We use your usage to determine the optimal amount of power your solar panels should generate. While you will likely still need to use some utility power, your demand will be much less, which may qualify you for lower rates. Lower energy rates and less utility power used will cut your electricity bills significantly.

2. Sell your excess power

If your solar power system generates more electricity than you need, the excess electricity flows back to the utility grid. Depending on the agreement you will have with your local utility provider, you may be able to sell the excess electricity your solar panels generate. This results in credits for future power use or even payments from your utility company.

3. Avoid rising energy prices

Your local utility company likely uses fossil fuels to produce the electricity you use in your home or business. When fossil fuels are used, electricity prices are affected by the fluctuating prices of these fuels. When you install solar panels, you generate most of your home or facility’s electricity need, so you don’t experience these price fluctuations as much as others. If you have a solar lease or power purchase agreement, you can lock in low rates for long periods, avoiding rising utility prices altogether.

Installing solar panels isn’t just good for the environment; it’s also a smart move for your wallet. Smith Sustainable Design installs solar panels in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for homes and businesses who are looking for a way to lower electricity bills. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits you’ll get when you install solar panels.

Electric solar energy systems benefit the economy

Electric solar energy systems do more than just produce affordable, efficient power for your home or business. The solar energy industry has a major impact on our economy. Let’s take a look at some of the many ways electric solar energy systems help everyone.

Obviously, an electric solar energy system saves you money. With a system installed at your home, you’ll save hundreds of dollars every year on energy expenses. With more money in your pocket, you will be able to spend less on utility power and more on other goods and services, boosting the economy. When you take advantage of solar power to provide electricity for your home, you can drastically reduce or eliminate your electric utility bills each month.

With solar power gaining popularity, more new jobs are created in the industry. Electric solar energy installer job opportunities are growing. Also, more workers are needed to manufacture system components, skilled employees are needed to design solar energy systems, and electric solar energy contractors need to add new employees to keep up with demand and keep customers satisfied. The growing solar energy industry creates new jobs for your neighbors, and others across the world.

One last important way electric solar energy helps the economy is by reducing energy dependence. The United States is largely dependent on oil sources abroad, but the sun is not owned by any one country. By harnessing solar power for our energy needs, we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower energy prices by eliminating taxes and tariffs. Once your electric solar energy system is installed, you don’t have to worry about fluctuating energy prices. Solar energy is a smart move towards energy independence.

Gain the personal advantages and boost the economy when you choose an electric solar energy system to provide for your home’s power needs. Smith Sustainable Design has a skilled team of electric solar energy installers to design and install your new system- call us today to learn more.

Solar panels for homes can help you save, and make money!

You may have heard a lot of different information about the efficiency of solar panels, and how solar panels for homes can help you use less energy. Well, lower energy use has benefits to the environment along with your wallet. Installing solar panels for your home can help you save money, and even make money. Here are just a few ways your solar energy system will help lower your bills.

When installing solar panels for homes, the federal government currently provides tax credits to offset your installation costs. These credits effectively lower equipment and labor costs, so your system pays for itself sooner, with a shorter payback period.

Obviously, your solar panels will produce a portion, if not all, of the electricity you need each month. For every unit your system produces, it is one less that you have to purchase from a utility provider. With solar panels for homes producing a significant portion of the power consumed by a home each month, your utility bills will be much lower, if not zero.

Depending on the arrangement with your utility provider, you may be able to sell back the excess electricity produced by your home’s solar panels. This can happen when your system produces more energy than you need each month. Selling back your excess electricity can earn you a credit on your next utility bill.

Residential and commercial solar installations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania produce Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) are energy commodities that represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) or 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity was generated from an eligible renewable energy resource (renewable electricity). In conjunction with state and federal incentives, solar system owners can recover their investment in solar by selling their SRECs through spot market sales or long-term sales.

So you see, solar panels for your home can really help you save money, and in some cases, make money. Use your solar panels to your advantage to lower your utility bills, and provide cheaper, more efficient power for your home. Contact Smith Sustainable Design to learn more about solar panels for homes and all the advantages they provide.

Harness solar power energy anytime with battery backups

Whether your home has a solar power energy system or not, you can have access to backup power anytime by using a battery backup for your home. Power outages are common during summer storms, and can leave your home without power for lights and essential systems if your home uses grid utility power or if you do not have a battery backup to store excess solar power energy produced by your system.

With a battery backup, you can power your home’s devices in the event of an electrical utility outage or lack of solar power energy. With a backup battery system, essential appliances and devices still receive the power they need, even when your primary electrical power supply is interrupted. Backup batteries are perfect for homes with and without solar power energy systems.

• A battery backup can optimize your home’s photovoltaic system by providing a reliable source of power when you need it.
• If your home is not equipped with a solar power energy system, you can benefit from a battery backup system and access the power you need whenever your electrical utility power fails.

Many times, electrical outages don’t last long, but when they do, they pose serious risks to your household. When you are left without power, your family is vulnerable in many ways. A backup battery system for your solar power energy system or your home’s electrical utility power gives your family the ability to communicate and stay safe in the event of an outage.

• Charge your cell phone to stay in communication with family members and emergency services.
• Power essential equipment such as medical devices.
• Keep lights on so your family can move about safely.
• Keep your refrigerator running to prevent food spoilage.

A battery backup is a great resource for any home, with our without a solar power energy system. Smith Sustainable Design provides reliable installation for these systems to homeowners and businesses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. For more information about battery backup systems, please contact us.

Answers to your solar system panel questions

Each day, we receive several questions from homeowners just like you about solar system panels. We have found that many of you have similar questions and concerns, so we have compiled a post to answer the most common questions easily!

1. How long do solar system panels take to install?

For a typical residential system, installation takes about a day. Steep roofs or delicate roofing systems may take a little longer, but no more than 2 or 3 days.

2. Should I replace the roof before installation?

If your roof is in need of replacement, go ahead and have it replaced before having the solar system panels installed. If you replaced your roof recently or still have a lot of life yet, don’t worry about it. In the event you need to have the roof replaced after solar system panels are in place, they can be removed and reinstalled.

3. How are solar system panels priced?

Solar system panels are typically priced by the watt. The average wattage of a solar panel is about 250 watts.

4. How many solar system panels will I need?

Your home’s electricity demand, your current usage, and available roof area help determine how many solar system panels you will need.

5. How much will I save?

If you buy your solar system panels outright, it’s a difficult equation; you’ll have to consider net metering, system life, and how much electricity will rise. If you choose a solar lease or power purchase agreement, you can compare your usage at the price of electricity from your utility company to the price guaranteed by the third-party system owner to see how much you’ll save each month.

Hopefully we’ve provided some answers for many of the questions you have about solar system panels. If you have additional questions or would like to receive a detailed estimate for your home, call Smith Sustainable Design anytime!

Are you considering solar installation?-Part 2

Questions to ask yourself

In Part 1 of this blog series, we discussed considering what you want to spend when deciding whether or not a solar installation is right for you. Today, let’s look at how energy prices compare, which will show you what you’ll be paying with a solar installation versus continuing to buy all your power from your electric utility provider.

2. How do energy prices compare?

To determine your savings when going solar, think in terms of kilowatt hours (kWh). On your electric bill, your usage will be stated by kWh, and you’ll also see how much you are being charged per kWh of electricity use. If you’re interested in a solar lease or power purchase agreement, the provider can tell you how much you’ll be charged for each kWh produced, and you can determine your annual savings when going solar.

If you’re looking to own your solar energy system, you’ll need to determine how much electricity the system will produce and see how it compares to your annual kWh usage. If you require additional kWhs, you’ll pay your utility company for the energy- with a grid-tied system, you may receive a lower rate per your interconnection agreement.

Another factor to consider is your payback period. Once you determine your annual energy usage and savings through your solar energy system, you can figure how long it will take the solar installation to pay for itself through your savings. In New Jersey, the average payback period for solar installation is only 5 years! And in Pennsylvania, the average payback period for solar installation is only 6.5 years! Once the payback period is met, it’s as if you’re using the electricity you generate completely free- you’ll only pay for energy used from your utility company, if it’s even needed.

When deciding if a solar installation is right for you, look beyond upfront costs and see how much you’ll save annually. You’ll find the savings will be a huge benefit no matter which route you go; owning outright or choosing a solar lease or power purchase agreement. For answers to all your solar installation questions, contact Smith Sustainable Design.

Are you considering solar installation? - Part 1

Questions to ask yourself

A solar installation is a big investment for any home or business. Generally, when we are faced with the decision to make or forego a sizeable investment, we do a lot of questioning and perhaps even “soul searching” to determine if we’re making the right call for our families, our businesses, and even ourselves. If you’re thinking about going solar, you should definitely ask yourself this question:

1. How much am I looking to spend?

Years ago, if you wanted to go solar, you bore the burden of solar installation cost completely. Nowadays, that’s not the case. If you want to own your system, there are many programs and incentives available to help you save. Federal tax credits are available which provide a credit accounting for 30% of your solar installation and equipment costs! In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, there are state and local rebates available to cut the cost even further. You many also have the ability to connect with the local utility grid, and you can receive credits for the excess electricity produced by your system.

There are also ways to begin using solar energy without the upfront costs of solar installation. Solar leases and power purchase agreements are increasingly common. With this option, you pay for the electricity generated by the panels, not for the cost of equipment. Solar leases and power purchase agreements require little or no upfront costs to you. These solar installation alternatives are making it possible for more homes and businesses to go solar, especially when upfront expenses would be cost-prohibitive.

For many people, cost is king and will ultimately be the deciding factor when going solar. If the expense of a solar installation is too high, don’t decide against solar- there are other alternatives which allow you to harness solar energy! In Part 2 of this blog series, we’ll discuss another important question you should ask yourself when considering a solar energy system. For answers to all your solar installation questions, contact Smith Sustainable Design.