Frequently Asked Questions
On this page you will find frequently asked questions and answers about our products and services. For more information, do not hesitate to contact us and one of our specialists will be able to help you completely free of charge.
Solar Panels.
The cost of solar panels installation varies depending on the size of the system and the location of your home. On average, a residential solar panel installation can range from $15,000 to $25,000.
Solar panels work best in areas that receive a lot of sunlight. However, even if you live in an area with limited sunlight, solar panels can still be a viable option. It’s important to speak with a solar panel expert who can evaluate your home’s energy needs and determine if solar panels are a good fit for you
The length of time it takes to install solar panels varies depending on the size of the system and the complexity of the installation. On average, a residential solar panel installation can take anywhere from one to three days.
Solar panels are designed to generate electricity from the sun. However, when there’s a power outage, your solar panels will also be shut down. This is to protect utility workers who may be working to restore power.
Yes, it’s possible to sell excess solar power back to the grid. This is called net metering, and it allows homeowners to earn credits on their utility bill for any excess energy their solar panels generate. The rules and regulations for net metering vary depending on your location, so it’s important to speak with our solar panel expert to learn more.
Most high-quality solar panels are built to withstand snow piles and up to one inch of hail. You can confirm this with your solar representatives during the enrollment process to ensure you are receiving the best products the industry has to offer. With energy storage as a service, you’ll be able to control your home’s energy efficiency to further reduce your monthly electricity expenses.
Solar panels produce energy when the sun is shining. At night or when it’s cloudy, the system will use credits from excess power that was overproduced from the system during the day. This is the primary reason that on-grid solar solutions rely on the utility grid and net metering laws to provide supplemental power when the system isn’t producing.
For the safety of grid workers, your system is required to turn itself off if you lose utility power. Once the power is restored, the system will automatically turn itself back on. An off-grid power system or one with battery backup would continue to run during the day if you lost power.
Solar power systems produce power when they are exposed to sunlight. Depending on how the system is engineered, it will start operating at sunrise and shut down at sunset. The intensity of the solar rays determines how much power is produced by the solar power system.
Solar power is an extremely reliable source of energy. The technology has been around for several decades, and there are installed systems that have been producing viable energy for over 25+ years.
The size of your solar power system is determined by your current electricity consumption and monthly budget. Additionally, the amount of roof space or ground space you have available for installation will also gauge the percentage of solar capacity your home’s energy use can fulfill.
Even if there is some shading on your roof, you still have options as long as your roof receives sunlight. We can install a system on the area of your roof that is not shaded, and you may also be able to trim the trees shading your roof to make more room. A system installed with micro inverters can also help reduce the effects of shading.
Our quality of products, types of flashing, and racking methods help prevent your roof from leaking as a result of solar system installation. Our company also assesses the age and condition of your roof prior to scheduling an installation – so if you are in need of roof replacements or repairs, we will work with you on the logistics to ensure it is ready for solar panels. In the rare instance that your roof does leak due to our installation of the system, we have a workmanship warranty in place that is disclosed in your solar agreement.
If your roof is over 10 years old, it’s wise to replace or repair it while preparing your home for a solar installation. This due diligence ensures that the roof will last as long as the solar system that is installed.
Our company can assess the age and condition of your roof prior to installation and may be able to assist with some of the work.
Ground-based solar power systems have several advantages over rooftop systems, including higher outputs, better tilt and orientation, and easier maintenance. The installation itself is a bit more invasive of your property, and not every homeowner has enough yard space ─ which is why the majority of solar customers choose to install panels on their rooftop.
As part of our lease agreement, you retain the right to extend it or purchase the system. We can also remove the system when the lease term is complete, if preferred.
Our leases, as well as our buyout option and production guarantees, are fully transferable to the new property owner. Solar can increase your home’s resale value by up to $15,000, and the new owner will be inheriting monthly electricity savings.
Solar leasing offers a lower monthly electricity bill for $0 down. The rates are locked in and will never fluctuate, so you know what you’ll be paying today, tomorrow, and for the entire length of your solar agreement. Once the lease expires, you’ll have the option of purchasing the system, extending the lease, or removing it. You can also choose a prepayment option upfront which will reduce your monthly lease payments even more.
An average home consumes approximately 10,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year. Installing a solar power system that offsets the same amount of usage will reduce 15,000 pounds of CO2 each year. This is the equivalent of the carbon eliminated by 1.5 acres of forests.
Solar power is a renewable form of energy that eliminates the need for the burning of fossil fuels, which are directly responsible for global and environmental damage. There are no emissions during the production of solar power, and it is one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy worldwide. In addition, solar power systems are relatively maintenance-free, which further reduces the carbon footprint.
Traditional electric sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas result in the emission of harmful greenhouse gasses, some of which are toxic and extremely detrimental to the environment. Fossil fuels are, and continue to be, one of the largest causes of global warming. Depleting fossil fuel sources also cause dramatic spikes in the cost of energy, which can be mitigated by the implementation of clean solar energy.
For more information, please visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency site.
Solar power systems, if installed correctly, require minimal maintenance. There are no moving parts. Most high-quality panels and inverters have warranties of up to 25+ years.
Curious to know where your energy goes once it has been generated by your solar panels? This is a good question, because on cloudy days and nights, the energy your system produces is little to none. Therefore, your solar system must be able to tap into stored energy to continue providing power to your home.
Homeowners with solar panel systems have two main options for solar electricity storage: the electric grid and battery packs. Let’s learn more about these energy storage technologies and the benefits of both.
Electric Grid
Before the 1990s, all solar systems were independent of the grid, hence the term “living off the grid.” If homes wanted to keep their lights on after dark, they would draw energy from their battery banks. In the 21st century, the majority of PV systems no longer use batteries. Instead, they are tied to the electric grid, a complex system that balances supply and demand.
When your solar system produces excess energy, it’s sent to the grid. When your home isn’t producing energy (i.e., at night), you can pull from the grid. For energy sent to the grid that isn’t used, you can get a credit on your electric bill, which is a process known as net metering.
Grid-tied solar electric systems have benefits for both individuals and society. Solar customers get to send excess energy to the grid without having to worry about storage. Society benefits because solar energy is cleaner, and excess energy can drive down electric prices because more energy is being produced than consumed.
Batteries
Batteries remain another efficient option for storing excess energy. There are many batteries on the market, but they all have the same concept: to store electrical energy in chemical form until it is ready to be used. Batteries have a number of advantages, including that they can be installed along with your solar panel system and able to tolerate frequent wear and tear.
When you install a solar battery as part of your system, you can store excess energy at your home instead of on the grid. At night or on cloudy days, you can draw energy from the battery. When your battery is fully charged and you’re producing energy, it is sent to the grid.
Should You Install a Solar Battery?
If you’re interested in installing a PV system on your home, talk to a solar energy provider about the best option. As long as your utility company compensates you for your solar power, you don’t need to install a battery. Most utilities offer net metering, which means you’ll see a credit on your electric bill for excess energy produced. That said, there are certain situations where you can benefit from having a battery installed, such as if your utility company has demand charges or does not offer net metering.
A solar panel system is an investment, so one of the first questions that people ask is how long they can expect their panels to last. This is a good question that has a fairly straightforward answer: typically 25-30 years. However, there is more to this answer than what meets the eye. It’s likely that your solar panels will last much longer than this.
Let’s cover this topic in more detail so that you can have a better understanding of your solar system’s lifespan.
Most Warranties are Good for 25 Years
Solar panels are generally warrantied for 25 years, so you can expect your system to last at least this long. In reality, you can expect your panels to last much longer, just as a refrigerator lasts longer than its one year warranty.
With that being said, it is important to know that solar panels do lose their efficiency over time. After 25 years, energy production declines by a “significant” amount according to manufacturers, hence the reason why the warranty ends around this time. How much is a “significant” amount? Let’s find out.
Studies show that solar panels lose around 0.8% efficiency each year. Some brands will have less or more degradation, but the good news is that as technology improves, this rate is getting smaller and smaller. However, to be on the safe side you should assume that your panels lose around 1% efficiency each year. With these numbers, your panels will still be producing energy at 75-85% of their rated output in 25 years.
What Happens after 25 Years?
According to an NREL study, 80% of solar panels live longer than their warranties. So, if your warranty is up and your solar panels are still producing energy, there is no reason to replace them. But, you do want to take extra precautions to care for your solar system since it will no longer be under warranty. Be prepared to replace batteries and inverters to keep things running.
Additionally, plan to get your solar panels checked by your installer each year. This quick inspection ensures that there are no areas of concern, such as exposed wires or loose racking. This is also a good time to check for animals nesting under the panels or branches that need to be pulled away from the roof.
When manufacturers talk about solar panel systems, it’s usually in regard to the 25-year warranty. However, solar panels typically last much longer than this, though with decreased efficiency. Still, this is not a reason to replace your solar panels, as they will still be capable of producing solar energy for your home.