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Why should I go solar?
In addition to being a great investment, installing photovoltaic helps the environment through reduced carbon dioxide, lead, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides.
It protects homeowners from rising energy rates. Currently, electricity rates are rising at 7% a year. If you pay $100/month on electricity, your monthly bill will increase to $276/month in 15 years. If utility rates rise more than 7% a year (which is expected), the cost will be much more. Use this Excel calculator to determine your electricity bill in 15 years.
In order for utility companies to meet the federal mandate of 20% of electricity coming from renewables by 2020, renewable energy will be deployed. The up front cost of this will be passed onto the consumer through higher electricity rates. Either way, a homeowner will pay for development of renenwable energy. Why not invest the money in yourself?
How does photovoltaic (pv) work?
Photovoltaic technology generates electricity directly from sunlight. Photovoltaic solar panels are made of silicon crystals, the major component of sand. Silicon itself is not electrically active, but when placed near another silicon atom, photons in sunlight are able to release electrons.
Electrons are released onto the electon-deficient side of the silicon crystal. Since the silicon atom has a hole, the electron moves through a copper wire around the crystal to fill the hole. This movement of the electron is electricity.
What is net metering?
Net metering allows homeowners who produce more electricity then they consume to sell the excess electricity.
What size solar system do I need?
The size of the solar system depends completely on the what the homeowner wants. To maximize the benefit of solar, we encourage homeowners to replace the electricity that cost more than solar. For example, Southern California Edison has a teired electric rate system.
How much does a solar system cost?
The cost of a solar system depends only on the size of a system the homeowner wants to install. $9/watt is a competative cost of a professionally installed photovoltaic solar system with warranty. This is not the cost to the homeowner.
The homeowner needs to calculate in local and federal rebates. Rebates can reduce a solar investment by 50 percent or more. Since the rebates vary by location, one must research the rebates available. Click here to find the rebates in your area.
What's the difference between AC and DC?
AC, or alternating current, is what most appliances and luxury items with motors require. It is the electricity that flows from the outlets in your house.
DC, or direct current, is a constant flow of electrons in one direction. This is the electricity produced by batteries, such as the 12 volt battery in your car. DC can be used to power most electronic devices
What solar rebates are available?
Solar rebates are available from utility companies, cities, states, and the federal government. Since solar rebates vary depending on the location of the home, it is important to research the rebates available in your area.
All homeowners in the United States qualify for a 30% federal tax rebate on a photovoltaic solar system installation. This 30% is taken off the the final price of a solar system after all other rebates are taken into account.
What is the typical solar payback period?
The typical solar payback for a homeowner is 7-15 years. The payback period depends on the cost of electricity and rebates available. This does take rising energy rates into account. Energy rates are expected to rise at an increasing rate to pay for utility company solar installations.
What solar system maintenance is required?
Since a photovoltaic solar system has no moving parts, very little maintenance is required. Solar panels become dirty over time. This dirt blocks light from entering the solar cell, reducing the efficiency of the solar panel. Simply cleaning the panels removes the dirt, maximizing the efficiency of the panel.
Solar panels have no moving parts, so they are silent and do not wear out. Only the inverter, which convert DC (direct current) into AC (alternating current), needsd to be replaced. Most inverters have a 10 year warrenty, so they last approximately 12 years.
What solar warranties are available?
Warranties come from the solar panel manufacturer and the solar contractor that installs the photovoltaic solar system.
What type of roof do I need?
Wood and shingle roofs are the best to work with. Tile and metal sheet roofs require more labor to install the solar panels. This will slightly increase the cost of installing a photovoltaic solar system.
How will solar affect my property value?
Solar is an investment into the property and increases the demand for the property. If you were deciding between two homes, one with solar costing slightly more (with extremely low utility bills) or a home without solar, most would choose the home with solar for the savings. Relators are becoming educated about the benefits of solar. They are encouraging home-buyers to consider the total cost of owning a home. A home with solar will have a sharp advantage against a home without solar.
According to a report by the Appraisers Association of America, homes increased in value 20 times the first year's electricity savings.
How well does solar work during winter?
Solar panels require light, not heat, to generate electricity. Therefore, solar panels generate electricity in the winter. Since the hours of sunlight decrease in the winter, so does electricity output.
Be certain to remove snow off of solar panels. Snow blocks light from reaching solar panels, so the solar panels cannot generate electricity until the snow is removed.
Solar panels do not produce as much electricity during the winter because fewer rays of sunlight reach the panels, but some electricity is produced.
How well do solar panels work under clouds?
Even on a cloudy day, light reaches the earth's surface. This is sufficient light for solar panels to produce electricity. Since about 50% of the light from a sunny day reaches the solar panels, the solar panels produce approximately 50% of the electricity of a sunny day.
If excess energy is required, it is drawn from the electrical grid (moving the meter forward). On sunny days, the solar system produces excess energy. This moves the meter backwards and generating the homeowner money.
Do solar panels store energy?
No. Solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity. Without sunlight, solar panels cannot create electricity.
How do solar panels help the environment?
Electricity created by solar panels produces no pollution and reduces carbon dioxide emissions (a green-house gas responsible for global warming). Indirectly, solar panels help fight global warming.
What does solar efficiency mean?
Solar efficiency describes the fraction of energy from sunlight that is converted into electricity. Solar panels lose efficiency with age, but will still produce electricity in 300 years.
How much electricity does a solar system produce?
Solar systems are completely customizable. A typical home solar system can produce anywhere from 12 watts to over 1 MW of electricity. Business and industrial installations can produce GW of electricity if desired. The only limits to a solar system are land available and one's pocketbook. |
