• HOME
  
• WHY RENEWABLE
  ENERGY?
  What is Solar Power?
• RESIDENTIAL
  POWER
  Solar Power Water Heater Solar Power Financing Photo Gallery
• COMMERCIAL
  POWER
  Solar Power Water Heater
• SOLAR
  PRODUCTS
• FREQUENTLY
  ASKED QUESTIONS
  Solar Power Tax Credits
• CONTACT
   

By creating your own energy, you gain energy independence.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Solar energy is effective - but who can afford it?

  • Actually, solar energy is becoming quite affordable, and in some circumstances, quite profitable. In an energy environment where utilities are increasing electric rates faster than the rate of inflation year after year, solar is an affordable option because it enjoys generous incentives, just like the coal and nuclear power industries that also contribute to our portfolio of electricity supplies. There is a 30% federal tax credit, a 5 year accelerated depreciation scenario, the savings you get from not paying the utility, and there is a new revenue stream from selling S-RECs.

    Financing methods can reduce or eliminate up-front costs, i.e. out-of-pocket expenses. In essence, you simply install solar panels and pay less for the electricity you use.

• Can I install the system myself?

  • No. Systems must be installed by a qualified electrical contractor or solar installer.

• Will my system work at night and on cloudy days?

  • Your system will not work at night because solar modules need sunlight to produce power. Solar modules will still produce power on a cloudy day although they will probably only produce about half as much as under full sun.

• Can my solar electric system generate heat for my home?

  • Solar power systems are only designed to provide electricity to run your lights, appliances and other electric devices in your home and will not convert the sun's light into heat.

• How do I know if my home is suitable for a solar electric system?

  • Solar electric systems are a viable power solution for most homes. Our systems are engineered for roof or ground installations in almost any location of the United States where direct sunlight is available. The site must be free from shading because of the wiring design of a solar module. If any portion of the solar panel is shaded, the entire module power output is lowered. A southfacing roof area is ideal, but a west- or east-facing roof can still produce approximately 90 percent of the power of a south-facing roof.

• What size solar system do I need to produce enough electricity to run my house?

  • The solar system size depends on your average electrical usage, climate, roof angle and many other factors. As a rough guide, multiply your average daily electrical demand in kilowatt-hours by 0.25. The result is the approximate size of solar array, in kilowatts, needed to meet your electrical demand. Please contact an Earthsponse Elite Dealer for more information or call 866-94EARTH.

• Will a solar electric system produce enough energy to cover all my electricity needs?

  • The amount of power produced by a solar system varies depending on the size of the system, your geographic location and climate and whether the solar system has battery backup. You certainly can buy a solar electric system large enough to cover all of your electrical needs. However, a solar electric system does not need one-half of your average demand reduces your electric bill. With battery backup, a solar system can deliver uninterrupted power to critical loads during utility outages for days or weeks. Reducing your electricity by 40 to 50 percent is typically the most cost-efficient approach for home solar power.

• What happens if the panels are shaded?

  • PV panels should be installed in areas where they get significant shade-free sun every day. Even small amounts of shade can significantly reduce the output. Our designs and installations also seek to minimize the impact of any shade issues through proper site selection, appropriate equipment and good engineering.

• Do I need to clean the panels periodically?

  • In most areas of the country, there is sufficient rain to clean the solar panels. However, if you are in a dusty area - such as near an incinerator or construction site - you may see a performance gain from cleaning the panels regularly. Normal rainwater is generally sufficient to keep the solar panels clean, but a low pressure hose and squeegee sponge can be used to spray the solar panels clean. Detergents and high pressure hoses should never be used for cleaning.

• How long will my residential solar power system last?

  • Most solar modules show little degradation over many years of operation. They typically have a 50+ year life expectancy but will become less efficient after 20-25 years. This makes solar power a highly reliable source of power.

• What kind of maintenance is needed?

  • Most solar photovoltaic systems are stationary in a fixed position such that there are no mechanical parts that could break down. The solar panels simply sit and collect the sun's radiant energy. Normally the only problem a solar energy system might have is that the fan in the inverter will wear out. Some solar photovoltaic systems employ mechanical trackers that move in line with the sun during the day. The trackers have motors that could require repair. Most installers offer a maintenance plan that includes periodic inspection of system components and cleaning so that you do not have to worry about the solar energy system at all.

• How long will the system last?

  • The solar panels have a 25-year power warranty from the manufacturer, and some solar panels installed in the 1970s are still producing power. Solar inverters generally have 10 year warranties, and extended inverter warranties are available. Most states require a two to five year warranty on workmanship and labor.

• I'm planning on building a new house, when is the best time to install a solar system on my roof?

  • Before laying the roof, you can install flashable mounting brackets that provide the highest level of protection from leakage.

• Do I need to install a new roof before the solar panels are installed?

  • Solar panels will remain reliable, generating electricity, for more than 25 years. Because of this, we want the roof to be in good shape and under warranty. It is not cost effective to remove and reinstall the panels after only a few years. However, after the panels are in place, they will help preserve the roof's longevity by blocking ultraviolet rays, keeping most snow and ice off the roof, and otherwise shelter the roof. Most solar installations do not require a new roof to install the solar energy system.

• I am building a new home, is there anything I can do to make installation easier?

  • Thermal: During mechanical rough-ins, run a 3- or 4-inch PVC pipe from the basement (or where your hot water tank will be located) to the roof (or where you wish to install the solar absorbers). Contact manufacturer for installation requirements as certain roof positions need to be considered. Include a 3" conduit or chase from the attic to the location of the hot water tank. The solar installer would run the copper linesets.

    PV: Conduit from the attic to the location of the main AC panel. Usually you'll need a junction box at BOTH ends where the #10 wire is run. They may want #8 wire if it's a huge roof.

• Are the solar panels fragile?

  • While the panels are made of glass, they are durable. They are designed to withstand a one inch hail stone, and are used regularly at polar scientific research stations under extreme conditions.

• What happens if the power goes out?

  • In the event that the utility grid goes out in a power outage, such as one caused by a storm, the solar electricity shuts down automatically. A few minutes after the utility grid is restored, the solar system, via sensors in the inverter/s, should turn back on automatically.

    During a power outage, utility workers are working on the lines to repair them. For safety, power to these lines must be deactivated, and that includes solar power from distributed generation sites like yours.

• Do the panels need to face south?

  • South is best to maximize sun exposure, but panels installed facing east or west still generate a substantial amount of electricity. The closer a solar photovoltaic system is oriented to solar south, the more solar electricity it will generate, thereby increasing the financial return on the project. This is because the additional kWh hours of solar electricity produced have a corresponding monetary value.

• Do I need batteries with the system?

  • Batteries are only required if you need backup power when the utility is out of service - typically battery backup systems are appropriate for emergency first responders like police and fire departments. Because battery technology is still lagging, battery backup systems tend to be expensive and require significant maintenance, and are therefore not recommended.

• What is Net Metering?

  • Net Metering is the regulatory ability to get credit for solar electricity you generate and send, or "export", to the utility grid. Utilities generally adjust their bills monthly to reflect the value of electricity they received from their customers who have a solar energy system.

• How do I know my solar system is performing to its full potential?

  • We install an Internet-based data monitoring system that gives you live performance data on solar electric output in real-time. If the data indicates performance is below design, a system check would be used to determine what is causing the low solar power output occur.

• Does our area really have enough sun to make solar energy system cost effective?

  • The answer is a resounding yes! It is true that Arizona and Florida have much more solar resources than the rest of the country, but consider the fact that Germany, the largest and most successful solar market in the world, is at the same latitude as Maine! Our country has abundant sunshine for cost effective solar energy systems. Many families and businesses offset most, and sometimes all, of their electric utility bill with the solar energy they produce.

• Do I need approval from my homeowners' association?

  • If you belong to a homeowners' association, consult you covenants for details. Many states prohibit homeowners' associations from restricting solar devices.

• Do I need a building permit?

  • In most areas a permit is required. Your qualified solar installer will know how to obtain the necessary permits from your local government.

• Do I need permission from the local utility to connect my system to the grid?

  • The local utility has rules and procedures that must be followed to connect any generator to the grid safely and legally. Your solar dealer will help you with the documentation and procedures.

• Can Restrictive Covenants/HOA Rules stop me from putting a PV system on my roof?

  • Across the country, local zoning laws and homeowners' associations (HOA) govern the approved uses of a property. While these rules are often created to ensure uniformity or uphold a community's aesthetic standard, they may unwittingly prohibit the installation of solar panels, solar water heaters or solar heating and cooling technologies. The tide is shifting and zoning laws are now being used to protect a homeowner's right to solar access from California to Maryland. SEIA aims to eliminate zoning laws and HOA rules prohibiting the installation of solar technologies nationwide.

    Please see the following related legislation:
    H.R. 2848 Solar Opportunity and Local Access Rights (SOLAR) Act S. 1016 Solar Opportunity and Local Access Rights (SOLAR) Act

• Where do I find good source about solar?

  • The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is an excellent source sine 1974 to learn about solar energy, its history, industry data, resources and the case for solar. To familiarize yourself with the types of solar energy systems available for residential use, check out the Consumer Guide to Energy and Efficiency and Renewable Energy produced by the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office.

• What are S-RECS?

  • For each 1000 kWh of clean solar electricity a solar system produces, the owner receives a digital Solar Renewable Energy Credit (S-REC). That credit can be sold for cash using an online trading platform called GATS administered by PJM, the regional operator of all the utility grids in the Mid-Atlantic region.

    In addition to the electricity generated, a solar energy system produces positive environmental and social attributes. The S-REC captures the value of those positive attributes, which include cleaner air, improved grid reliability, greater energy security, less mining activities for uranium and coal, reduced peak demand on the grid, etc.

• Do the solar panels need to be mounted on my roof?

  • Solar panels are often mounted on the roof, but can also be mounted on the ground. Recently, solar canopies (sometimes called solar carports or shading structures) are becoming more popular, as well as building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) where the solar is used in a curtain wall or building facade.

• How does the solar power get stored?

  • We build solar energy systems that are interconnected with the local utility grid, and that power grid acts as a method of storage in the event that you "export" solar electricity to the grid. An export of solar power occurs when you are producing more solar electricity than you need on-site. Net Metering, in effect, allows you to store solar electricity on the utility grid for use at night.

• What are the components of a solar PV system?

  • Solar panels, mounting hardware, solar inverter/s, and a data monitoring system that measures performance in real time. We include lightning arrestors and surge protection devices in all of our turn-key systems. Plastic conduit holding the wiring will run from the solar array to your electric service panel, and at the electric services panel the solar system is tied into the utility company's electrical grid.

• What are my financing options?

  • For commercial and industrial solar photovoltaic systems (generally above 300 kW), there are three basic financing models

    Power Purchase Agreement: Without any investment cost on your part, simply agree to purchase solar electricity for 20 years for less than you pay the utility. We will own and operate the solar energy system, at our expense, which we build on your property.

    Lease-to-Purchase: Make lease payments for ten years, then purchase the system at a price that is far less than its value as an energy generator. The result is largely free electricity for the next 15 years.

    Outright Purchase: The government will cover about 58% of the system cost through a 30% investment tax credit and a 5 year accelerated depreciation schedule. After that, you will have two new revenue streams that will allow you to quickly pay off the balance - the cost savings from not paying your utility, and the cash flow created by selling your Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (S-RECs) which you will earn for every 1000 kWh of solar electricity generated by your solar system.