- What are the financial benefits of solar energy?
Solar energy saves you money on your electricity bills and protects you from rising electricity rates in the future. The true amount of savings that solar energy will get you depends on where you live and the local utility rate in your area. Overall, wherever you live you will find that going solar is a smart investment.
- What are the environmental benefits of solar energy?
Solar power, like other renewable energy resources, has numerous environmental and health benefits. Putting your faith in solar energy to power your home reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change, and also lessens the amount of air pollutants, like sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, which can cause health problems to your family.
- How does solar impact my property values?
Solar energy systems are a value add to your home, in fact studies show that homes with solar panels sell far better than homes without them! Owning solar panels will boost your property value more than a kitchen renovation.
- How do solar photovoltaic (PV) panels work?
Solar PV panels work by absorbing the sun’s energy during the day and then converting it into direct current (DC) electricity. Most homes and companies run on alternating current (AC) electricity, so the DC electricity is converted through an inverter to AC electricity. During the conversion, you can use the electricity in your home or send it back to the electric grid.
- Do my solar panels produce power when the sun isn’t shining?
Solar energy systems are dependent on sunlight. They will produce less energy during a cloudy day or during inclement weather, and no energy at nighttime. Yet, because of high electricity costs and the financial incentives of having solar, solar energy is a smart decision even if you live in a city where cloudy weather reigns supreme.
- With winter coming up, what happens if there is snow on solar panels?
Solar panels need to be visible to the sunshine to convert that energy into power. If they are covered in snow, then they can’t produce electricity. Snow is not usually heavy enough to cause damage to your panels and most solar panels are tilted at an angel so that snow is able to slide off. If any snow does pile up on the snow panels, please contact your solar panel installation company on the best way to clean it off. They might even pay a complimentary visit to you to assist in getting the solar panels snow-free.
- Will I still receive an electric bill if I have solar panels?
You have the choice to install a battery storage system with your solar panels. If you do not include a battery storage system, then you will be unable to store energy to use during the night. In this case you will receive a bill from your utility company for nighttime use.
- How much will solar panel maintenance cost?
Solar panel systems are made out of durable tempered glass and require little to no maintenance for a 25-35-year lifespan. Usually you do not even need to clean your solar panels. If something does occur, most solar installation companies have warranties. Check with your company to better understand their warranty terms.
- How long will an installation take?
Solar power installations take an average of 40 hours of installation time for the roof, and 10 hours of installation time for inside the home. Typically, two technicians are sent to do the work and most jobs are completed in 2-3 days. The installation wait time is typically 6-8 weeks, but this depends on the season you are installing. Winter usually has the least amount of wait time to have your solar installation project started.
- How much do solar panels cost?
Owning solar power systems have become much more affordable than ever before. The price of solar systems has dropped significantly over the past few years, making it an attractive and environmentally friendly option for homes and businesses. The upfront cost of your solar PV system will be impacted in the following ways:
- Any government incentives and tax credits
- Contractor installation cost
- Type and number of solar panels
- Type and size of inverter (which converts DC electricity into AC electricity for home use)
- Type of framing equipment and any customizations
- Height and accessibility of roof and the type of roof it is
As a rough estimate, the total cost of getting a home solar system installed and running is between $2500 (for a small 1.5 kW system) and $11,500 (for a top-of-the-line 5 kW system). For companies, the approximate cost of installing solar can range from around $15,000 (for a 10kW system) to more than $200,000 (for a high-capacity 100 kW system).
“Solar FAQ.” Solar Accreditation, 2018. http://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/consumers/solar-faq.html
“Solar FAQs”. Revision Energy, 2018. https://www.revisionenergy.com/why-go-solar/solar-faqs/
“Solar FAQ”. Energy Sage, 2018. https://www.energysage.com/solar/solar-faq/