Monthly Archives: October 2015

Decreasing solar installation costs and increasing incentives are helping businesses throughout Idaho, Utah, Nevada and other Intermountain West states benefit significantly from the sun’s power.

In many cases, businesses can use solar for some or all of their energy needs. Installing a photovoltaic (PV) panel system can be expensive, but is an extremely affordable investment today. In very little time, your solar power system can become profitable for you, and that’s something the power company will never tell you!

Cutting Monthly Energy Bills

Depending upon the nature of your business and your energy requirements, converting to solar power could save you thousands of dollars every month. Businesses with substantial energy costs, such as manufacturing facilities, schools and office parks, have the potential for large power cost savings.

Smaller businesses also can benefit from using solar power. Even if the amount of monthly savings sounds less dramatic on a smaller scale, the potential for harnessing your own free energy is an amazing benefit for any organization.

Tax Credits and Other Solar Cost Savings

Many businesses have delayed making the switch to solar because they fear the initial investment that may be required for system installation. Fortunately, dozens of different financial incentive and tax credit programs are available today to offset this cost.

Some states offer alternative energy rebates that can, based upon the system’s expected performance, reduce the upfront costs significantly. The federal government also offers a sizeable tax credit on the installation of commercial solar power systems. Or, as an alternative to the tax credit, commercial clients can opt to receive a Department of Energy grant.

Other state and local incentives also may be available to help lower initial costs for businesses, and with today’s financing options, your business may have no upfront costs at all.

Profiting from Solar Energy Systems

Businesses that choose to stay connected to the municipal power grid can actually earn money with their PV system. The Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA) states that traditional electric utility companies must purchase any excess energy generated from a PV power system. Thanks to PURPA, businesses can recover their initial costs quickly and turn their system into a moneymaker by selling any unneeded electricity back to the power company.

Using the sun’s power to handle a business’s energy needs can result in significant savings, but it can also make the company money as well, contributing directly to the bottom line.

To determine the potential cost savings of converting your business’ power source to a PV system, schedule a free consultation with the experts at Intermountain Wind & Solar today. Contact us to discuss your options and learn more about today’s affordable solar installation costs.

Today, solar power allows you to easily and affordably run your entire house, letting you go off of the grid completely. Aside from the cost of the initial solar panel system installation, which is amazingly affordable today, going solar involves virtually no cost or effort at all. After all, solar energy is free, and with proper planning, an effective system can be designed to accommodate the needs of any home.

Passive Solar Power Strategies

If you are building a new home, incorporating passive solar energy techniques can easily help to make the most of the sunlight that falls on your property. The home’s orientation, roof construction and window placement can be optimized to capture and use the maximum amount of solar energy.

Existing homes can also be adapted for passive solar strategies. Homeowners can install high-performance windows and thermal insulation to trap the sun’s energy and heat. Erecting roof overhangs and placing shading elements such as trees, bushes, shutters and fences can also be quite beneficial to an off-grid system’s efficiency.

Installing a Solar Power System

Going off the grid and relying completely on solar power for your home requires you to install an active system. An active system collects sunlight through the use of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and converts it into electricity. Solar panels are typically mounted on the roof, although ground placement may be considered if your home’s roof is not at the correct angle or inclination to take full advantage of the sun’s energy.

Designing an active PV energy-generating system that can completely power your home will involve careful consideration of your location’s climate, the number of peak sunlight hours per day and your household’s energy demands. This information will help determine your solar panel array’s size and placement, as well as your battery bank’s capacity for storing energy and the power of your backup generator.

Reducing Solar Power System Costs

The cost of installing a new PV system is extremely affordable today. To reduce the initial investment even more, try lowering your household’s energy usage. This allows you to install a smaller ― and, therefore, less expensive ― solar power array and battery bank. Now add in all of the federal and state energy-related grants, tax credits and rebates available, and you have no reason for not making the switch to your own power-generating PV system.

Relying completely on the sun’s energy to power your home will take proper planning, but it is entirely possible and very worthwhile. In addition to generating your own free power, you can establish true energy independence. No more out-of-control power bills or rate hikes, and no more being at the mercy of the unreliable municipal power grid.

If you live in Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada or Idaho, contact Intermountain Wind & Solar today. Our experts can provide a full evaluation of your home or business and design a system that meets all of your energy needs. If you’re ready to stop throwing money away on electric bills, let us help you make the switch to solar power!

Mobile solar power has many uses for individuals as well as for industry. Whether you plan to spend a week camping in the desert with your family or you just want the security of being prepared in an emergency, you can find a solution that’s the perfect size and scope for your needs. Mobile solar comes in all shapes and sizes, from hand-held portable generators to trailer-mounted systems and everything in between.

Solar Power Systems for Recreational Use

Whether you have a large motor home or a modest tent trailer, you can choose the perfect photovoltaic system to meet your needs. If you plan to take a trip in your RV, do you really want to tote around a generator and all the fuel you’ll need? Of course not! With a roof-mounted PV solar power system, you’ll never have to worry about loud, smelly generators again. Portable solar generators can even be used for wilderness tent camping. Capable of powering your entire campsite, you’ll never be in the dark. Are you more of a glamper? Power your TV, game system and camp stove with solar. And if your vehicle battery dies, never fear, solar technology is here!

Trailer-Mounted Solar Generators

Trailer-mounted solar panels are ideal for construction projects, charging cell phones and other electronic devices, agricultural applications and special events. Many caterers rely on their trailer-mounted power systems to keep food warm or cold. This approach is highly preferable to traditional generators, which are extremely loud and produce noxious fumes that could ruin a special event. For festivals and arts fairs, mobile PV systems can provide power to vendor booths, concession stands and portable restroom facilities. In the construction industry, many contractors use their PV panel trailer for double duty, adding locking tool storage and even small, portable office features.

Emergency Energy Systems

Although no one wants to think about disaster, experts agree that it’s wise to be prepared. Mobile solar is ideal in the event of a natural disaster or similar situation, where traditional fuel may not be available or accessible to run a generator. Trailer-mounted PV systems can be used to support critical systems such as medical equipment, cooling or heating systems and refrigerators or freezers. During recent intense wildfires, emergency personnel used solar generators to provide light for medical personnel so they could triage and tend to the injured. When storms threatened the critical supplies at a local food bank, a mobile PV system came to the rescue again, powering the freezers and coolers until power could be restored.

At Intermountain Wind and Solar, we know that portable PV generators can be a lifesaver in serious situations, and they make your vacation or wilderness getaway safer and more fun. We custom design and build portable and trailer-mounted solar generating systems of all sizes and scopes. Contact us today and let us help you get started with your own mobile solar power system.

Today, residential solar panels can provide sufficient energy to power buildings in remote locations, eliminating the need to connect to the electrical grid. Living in a secluded area often used to mean living without power, as installing new utility lines to isolated areas can be extremely challenging, and therefore, quite expensive. Now, with today’s affordable and effective PV energy systems, people can have reliable, inexpensive power in even the most far-flung locations.

Remote Applications of Solar Energy

When utility service is not available or practical, PV technology can be used to take care of a building’s power needs. Solar powered systems have the capacity to provide enough electricity for lighting and appliances used in a remote home or vacation cabin. Farms and businesses in outlying areas can also use photovoltaic panels for electrical power. Isolated buildings can be equipped with a solar panel system to provide heat and pump water. Typically, rooftop systems are most efficient, as their maximum exposure to sunlight allows them to collect more of the sun’s energy.

Solar Energy Storage

In remote areas, an off-grid PV system is a reliable and cost-effective power source. The photovoltaic panels alone are not enough to provide around-the-clock power, however, so the system typically includes a battery bank. After all, you’ll want electricity on cloudy days and after dark as well, so adequate battery storage is necessary to provide power during those times. In determining battery bank capacity, you must consider the size of the solar array and your typical daily energy usage. Due to the climate of the Intermountain West, it may be wise to choose a large enough battery bank to last through an extended period of inclement weather.

Supporting Solar Panel Systems

An off-grid solar energy system relies on its battery backup system for continual power. But if the batteries become depleted, the building could be left without power until the sun comes out and the photovoltaic panels recharge the battery bank. For this reason, solar experts often recommend that isolated homes and buildings connect backup generators to their systems. Generators that are powered by wind, gas or diesel can provide electricity in the event of a problem with a solar energy system or with its battery bank. With a generator connected, the size of the panel array and battery bank can be reduced, as the system won’t have to rely 100 percent on sunlight.

Properly designed and installed, a solar energy system can meet the energy needs of most remote or secluded buildings. Contact the experienced professionals at Intermountain Wind and Solar, serving Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Colorado, for a free quote and to learn more about how residential solar panels can benefit you.

Photovoltaic solar technology provides a wealth of perks for consumers as well as businesses, but many people don’t think about a valuable side benefit: peace and quiet. Throughout Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and the rest of the Intermountain West, solar energy users are enjoying true energy independence and its significant financial advantages, as well as the drop in noise pollution that results from shunning traditional methods of generating electricity. PV panel technology is quiet, especially when compared to traditional diesel or gas-powered versions. In fact, it’s being used in other countries today to dampen traffic noise from the freeways!

Excess Noise from Traditional Power

Industrial operations of all types typically generate a lot of noise, but electric plants are some of the worst offenders. You can perhaps see the biggest difference when comparing a traditional gas generator to a virtually silent solar generator. Noise limits for residential areas are set at 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night. A portable diesel or gas generator is between 88 and 95 decibels. Solar technology, especially at the consumer level, is virtually silent.

Large PV Power Plants Offer Quiet Central Inverters

Wherever a large array of PV panels is installed, inverters are required to translate the harnessed solar power to usable electricity. Large central inverters are used for these immense industrial power farms. Scientists in Japan, where massive solar farms serve many cities and towns, recently tested the noise levels emitted from central inverters and found that today’s solar technology produces a minimal level of ambient and disruptive noise. As solar technology continues to proliferate around the world, this is good news for industrial centers and urban hubs.

Solar-Powered Noise Barriers

PV panel systems generate quiet and affordable energy as a matter of course, but this technology is also being put to work to actively reduce noise pollution. In the Netherlands, home of the solar road, PV panels are being built along the sides of the highway. Where normally an otherwise-useless concrete barrier would stand, these panels are protecting the nearby communities from traffic noise while also generating power. Holland has engaged the service of local artists to decorate the panels, which feature colorful scenes reminiscent of stained glass. Called luminescent solar concentrators, these systems are low maintenance and resistant to vandalism.

Solar technology offers many amazing benefits to the consumer, the most influential of which is an incredible cost savings. Combine this with energy independence and quiet, and it’s a winning situation for any consumer. If you live in Salt Lake City or anywhere in the Intermountain West region, contact Intermountain Wind and Solar to learn more about how photovoltaic solar technology can benefit you.

Solar energy can be the key to lowering production costs of any agricultural or horticultural operation. Dairy, poultry or sheep farming, growing grains or other crops — every type of farm, including vineyards, orchards and other specialized operations — involves many energy-intensive practices. Putting the sun to work makes sense as a practical solution to lowering farming energy use and expense.

Uses for Solar Technology on the Farm

Dozens of high-tech options are available today for using photovoltaic systems in agriculture and horticulture. Passive solar techniques, such as staging the crop rows and designing or updating buildings to take advantage of the sunlight, often come at little cost but offer the capacity to boost a farm’s productivity. PV panel systems can harness the sun’s energy to pump water for irrigating crops and powering farm machinery and equipment. Solar technologies can also be effectively used to provide light, heat and ventilation to the farmhouse and livestock buildings.

Benefits of Using Solar Energy

Solar technology offers farmers an opportunity to stabilize their energy costs. Some solar strategies involve an initial investment, but once those costs are recovered, fuel is free. This allows farmers to budget more effectively and to save money, as they can avoid the high (and unpredictable) expenses of municipal energy sources.

PV systems also require much less maintenance than other traditional farm energy sources — and they are quite efficient. Greenhouse nurseries, for example, enable year-round crop growth. Photovoltaic panels can also dry crops more quickly and evenly than other methods. Additionally, solar collectors can lower costs when they are used in dairy and livestock operations, as the sun’s energy can power water heaters and other necessary equipment.

Staying Off of the Grid

Solar energy techniques in agricultural operations allow farmers to become less reliant on the electrical grid. Many farms are even able to generate enough power through alternative strategies to remain completely off of the grid. This can be particularly helpful for those in remote locations, where installing new utility lines can be problematic and expensive. Solar energy is predictable, which means that farms need not be concerned about potential power outages. This is especially true if the farms have sufficient battery storage for the energy collected. To supplement battery storage and to help ensure independence from the electrical grid, farm operations can use backup generators powered by wind, gas or diesel fuel.

Agriculture and horticulture operating costs can be high, and meeting these expenses can be difficult for many farmers. Solar strategies can help farmers reduce their costs and improve their efficiency and self-reliance. To learn more about implementing solar techniques on farms in the Intermountain West, schedule a free consultation with the experts at Intermountain Wind and Solar today. Serving Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho and Colorado, their experienced team can help you understand all of your solar energy options.

The goal of all solar technology is to capture the heat generated by the sun and convert it into usable energy. Solar energy can be harnessed to effectively power residential and industrial heating and cooling systems, and any other system that currently relies on electricity for its power source. Technology to harness the power of the sun can be either passive or active in design, and either can be effective in making a home or business more energy-efficient.

Passive Solar Energy

Passive solar technology does not require the use of specialized mechanical devices or equipment to convert the sun’s energy to power. Greenhouses and sunrooms are examples of passive designs. The sun’s rays pass through the windows, and the structure’s interior absorbs and retains the heat. Homes, offices and industrial buildings can be designed with passive solar systems in mind, in order to gain the most benefit. Installing a large number of windows, particularly on the south side of a building, can provide a significant boost in energy absorption. This may reduce the need for lighting and winter heating.

Other passive energy technology design techniques include certain types of landscaping and using overhangs to contain the sun’s heat. Insulation can make passive systems more effective, as they can help hold in the heat or block out the cold, to provide extra warmth in the building.

Active Solar Energy

Active solar energy systems use various electrical and mechanical components to capture and convert the sun’s energy. These systems typically include photovoltaic panels, collectors, voltage controllers, blowers and pumps that work together to process the sun’s usable heat. An active solar system may also have batteries that store the collected energy for later use. The energy the system harnesses can be used to generate electricity and heat for the building. The familiar rooftop panel arrays that are rapidly becoming ubiquitous across the United States are active systems.

Choosing Passive or Active Solar Design

When considering the energy efficiency of a home, office or industrial building, passive solar design strategies can result in significant power and cost savings. Using specialized construction and landscaping techniques can optimize the natural energy of the sun to regulate and control building temperature. Active equipment can then be added to achieve additional energy savings, or even to make a building completely solar-powered and off the grid. As a result, you can enjoy freedom from sky-high power bills and end your reliance on municipal power providers. Using both active and passive technology in combination is the key to energy independence.

Solar energy can be used effectively in any home, office or industrial building. If you are interested in learning more, contact Intermountain Wind and Solar today. Serving Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho and Colorado, their experienced team can help you understand all of your solar technology options.

Rotating solar panels are getting a lot of media attention lately, and at first glance, they seem to have some benefits. Tracking systems move the panels throughout the day in order to keep them facing the sun. The longer they are aligned with the sun, the more energy they can produce – or at least that is the idea behind them. In reality, however, moving solar panels may not be the most practical choice for many homes and businesses.

Tracking Systems Cost More than Fixed-Tilt Systems

In a direct comparison with fixed-tilt solar installations, rotating systems will virtually always be more expensive. This is due to a few factors. First of all, tracking panels have parts and machinery which are costlier to produce than the stationary variety, particularly for systems that track the sun on more than one axis. The complexity of installing rotating solar panel systems may also result in additional fees. Over the lifetime of the system, operations and maintenance costs of moving panels tend to be higher than upkeep costs for fixed-tilt systems. Land use costs must also be considered, as tracking panels must be spaced out over a larger area in order to function effectively.

Rotating Solar Panels are Prone to Failure

Because they have no moving parts, fixed-tilt solar systems require little care other than an occasional inspection. Rotating panels, on the other hand, need to be regularly maintained in order to keep the machinery in good working order. With tracking systems, the panels are supported on pivoting platforms with wheels powered by a motorized drive to move the platforms along circular channels. Solar energy systems are typically expected to operate for at least 20 years, and that’s a lot of time for issues to crop up with the mechanized parts. With their many moving parts and pieces, tracking installations are much more likely to experience failure than fixed-tilt systems.

Fixed-Tilt Ground Solar Panels Provide Benefits

Photovoltaic or PV systems are often installed on roofs, as this can be effective in keeping the panels in full view of the sun. With some roofs, however, this may not be a viable option, due to the building’s orientation, the roof’s construction or overhanging trees and vegetation. In these cases, ground installation is recommended. Ground solar panel tracking systems aren’t guaranteed to provide a significant improvement in the amount of energy harvested over stationary panels. Rotating panels may be able to increase a system’s energy output, but properly installed fixed-tilt panels can provide the same level of output in most situations.

Rotating PV panel systems may make sense in some cases, but only if the increased amount of energy collected is substantial enough to compensate for the additional installation and maintenance costs and potential mechanical failure. Intermountain Wind and Solar, serving customers in the Salt Lake City area and throughout the Intermountain West, specializes in PV solar panel installation and system design. Contact us today for a free consultation and to learn about the many benefits of solar panels at your home or business.

Solar energy is a popular topic of conversation today. Across the United States, both residential and commercial customers are finding a lot to love about this powerful form of alternative energy generation. Despite its growing popularity, however, some potential customers continue to hold out because they aren’t sure yet that a photovoltaic solar energy system is right for them. An informed consumer is a happy consumer, so read on to learn about the pros and cons of today’s solar technology.

The Pros and Advantages

The biggest advantage of today’s solar power systems is financial. The cost savings are so significant, in fact, that many individuals and businesses have turned to solar as a financial investment vehicle. Not only can you save money, you can actually see a positive return on your investment.

The next advantage is the ability to obtain true energy independence. When you reduce or eliminate your dependence on municipal utility providers, you’re no longer at the mercy of onerous rate hikes or unexpected grid failures. Solar also is quiet and clean and it’s extremely low-maintenance.

Finally, the sun’s energy is abundant, especially in the sun-kissed states of the Intermountain West. You never need worry about running out of power, because the sun will rise again tomorrow.

The Cons and Disadvantages

With today’s superior PV technology, the list of disadvantages is quickly shrinking. One challenge some customers face is the lack of roof space required for installing PV panels. In addition, if your home or commercial building has no south-facing roof space, placement may not be optimal. Fortunately, both problems can be addressed by a ground-mounted system.

Another common complaint is that battery backup for energy storage adds additional cost. While having a backup system is helpful, it’s not necessary unless you plan to install your system in a remote area where no municipal power supply is available. Otherwise, you simply select a grid-tied system without battery backup. You can always add your backup system later, once you’ve had a chance to benefit from all that free power you’re generating!

What’s the Right Answer for You?

Although every customer must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of PV technology and decide for themselves, the pros have clearly overtaken the cons today. Photovoltaic solar has become truly affordable for everyone. A variety of federal and state incentives add even more to the financial viability of alternative energy. Joining your family and neighbors for bulk purchasing can lower the price even further, allowing you to start enjoying free power in no time.

If you’re still weighing the pros and cons of installing PV panels at your home or business, contact Intermountain Wind & Solar today. Serving residential and commercial customers throughout the Intermountain West and the states of Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and Nevada, they will evaluate your needs and help you understand how solar energy can benefit you.

Residential solar energy generating systems are gaining popularity across the United States. If you live in the Intermountain West, you probably have noticed the rapid increase of residential solar panels in your neighborhood. This is a trend throughout the region, including in Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. The following are just a few great reasons so many people are having solar panels installed on their homes.

Save Money on Utility Bills

The main reason to go solar, regardless of the state you live in, is to save money. If you are tired of your local power company’s steep bills and constant rate increases, consider adding a PV solar panel system. Not only can it bring your bill down to the double or even single digits, but it can give you independence from utility companies. Having panels installed was once cost-prohibitive for a lot of people, but now PV solar is surprisingly affordable. If you buy the panels, you have access to a variety of tax rebates and other incentives. If you don’t want to outlay the entire cost upfront, you can pay monthly. Either way, you will save money on your utility bills for as long as you have solar panels on your home.

Save More with Bulk Purchasing

Some solar installers in the Mountain West region offer bulk purchasing options. This involves neighbors buying solar panels together, or your solar contractor offering a bulk purchasing discount option. The more people who buy at once, the more money you save. Not only are the panels themselves cheaper when you buy in bulk, you may also qualify for reduced installation costs. So if the price for solar panels seems to be just out of your budget right now, look into bulk purchasing for extra savings.

Put Sunny Days to Good Use

The Intermountain West enjoys lots of sunny days and an ideal climate for solar power. While it’s not blazing hot every day like it is in some states, it’s definitely not overcast often. In fact, this region receives almost five hours of full sunlight per day, which is not too different from the sunniest states in the country, which receive a little more than that.

If you are like most residents of the Intermountain West, two of the best reasons for going solar are energy independence and cost savings. If you are interested in learning more about your alternative energy options, contact Intermountain Wind and Solar. They can show you all the documented reasons both home and business owners across the country are making the switch to residential solar power.