Monthly Archives: May 2017

So you’re ready for your residential solar energy system installation. How long will it be before your PV project is complete? The answer depends on the size and complexity of your photovoltaic installation. It may also depend on the experience and commitment of your solar installer. Planning a Residential Solar Installation Solar panel installation projects typically take between one and three months from start to finish. The good news is that most of this time is in the planning — not on your rooftop. Once you sign a solar installation contract, your professional contractor will get to work finalizing the design and ordering your photovoltaic components. Then there’s the paperwork. Home PV installations usually require building permits, specific to where...

Both ground-mounted and rooftop solar panels offer unique benefits, and both provide you with a free source of electricity for your home. But if you’re like most homeowners, cost will factor into your decision. So which type of photovoltaic array is more affordable? Ground-Mounted Solar Installation Costs Ground-mounted photovoltaic arrays typically cost more than rooftop systems. The additional materials needed — including reinforced pole structures and cement foundations — are responsible for much of the added expense. Labor charges are also higher for ground-mounted panels, due to the more involved mounting process. In addition, placing a photovoltaic array at ground level puts the wiring components in easy reach of rabbits, squirrels and other backyard pests. To prevent critters from munching...

If you install a rooftop solar array, what happens if you decide to move? Will you be able to sell your house? Absolutely. You don’t have to live in your home forever to make solar a smart investment in the future. A home photovoltaic installation won’t stop you from selling. In fact, it can be an advantage. A Rooftop Solar Array Helps Attract Home Buyers When it comes time to sell your home, having a real estate listing that stands out among the crowd will help attract more home buyers. A solar array is an impressive feature for any home. What’s not to like about creating your own electricity and paying little or nothing to the utility company? Advertise your...

If you want to install photovoltaic panels at your home or business, a flat roof is not a problem. In fact, if your house has a flat roof, you may be better off than homeowners with pitched roofs. As long as your rooftop is in good condition and has no shading from trees or nearby buildings, you can go solar with confidence. A Flat Roof Optimizes Energy Output from Photovoltaic Panels With a pitched roof, the orientation of a home PV array is dictated by the direction and angle of the structure. While adjustments can be made to harness more of the sun’s energy, optimizing photovoltaic power can be challenging on a roof that doesn’t face south or west. On...

A PV solar energy system can easily generate enough power to charge an electric vehicle. If you own an electric car, chances are you’ve noticed a significant increase in your monthly utility bill. Sure, you don’t have to pay for gas, but now you’re paying more for electricity. Invest in a home PV solar array, and you can offset these added energy costs. You may even be able to eliminate your monthly electricity bill. How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Vehicle? The average electric car requires bout 30 kWh of electricity to drive 100 miles. So if you drive 15,000 miles in a year, you’ll use 4,500 kWh. If you pay the utility company 13 cents per...

Commercial solar power offers several significant benefits to businesses throughout the Intermountain West. In fact, this technology is quickly becoming a popular investment for savvy business owners. Could investing in a photovoltaic project be the right move for your company? When you check out the advantages of going solar, you may just be convinced. No. 1: Commercial Solar Power Cuts Electricity Costs How much do you pay the utility company for your facility’s electricity? Hundreds of dollars each month? Thousands? With a commercial photovoltaic installation, those costs are drastically reduced. You may even be able to eliminate your electricity bills. You’ll enjoy free energy from the sun, while your competitors remain under the expensive thumb of the utility company. No....

Have you considered installing solar panels? For most homeowners in the Intermountain West states, rooftop placement of a photovoltaic array is a cost-effective strategy for energy production. But what happens when it rains? Won’t all those holes necessary for mounting the panels make your roof leak? If you use the services of an experienced solar installation contractor, you won’t have to worry about this problem. When Installing Solar Panels, Proper Technique Is Key To securely attach the photovoltaic mounting racks, PV installers will need to make some holes in your roof. But you don’t need to worry about water leaking through them. Photovoltaic mounting components are specifically designed for rooftop solar installations, and thus guard against roof leaks. Special flashing...

With off-grid solar energy, living in a remote location doesn’t have to mean living without power. Stand-alone photovoltaic arrays provide a reliable source of electricity by harnessing the sun’s energy. Solar panel systems can work anywhere — even in locations that are way off the beaten path. Off-Grid Solar Energy Is More Practical than Utility Service To connect your far-flung home to the utility grid, power lines must be extended to your location. But you must pay to have that work done, and the farther away your home is, the more it costs. According to the Department of Energy, the cost of extending a power line averages between $15,000 and $50,000 per mile. So if you want to live several...

Homeowners are learning the truth about photovoltaic power — rooftop solar energy systems offer big financial savings as well as energy independence. Making the switch to solar is easier than you may think, yet misconceptions persist. Below, we debunk six of the most common myths about photovoltaic solar energy. Myth No. 1: Photovoltaic Power Systems Are Expensive Many homeowners grossly overestimate the cost of installing a solar energy system. Prices have drastically fallen over the last few decades, and many lucrative financial incentives are available today. You don’t have to be rich to switch to solar power. In fact, with the wide range of financing options available, people of all socioeconomic levels can now afford photovoltaic systems. Myth No. 2:...

Your commercial solar array represents a significant financial investment, but it could be an attractive and easy target for thieves, depending upon its placement. In an hour or two, thieves could easily dismantle — and disappear with — a large photovoltaic array. Commercial solar panel systems take time to install, but removal can happen quickly. Fortunately, you can use some simple strategies to cut your risks. No. 1: Install Motion-Detecting Lights It may sound simple, but motion-detecting lights can be effective for deterring most thieves. Theft of commercial photovoltaic panels typically happens at night, when criminals can hide under the cover of darkness. No thief wants to work under a bright spotlight, so installing motion detectors near your solar array...