Monthly Archives: May 2019

Why pay a professional solar contractor when you can buy a solar panel kit and install it yourself? Wouldn’t that cost less?

Perhaps, but sticker price isn’t the only consideration. When you consider the bigger picture, paying a little less upfront and going the DIY route really isn’t a smart financial move. In the long run hiring a professional solar contractor can actually save you money.

Time is Money

How much do you know about installing solar panels? If you plan to handle your own photovoltaic installation, you’d better be ready to spend many, many hours reading manuals and watching instructional videos. The skills and knowledge you need to attain before embarking on the project include:

• How to evaluate a rooftop for adequate structural support
• How to properly size a photovoltaic system
• How to attach solar panels safely and securely to a rooftop
• How to place a rooftop array to maximize energy production
• How to wire the system and install the inverter

Time is money, as the saying goes. And this is just a partial list – and the less you know now, the more time you need to spend studying. If you don’t do your research, you might miss a crucial step. Don’t want to invest the time? Hire a professional solar contractor.

Mistakes are Costly

Let’s say you already know quite a bit about installing solar panels, or you don’t mind spending the time to learn. Why not handle your own project and skip hiring a professional contractor?

You can, but remember this – if you mess up even a minor part of the photovoltaic system installation process, you’ll bear the full weight of fixing the problem. Mistakes can be expensive to repair, and any you make could cancel out the initial savings of taking the DIY approach.

Mistakes can cost you in another way, too. You expect your solar panels to produce a certain amount of electricity, but if you get the orientation, tilt or placement wrong, you can count on a loss in energy production. In the hands of an experienced solar contractor, this won’t happen – you’ll see optimal energy savings from the start.

DIY Solar is a Gamble

DIY solar panel kits don’t come cheap – many cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. Do you really want to take any risks when spending that kind of money? Can you afford to shoulder the costs if your DIY installation goes sour?

With a professional solar contractor, you can enjoy the peace of mind in knowing that your photovoltaic system installation was completed with expert care and masterful workmanship. You’ll gain maximum energy production, while enjoying problem-free operation and the security of warranty coverage.

If you live in Utah, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada or Wyoming and are looking for an experienced professional contractor to handle your solar panel installation, call on the team at Intermountain Wind & Solar.

We can answer your questions, explain your options and design a cost-effective photovoltaic array that meets your electricity needs. Contact Intermountain Wind & Solar and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and find out how a leading professional solar contractor can save you money today.

How big should your solar panel system be? Figuring out what size photovoltaic array to install isn’t easy.

On the one hand, you want your PV system to produce enough energy to meet your household needs and eliminate your monthly electricity bills. But on the other hand, you’re concerned about costs – and though prices for solar panels have dramatically dropped in recent years, you don’t want to pay for more than you need.

As you make plans to install a new solar panel system, you’ll need to consider the following to determine the right size for your photovoltaic array.

Examine Your Electricity Bills

Pull out your electricity bills from the past year or take a look at them online. The amount you’re paying now helps to establish the basis of your energy production goal. After all, if your monthly costs average $100, for example, you don’t need to install a photovoltaic array that produces $200 worth of power.

Look at Your Household Energy Use

While you’re checking out your electricity bills, find your energy usage, which is listed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This is a separate consideration because life circumstances – such as having kids, building a home addition or investing in energy-efficiency upgrades — could cause this figure to increase or decrease. Factoring in your future energy needs is crucial to correctly sizing your PV system.

Account for the Weather Conditions

How much direct sunlight does your part of the Intermountain West receive per day? Do you have a lot of cloudy days? Weather plays a large role in determining PV system size, as the conditions affect energy production. As an example, a photovoltaic array in sunny Salt Lake City, Utah, will create more electricity than one of the identical size in cloudier Portland, Oregon.

Evaluate Your Available Rooftop Space

For maximum sun exposure, a PV system in the Intermountain West should face south. Rooftops that face east or west can work, but more solar panels may be necessary. Along with angle, you also need to consider the amount of space you have available and whether shade from obstructions like trees, skylights, chimneys or vents may interfere with energy production.

Request Bids from Local Solar Contractors

Putting all of this information together and determining how many solar panels you need requires careful consideration. And, size isn’t the only decision you have to make when designing a PV system. So, experts recommend requesting site evaluations and project bids from at least a few local solar contractors. Comparing several options is the best way to get a photovoltaic array of the right size without overpaying.

If you live in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming or Oregon, schedule a site evaluation and solar panel system installation estimate with the professional team at Intermountain Wind & Solar.

A trusted Intermountain West industry leader for over a decade, Intermountain Wind & Solar has extensive experience designing efficient, cost-effective photovoltaic arrays that offer optimal energy production. Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss solar panel system installation today.

If your home PV system is connected to the utility grid, you don’t necessarily need to add solar battery storage – but you might want to consider the idea anyway.

Solar storage can be a smart investment, one that reduces your reliance on the grid and gives you a greater degree of energy independence. Plus, adding a solar battery bank to your home PV system can decrease the amount of money you put in your utility company’s pocket.

How Solar Battery Storage Works

A well-designed home PV system can charge a solar battery bank and keep it fueled up, ready for use whenever necessary.

Normally, excess electricity produced by your grid-tied photovoltaic array goes to the utility grid. With solar storage, this still occurs, but only after the batteries have their fill. You can draw on the energy stored in the battery bank to power your home at night, on cloudy days and utility blackouts.

Advantages of Adding Solar Battery Storage

Pairing your PV system with a solar battery bank can make sense for several reasons.

By adding batteries, you’ll be able to use more solar energy (which is free) and less electricity from the utility grid (which comes at a cost). So, you can save even more money than you already are on your monthly energy bills.

Solar storage can also help you dodge time-of-use rates, demand charges and other costly utility company rate policies. And, if your state or energy provider does not offer retail rate net metering, adding a battery bank may be financially beneficial – why send excess electricity to the grid if you aren’t getting full credit?

Also, with a battery bank, power outages are no cause for concern. Since blackouts are happening more and more often these days, this can be a significant advantage.

Economics of Solar Battery Storage

Prices for solar batteries are falling, making it easier for homeowners to invest. However, adding a battery bank can be expensive, particularly if you want to minimize your reliance on the utility grid and provide your home with power during extended blackouts. Keep in mind, too, that batteries need maintenance – and they don’t last forever.

The good news? In a private letter ruling last year, the IRS stated that a battery added to a home PV system a year after the initial solar installation was eligible for the full investment tax credit as long as it is 100 percent charged by the power of the sun. While this does leave some room for debate, industry experts say homeowners should be able to claim the lucrative solar tax credit a second time when they add a battery bank.

As for financing, you have a few options. Some loan providers are willing to fund solar storage projects, or you can take out a home equity line of credit. And, check with your photovoltaic installer – some, including Intermountain Wind & Solar, offer affordable financing programs.

Are you ready to learn more? Intermountain Wind & Solar offers free, no-obligation consultations to homeowners throughout Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming and Nevada. Contact us for details on how you can add solar battery storage to your home PV system today.