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Will solar electric power or hot water work at my home?
Yes, if you have a south-facing (or nearly south-facing) roof that
is free of shade from 9 AM to 3 PM, you have a desirable site. If
your roof is oriented to the southeast or southwest, it may be a
desirable site depending on roof angle and shading.
Is solar a good investment?
Buying a solar system represents a one-time cost that will provide
you with “free” electricity or hot water for 25 or more years. You
will see immediate reductions to your monthly utility bill. The
actual payback of your system will be determined by which rebates
and tax credits you are eligible for as well as how much and how
fast utility rates escalate since you will have avoided this cost
with your solar system.
Can I finance the purchase of a solar energy system?
Solar energy systems can be financed as part of a home equity
loan as the interest on the loan is tax deductible. Additionally,
some financial institutions offer low interest loans to assist with system
acquisition.
Will I have power in a black out?
If we have incorporated a battery back-up solution into your system,
you will be able to run critical items from that stored battery
power. Otherwise, when utility power is disrupted, your solar
electric system will automatically turn off as required for safety
reasons by all utilities.
Can a solar electric system power my entire home?
It can. However, given cost factors and net metering rules, most
people choose a system that produces a portion of the power that
they use. Most customers aim to derive about 1/3 to 1/2 of their
electricity from a PV system. NC SolarNow has the expertise to
design an “off grid” home for 100% of your power should you desire
it.
Can a solar PV system be used to heat my home?
A solar PV system produces electricity, not heat. The only way for
it produce heat would be through an electric heater which would not
be the most efficient use of your power.
What is the right system size for my house?
The size of the solar electric or hot water system has less to do
with the physical size of your house and more with your actual
electricity or hot water consumption. Since people in similar sized
homes have varying energy usage levels, we size the system based on
your consumption level, roof size and budget. NC SolarNow has many
predefined systems that we frequently install that help to make the
decision process much easier for you.
How is the power stored?
Unless a battery storage system is incorporated into your system,
the electricity is not stored. Any electricity that you produce is
either used by your household at that time or the power flows back
out to grid while spinning your meter backwards. Some homeowners
that are subject to frequent power outages request a system that
incorporates battery storage that power the household in the event
of a utility outage.
How much does a photovoltaic (PV) system cost?
This amount can vary by state based on product, available
incentives and rebates. NC SolarNow will design a system that
maximizes your incentives for the state in which you reside. Your
personal NC SolarNow quote will contain this detailed information.
How much space does a system require?
A typical PV system will take up about 300 sq. ft. (20 x 15) of roof
space and approximately a 4ft. by 4ft. amount of wall space next to
your electrical service panel for an inverter, meter and disconnect
switch. A typical hot water system will take up less roof space, on
average between 60 and 100 square feet.
What if I sell my home before the system has paid itself back?
When you sell your home, you should be able to request a premium for
your home as it will have lower operating costs than a comparable
non-solar home. In fact, banks are beginning to provide larger
mortgages on energy efficient homes because of their lower monthly
cost of operation.
Can I sell power back to my utility?
Yes, through ‘net metering’ any excess electricity generated will
spin your meter backwards which has the effect of selling your
excess power to the utility at a full retail rate. On a monthly
basis, you pay only the “net” of what power you used.
Are there tax credits and other financial incentives available?
Yes. Depending on the state that you live in there are varying
rebate and tax incentives available. NC SolarNow will assist you in
maximizing incentive payments. Additionally, with the Energy
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the Federal Government extended
the solar Investment Tax Credit for eight years. They also removed
the $2,000 cap on the 30% Tax Credit for PV systems ($2,000 cap
still applies to hot water and other thermal systems). This amount
will come directly off your tax bill.
Click here for more information on tax credits.
What is the environmental benefit of installing a photovoltaic (PV) system?
A 5 kW of photovoltaic capacity will avoid the release of 73 tons of
carbon over a 25 year lifetime that would have occurred if had you
purchased that power from your utility. This is the environmental
equivalent of planting 682 trees.
Do the panels need to face South?
South is the best orientation and will produce the most electricity
for you. East and West orientations are possible as well. NC
SolarNow will determine the energy output estimate for you based on
30 years of climate data.
What condition should my roof be in?
PV and hot water systems are designed for a 25+ year lifetime. You
would want to have a relatively new (less than 8 years) underlying
roof so that the system wouldn’t need to be removed for roof repairs
at a future date.
What happens if snow covers the PV panels or thermal collectors?
After the storm, when the sun comes out, the solar radiation
penetrates the snow and heats up the collector melting the snow from
the bottom up. The melting at the surface of the collector allows
the snow to slide off. Also, since the panels are usually mounted on
an angle, the snow is able to slide off fairly easily.
Will I ever have to take a cold shower with a solar hot water system?
No, unless you want to, that is. Your solar hot water system will
serve as a pre-heat to your existing system. You are adding an
auxiliary system when you add solar domestic hot water, not
replacing your current water heating set-up. As a result, you will
have access to both types of water heating options.
Can a solar thermal system be used to heat my home?
Only certain types of space heating systems are compatible with
solar. If you have radiant floor heating, you may be a good
candidate for solar space heating. You can add a water-to-air heat
exchanger to your existing heat system.
Contact us to find out more.
How much will a hot water system reduce my heating costs?
You may reduce your hot water heating costs up to 80-90% with a solar
hot water system, or, for those who use oil to heat their hot water,
you can save up to an estimated 200 gallons of oil each year.
How much does a hot water system cost?
Again, this amount varies based on product, available
incentives and rebates. NC SolarNow will design a system that
maximizes your incentives for the state in which you reside. Your
personal NC SolarNow quote will contain this detailed information.
How long does it take for a PV system to pay for itself?
It is more instructive to think of solar as an investment that
yields an annual return, much as a bank savings account provides
interest. A solar PV system may generate savings that would equal an
annual Return on Investment (ROI) of 7% to 15% per year at today's
electric rates. These savings are not taxed as would be the interest
earned from a bank savings account. Thus you would have to find a
bank account or investment yielding 14% to 28% to equal the return
on a solar electric system. No matter what ROI your system would
generate, this is ultimately a choice about how you will be buying
your power - not whether or not you will be paying for it!
Read this article for more information:
Why Is A Solar Electric Home Worth More? by Andrew J. Black
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