Why would I install Solar?
➢ Solar saves money.
➢ Solar is good for the environment.
➢ Solar reduces dependence on foreign oil.
➢ The State of California gives good rebates and tax credits.
What determines the size of my system?
➢ Your system size is determined by your current or anticipated electricity consumption. The size of your house does not matter. We have seen a 2bd/1ba house with a $500 a month electric bill, and a 5bd/4ba house with a $75 a month bill.
➢ First we will interview you to find out what your goals are. Is your motivation financial, environmental, or a combination of both? Once we have your goals set, we will create a solar system using the most sophisticated software available in the solar industry. Your system will be designed based on your goals along with our calculations and expertise.
Can the Solar system be expanded if my electricity demands increase?
➢ Yes. Expansion might be of special interest to those who have air conditioning. Expanding your solar system is a simple process involving the addition of more solar panels on your roof.
What are the downsides of solar?
➢ The initial out of pocket expense. However, you will begin to see this expense returned to you almost instantaneously through your rebates and electric bills.
What could go wrong with my Solar system?
➢ We have never had a system stop working, once it had successfully passed our installation testing.
➢ The solar panels are guaranteed for 25 years.
➢ The inverters are guaranteed for 10 yrs.
➢ Most panels should last 40+ years, and the inverters should last 15 yrs.
What is the life of expectancy of the inverter? How much will it cost to replace an inverter?
➢ 15 years. It will cost approximately $4,000 to replace an inverter.
What direction/angle should the panels face for optimum performance?
➢ In Santa Barbara, 180 degrees (true south) and 18 degrees angle is optimum. However, even if your house is at the worst extreme in orientation, it will only result in a small 6% reduction in efficiency, so it’s not critical. We cannot install a system more northerly than east and west. North is not an option.
Will I have power in a power outage?
➢ NO. The inverters MUST have a circuit which shuts off power to the grid in 1/30 second. Why? If a power line breaks, we don’t want any electricity from your solar system sending power back into the grid. Special inverters can be purchased (for about $1500 more) that would allow you to safely have power during blackouts.
Are there any products on the horizon that will render my system obsolete, or be drastically less expensive?
➢ No, for a few reasons.
1. Silicon has been in short supply for the past 4 years, keeping the price high. As of November 2008, this is no longer the case, and prices have come down 15%
2. Efforts in technology have been geared towards reducing the amount of silicon required per watt of electricity.
3. Concentrated Solar and systems like CIGS have attempted to circumvent the use of silica, assuming silicon would always be in short supply. However, silicon supplies are now abundant.
What are the pitfalls of using other systems such as CIGS (First Solar) and Thin Film (NanoSolar)?
➢ Thin film is less efficient and requires a larger panel and space for the same amount of output as ours.
➢ CIGS is manufactured using 4 heavy metals Copper, Indium, Gallium and Selenide. These panels are only good for 15 years. After 15 years these panels must be professionally disposed of using strict HAZMAT guidelines. It is clearly not a good choice for the environment.
What if someone throws a rock or another object on my roof and hits the solar panels?
➢ The panels are tested to withstand large hailstones and rocks, by dropping a 1 inch stainless ball bearing on them from a height of 30 ft. However, if the panels are broken they are very easy to replace. How does the system hold up in the weather? ➢ All of our systems are engineered to withstand wind loads in excess of 90 mph. Your system has been tested to be impervious to weather by the construction methods and the material used.
Will our Solar system work in the “May Grey” or “June Gloom”?
➢ Your solar system should work to approximately 40% of its rated output during the heaviest of overcast days, even when water is dripping off your roof. Normal overcast should allow 50-60% or rated output. Approximately two hours before the sun is burning through the overcast, the system should be producing at 90% capacity. Our software takes the Santa Barbara summer overcast into consideration when sizing your system.
Do we have to go through Architectural Board of Review (ABR), Planning/Zoning, etc?
➢ The City and County of Santa Barbara are very positive about issuing permits for solar. Roof mounted solar systems are exempt from Planning/Zoning reviews. ABR reviews are exempt for systems under 10kw.
