Net metering is the system that utilities use to credit solar energy system owners for the electricity produced by their solar panels. With net metering, you only pay for the electricity that you use beyond what your solar panels can generate. Net metering policies differ by jurisdiction (province and state).

Studies have shown that homes with solar energy systems sell for more than homes without them. An estimated percentage increase is between 5 to 7%. In most parts of the country, going solar will actually increase your property value more than a kitchen renovation.

Solar panels absorb the sun’s energy throughout the day and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. Most homes and businesses run on alternating current (AC) electricity, so the DC electricity is then passed through an inverter to usable AC electricity. At that point, you either use the electricity in your house or send it back to the electric grid.

The amount of power your solar energy system can generate is dependent on sunlight. As a result, your solar panels will produce slightly less energy when the weather is cloudy, and no energy at night. However, because of high electricity costs and financial incentives, solar is a smart decision even if you live in a cloudy city.

Unless your location is off-grid meaning no connection at all to the utility company, you will still receive a bill from your utility. However, you can dramatically reduce your bill, or even cut the amount you owe to solely the service charge. A common monthly service charge is around $20 – $30 / month.

We will file the paperwork necessary to have your system approved. What is needed for permits is electrical and building permits. The actual installation typically takes around 1 to 2 weeks. At this point then we will contact your utility for an inspection and to have a bidirectional meter installed.

Solar panel systems are made of durable tempered glass and require little to no maintenance for the 25 to 35 years. In most cases, you don’t even need to clean your solar panels regularly due to rain & snow taking care of this.

If you can afford to pay your electricity bill you can afford to go solar. Lenders favor renewable energy financing as it is seen as an investment and also is a hard asset offering the lender tangible collateral. For businesses there are many low rate loan products. For residential $0-down solar financing options, including both solar loans and solar leases, make it easy for homeowners with good credit to start saving on their electricity bills by going solar.

When you install a solar energy system on your property, you save money on your electricity bills and protect yourself against rising electricity rates in the future. How much you can save depends on the utility rates, solar policies and current equipment costs in your area. Going solar is a smart investment regardless of where you live.

The size of your solar energy system will depend on how much electricity you use on a monthly basis, as well as the weather conditions where you live. A good thing about solar is that it doesn't have to be all installed at one time also. A common goal for a lot of our customers is to 100% offset there electricity usage.

Solar energy systems can last from 25 to 35+ years. It can be costly to remove and reinstall them if you need to replace your roof. If your roof needs maintenance in the near term, it is best to complete before installing your solar installation. We have a significant amount of experience in roofing. Reach out to us if this is a concern.

If you own your solar energy system, your solar house will sell at a premium: studies have shown that solar increases property values a significant amount. If you lease your system the title is transferred to the new owners. This will be welcomed, as monthly utility bills are reduced by half the regular costs.

There are a couple main differences in solar panels currently:

1) Bifacial or Monofacial

Bifacial is becoming the norm but traditional monofacial panels still exist. Bifacial has tempered glass on both sides allowing not only solar production from the front of the solar cells but also the backside.

2) Size

Solar panels come in two main sizes: 60 cell (66”x40”) and 72 cell (84”x41”). 66 cell is a new size. This size of panel is in circulation somewhat now.

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