Solar Applications and Benefits:

• How can solar provide electricity for my home?
• Can I use solar energy to provide hot water?
• Can I heat my pool with solar?
• Will solar keep the power on during power outages?
• Will solar protect me from rising fuel prices?
• How is solar good for the environment?

Solar Energy Concerns and Issues:

• Will the system work at night and on cloudy days?
• What happens if snow covers the panels?
• Do I need to replace my existing roof to benefit from solar?
• Are solar panels sturdy? How long will they last?
• Do I need to clean the panels periodically?
• How long does it take to install a PV system?
• Will the solar panels look odd on my traditional house?
• Shouldn’t I wait until the technology gets better?
• Should I do other energy conservation work before installing solar?

Is My House a Good Candidate for Solar?

• Do the panels need to face south?
• Are there any special roof requirements?
• Do the panels need to be mounted on my roof?
• What happens if the panels are shaded?
• How much solar electric power do I need to power my home?
• How much power does the system produce?

Solar Economics:

• How much will I save on my electric bill?
• What is the cost of installation?
• Are there financial incentives for buying solar electricity now?
• Can I sell power back to the utility?
• If I sell my property, what effect does PV have on the sale price?

Solar Applications and Benefits:

Photovoltaic (“PV”) panels produce electricity any time the sun is shining. Here’s how it works: photons hit the panel and are absorbed by semi-conducting materials, like silicon. Electrons released from their atoms, flow through the silicon to produce electricity. The complementary positive charges flow in the opposite direction of the electrons within the panel. Each panel is part of an array of panels that produce DC current electricity, which flows into an inverter box. The inverter changes that DC current into AC current, which can then be used to power any electric appliance in your home.

Yes. Solar hot water (SHW) panels use the sun to heat either water or a heat-transfer fluid, which is piped to a heat exchanger that heats the hot water in your home. A typical system will reduce the need for conventional water heating (for showers, dishwashing, clothes washing, etc.) by about two-thirds. A solar thermal water heating system can pay for itself in five years or less. Typically, these cost under $6,000, and can reduce your monthly hot water heating bill between 50 - 100%.

Yes, you can eliminate the standard pool heater and heat your pool entirely with a solar thermal system that pays for itself in just a few years. It can extend your pool use in the “shoulder months” (April and September) for free. Solar pool systems are normally less high tech and less expensive than regular SHW systems because they are not engineered to work during the winter.

Many residential solar systems do not have battery back-up systems. In a sense, your utility network IS the backup battery; it takes surplus power from various sources (including yours when you are producing excess power) and delivers it when and where it is needed. As a solar generator, you are giving power back during the day and taking power back during the night. If backup power is desired, a battery system can be added, though this increases the complexity and cost. A large battery back-up can store power for several days, or a small one can be configured to run a few appliances for a few days (e.g., a refrigerator and a few lights).

Most experts agree that electric rates will continue to climb faster than inflation. As your own energy provider, you will be producing your own power for up to 40 years at a fraction of the current charges and reduce your exposure to future rate hikes and power outages.

Renewable energy technologies are a lot friendlier to the environment than conventional energy technologies that rely on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels contribute significantly to many of the environmental problems we face today – global warming, air pollution, and water and soil contamination. In contrast, there are zero emissions from operating solar energy systems. The average household in our region consumes produces 14.5 tons of CO2 per year. A modestly sized 2.5kW solar system might cut that in half, saving an amount similar to that which would occur by planting an acre of trees, or the amount of CO2 emitted by a passenger car driving 7,800 miles per year – or about 275,000 miles over the life of the system. Solar energy can greatly improve the quality of the air we breathe every day. It also reduces our dependence on foreign sources of oil.

Solar Energy Concerns and Issues:

Solar panels do not work at night or in full shade. They do produce energy even on cloudy days, although full sun is needed for optimal performance. They work best on sunny summer days, which corresponds nicely to the peak air conditioning energy demand in our area. Even small amounts of shade can significantly reduce the output. Our designs and installations also seek to minimize the impact of any shade issues through selection of the proper equipment and good engineering. You may also want to consider strategic tree trimming in some cases.

Solar electric panels need sunshine to generate power. While some sun does make it through several inches of snow, little electricity is generated when the panels are covered with anything. Often a small amount of residual heat in the panels plus the slippery tempered glass panel cover will help snow slide off the panels and keep them free to generate power.

Solar panels will last many years. Therefore, if you roof is in poor condition, you may want to replace it because it does not make sense to remove and reinstall the panels after only a few years. However, after the panels are in place, they will greatly reduce the wear on the roof by blocking ultraviolet rays, keeping most snow and ice off the roof, and keeping anything from hitting the roof. Most installations do not require a new roof prior to PV installation.

Most solar panels are covered with a layer of tempered glass, which is quite strong. They pass hail tests, and are regularly installed in the Arctic, Antarctic, and other extreme environments. And they are warranted by the manufacturer for at least 25 years. Most systems should last close to 40 years.

In most areas of the country, there is sufficient rain to clean the panels. However, if you are in a dusty area (very near a busy dirt road, for example) you may see a performance gain from cleaning the panels regularly. If necessary, a hose stream is usually sufficient for cleaning. Do not walk on or over the panels to clean them. Do not use metal, hard, or abrasive methods for cleaning. Do not spray water on the panels when they are very hot.

Typical residential systems take from 2 to 5 days to install. Systems mounted on the ground and systems with batteries are more complex, and may take longer. Most of the work is done outside your house, so there is little disturbance to you.

When your best roof surface for solar is not very visible from the street, we recommend standard solar panels. If, however, you own a traditional style house in an older neighborhood, and the best roof for solar faces the street, you may want to consider “SunSlates”. SunSlates are new PV panels that look a lot like regular roof slates. People driving by would never know that you have a solar system on your roof. SunSlates are a little more expensive, but well worth it when aesthetics are an issue.

Like any other technology, solar technology continues to get better, faster, different, flexible, etc. But the most important detail, system efficiency, is not likely to change significantly. PV is already very efficient, approaching theoretical efficiency maximums, so there is little room for additional efficiency gains. And while you wait for technology to improve, you will continue to pay rising electric bills.

It makes sense to make your house as energy efficient as possible. Always buy energy efficient appliances, check your insulation, weather stripping etc. It is a good idea to have an energy audit, and do all of the cost effective items that they suggest. But there is no reason to do those things before you go solar. In fact, many solar home owners say that having the solar system motivated them to do more energy conservation improvements, and their energy savings from solar helped them pay for those improvements.

Is My House a Good Candidate for Solar?

South-facing or flat roofs are best, but panels installed facing east or west still generate a very high percentage of possible power. North-facing systems are generally not recommended. It is usually more effective (and more attractive) to install the panels in the same plane as the roof direction, rather than build special mounts to angle them.

Single-plane, shingle roofs are usually the easiest to work with. Complex roof designs with dormers, skylights and various projections make the installation more difficult and often shade the panels at times, making them less efficient. Slate roofs and barrel tile roofs can also be challenging, but not impossible.

Panels are often mounted on the roof, but can also be mounted on a garage or on the ground. Ground mounts are great if the house is shaded, or if dormers or other obstructions limit available space on the roof.

Photovoltaic (PV) panels should be installed in areas where they get significant shade-free sun every day. Even small amounts of shade can reduce system performance. If your house is fully shaded, solar may not make sense for you. If you have some sun and some shade, you may want to consider strategic tree trimming.

Each home is different, and the amount of electricity you use is very dependent upon your lifestyle, how your home was built, and your appliances. As part of our co-op services, we work with you to identify ways to reduce your electrical consumption in easy ways.

Systems come in all sizes, and produce as much or as little power as required. In the real world, the majority of home systems range from 2 kW to 4 kW. Many systems produce a portion of the home's required power, leaving room for additional conservation or generation in the future.

Solar Economics

Typically you save from 50% to over 100%. Over 100% means the electric company will pay YOU! Again, it depends on the size and performance of your system. The more you put into your solar system, the more you will get out. Remember that your utility bill goes up every year as energy prices climb, so you will save more every year you operate your solar system.

Cost depends on several factors, but generally solar PV costs about $12 per watt installed. A complete solar electric system, including panels, an inverter and installation can cost between $20,000 and $50,000. You can spend as much money to receive as much solar electricity as you feel comfortable with. You may also be eligible for tax incentives that help offset installation costs. Common Cents Solar, however, expects and intends to cut the full price of systems to our co-op partners significantly.

There are many incentives for purchasing solar. These vary by location, but may include state and federal tax credits for renewable energy purchases, and the ability to sell surplus power back to the utility. Commercial installations may carry additional tax credit potential and attractive depreciation benefits, as well as the potential to package and sell renewable energy credits.

In Maryland, electric utilities are required to accept the power you generate every month beyond your needs. That excess generation is registered by your meter running backwards, creating a credit for you. This is called “net metering”. The effect is to potentially allow you to produce enough energy during the day that it compensates you for whatever you may use at night.

Energy conservation and renewable generation adds value to a home. Surveys have shown that for every $1,000.00 saved per year, $20,000.00 is added to a home's value. Solar energy can be one of the best home improvement investments you make.