It ain't your grandparent's solar

Solar solutions have changed significantly over the years and they're still changing. Solar systems are so small and flexible, they're portable! Home systems are still larger, but the technology has changed so much, you can have solar panels in your glass doors and windows or on a separate panel on the side of your home.

Types of Solar

These are some of the solar systems available: Hot Air Collectors, Hot Water Collectors, and Photovoltaic.


Active Solar Hot Air Collectors

Solar wall panels discharge cold air out and draw warm air into the room - it's that simple! It provides heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. It's a great form of heat for south facing walls and roofs. They also shield in the summer and warm air as it's let out through dampers in the top of the unit without absorbing it into the walls, cooling your home!

 

Active Solar Hot Water Heat Collectors

These systems can be used for domestic hot water (showers, dishwashing, etc.). They can also help heat your home! The northeast zone is capable of capturing 60-62% of the sun's energy.


Photovoltaic

These panels are the electricity workhorses around the home. Basically, PV arrays on the ground and/or roof route to a DC disconnect box, to the inverter, into the AC disconnect, and into the home, with extra voltage being sold back to the grid (net metering).

Systems can include a battery bank, charge controller and breakers to coast through power outages we sometimes experience on the grid.

Stand-alone systems include all of the above, but have automatic generator capabilities to counter low batteries on cloudy days. A power center is recommended and enjoyed by customers with an off-grid system.

* A basic on-grid, non-battery powered system is most popular and cost effective. *

We can evaluate the power required to run your home and recommend a system for installation. A really tight home could use 1/2 Watt per square foot while another home that is not energy tight could use 2 watts per square foot. Add 35% to your total to be sure.

Consider This . . .

On average, a home's heat and domestic hot water production (not including gas, oil, or yearly maintenance costs) is 87% of the total energy cost! A fact so staggering that it makes converting to alternative energy solutions a no-brainer! The cost of a new green system doesn't dwarf a new gas/oil system and will pay for itself over time, while lasting at least 3 to 4 times as long, or longer. Maintenance is significantly less. And, don't forget the incentives! Best of all are the environmental benefits: lack of exhaust, pollutants, less fire hazard, quieter operation and more.

We believe that no system should be installed unless all the factors are considered. This provides you with an exact fit for the least expensive and most energy efficient system possible. We can help you find the incentives and financing. Call or email us to discuss solar for your home or business. It's free and up-front. Beware of one-size-fits-all quotes. We'll send a licensed contractor for an up-front, on-site analysis.