15 Essential Questions You Need to Ask Before Installing Solar Panels
Installing solar panels is a wise investment. Increase the value of your house,, Reduce your energy costAnd help protect the environment. one The recent CNET survey It was found that 78% of adults interviewed were under pressure due to high energy costs and turned to solar energy. It was a logical next step. However, given the risk of tens of thousands of dollars, you don’t want to make this decision easily, even if the huge federal incentive measures make it more attractive.
After studying companies, reading comments and collecting friends and neighbors, you need to choose the appropriate installation program. Know what kind of question you want to ask Solar company You can ensure a smooth installation experience in your area and save you thousands of dollars in the system’s service life.
There are 15 questions here to ask solar installation personnel to ensure that you make the right choice.
1. How long have you been working?
The recent prosperity of the solar industry means that more companies have added more than ever before. This is usually a good thing, but not everyone is an experienced installer, or even a legal enterprise.
“Sometimes these installation companies are unreliable. They open a month and close the door next month,” said Jani Hale, a Taiwanese manager. Solar neighbors joint organizationIt is a non -profit organization that helps consumers to use solar energy by forming residential cooperatives and providing educational support. Ideally, the installer has been in business for three years or more.
2. What are your company’s certification?
The online review of solar installations is a good start, but they are not as reliable as industry certification. this National Certification Energy Practitioner Committee (Nabcep) The standards of knowledge, experience and professionalism in the field of renewable energy. “We recommend that at least one person in the company obtain Nabcep certification to ensure that they have appropriate knowledge and skills,” Hale said.
Other certification allows you to learn more about the company’s labor practice and environmental standards. The company certified by Gongyi Enterprise must meet certain social and environmental standards in its operations, including fair labor practice and wages. “If the installer gets fair wages, they are more likely to make high-quality installations if the installer obtains fair wages.” Solar state 2008.
3. What are the rules of solar energy in our state?
“Different states have different rules, so make sure people who talk to you can clearly explain the rules of your state very important,” Gold Markle said.
For example, California Legal restrictions on residential solar return to the power grid. In Pennsylvania, the residential system can return unlimited power back to the power grid. Public institutional companies need to pay the full retail price. The differences between these states will have a significant impact Investment recycling period For your system.
4. What solar incentives are there in my area?
Except for these 30% Federal tax According to the “Inflation Act”, you may be eligible to get additional points or rewards according to other factors. These incentive measures can be accumulated, and before any local or specific public utilization incentive measures play a role. Knowledge solar installation staff will be able to tell you information about federal, state, and local incentives to help you save money. Gold-MARKEL said: “You can get 30% to 60% of solar energy cost tax credits, depending on how you use these different federal incentives.”
For example, if you are Buy solar energy for your company The depreciation of the asset may be accelerated, so as to obtain greater tax reduction and exemption in the first few years of the system. If your installed staff use Materials made in the United StatesEssence
5. What type of device do you use, does production meet moral norms?
Ask the equipment planned by the installer and why they make such a choice. If your house has a complex or exquisite building roof, companies with only one size panel may not be the most appropriate. “Beware of sales staff hints that there is only one type of solar system or Battery storage“Heier said.” There are many brands of solar equipment and system design to choose from. “
Gold-MARKEL also suggested to ask the source of the device to give priority to the panel made in the United States. “We are part of Amicus. AMICUS is a national installer cooperative to buy solar panels that meet moral norms,” ​​he said. “If you can find Amicus installation professionals in your area, you will know that you are getting a system of reliable source.”
6. Do I need a new roof before installing solar?
The life of the roof is a key consideration of using solar energy. Solar United Neighbors recommends a roof with a service life of less than 10 to 15 years before installing the system.
Qualified solar installation personnel should be able to provide you with opinions on roof conditions and make suggestions in their proposals. “They may not be a roof, but they should be able to say, ‘We found that your roof is a bit damaged. If you change it before using solar energy, it will be a good idea,'” Gold Markle said.
7. Will your company be installed?
Regardless of whether you believe it or not, the salesperson who talked to you may not work in the company that actually installed for you. Make sure the installer used when you log in Will be the person who do thisEssence
“Many high-voltage marketing companies are impersonating solar companies,” Gold Markle said. “What they do is marketing and sales, and then they take solar devices to other companies. This may be the real disaster.”
Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you know who will be responsible for installing solar panels on your house.
8. What is your installation schedule?
You need to discuss a rough project schedule with any solar installation business that you are considering -how long it takes to start and start and run for solar energy installation. Heier pointed out that this is a reputable installer that should ask you.
“The installer should ask you the timetable for the installation system so that they can study it for you,” she said. “Really excellent installations will wait for you to come back to find them.”
9. What types of maintenance packages or warranty are provided?
GOLD-MARKEL recommends asking information about extended warranty or operation, as well as Maintenance package The entire life cycle of the system is usually about 25 years. He said: “Ask if you can also obtain operations and maintenance packages, extend the warranty period that cover the life of solar use or a longer warranty period than the process warranty period stipulated in the contract.”
10. Do I need to pay for my system to provide financing? Who provides financing?
because High interest rateCompared with a few years ago, financing financing for solar energy is no longer an attractive choice. If you are considering FinancingGold-MARKEL said, be sure to ask any hidden costs that may contain in the agreement. It is also important to study institutions that provide loans (probably a third party), and read the clause carefully to understand what happens if you breach.
11. What is the cost of my solar system?
The homeowner often pays attention to the whole The cost of installing solar energy Or the cost of each panel. Heier said that when comparing solar installations, it is necessary to compare the cost of the dollar per watt. Two solar systems may have similar overall costs, but the number of tiles generated may vary from panel size and capacity. The low -cost system is more cost -effective.
12. How much consumption will my solar be offset?
Excellent solar installation personnel should be able to easily understand how much the solar system can meet the electricity consumption of your family. Factors such as weather, shadow, roof size and family energy use can affect the power generation of battery boards.
The information about how many household electricity will offset your system should be included in the suggestions provided by the reputable solar installation dealers to your project, and the installer should provide this information at any time. “If this is clearly stipulated in the proposal, then all ten or nine are green flags,” Heir said.
13. What is the basis for life savings?
The discussion of your solar installation personnel should not only estimate how much cost will be saved in the system’s service life, but also how to obtain the estimation value.
The installer uses an indicator called the escalator called the public business to calculate the cost savings. This percentage describes the expected inflation rate of power cost, and is based on historical trends (and different from the escalator) Electricity purchase agreementTo. Solar United Neighbors recommends checking whether the public business escalators used in competitive proposals of different installation companies are the same to help you make accurate comparisons.
14. Is there a guarantee for the estimation of the power generation?
Gold-Markel said that it is impossible to ensure that each battery board in the solar system always generates electricity at the maximum level, but excellent installation personnel should be able to ensure that the performance of the battery board is within a reasonable range.
“If the total power output is within a reasonable error rate, such as 10%of the predicted value, then I think you should be satisfied with the result,” he said.
15. How to sell solar points back to the power network?
Measuring policy In some states, it is allowed to sell the power generated by the solar system to the public power grid -this is an important solar incentive measure, which can significantly shorten the system’s investment recycling period. You usually do not sell electricity directly to energy companies.
On the contrary, homeowners often sell solar energy renewable energy certificates (SREC), a third party called agent or aggregate. Your installer may be able to contact your agent for you. If you want to choose your own agent, Solar United Neighbors recommends checking your contract carefully to ensure that you do not prohibit this in your agreement.
