Solar

What is Solar Power?

Solar Power utilizes the power of the sun to produce electricity to provide your home with a cost effective, yet environmentally safe and friendly system to work in conjunction with your existing electrical utility provider. Once added into your existing electrical wiring, the electricity produced is exactly the same as that coming from your power company for running appliances, powering lights, operating computers and any home entertainment products such as televisions and stereos.

By adding a solar electric system, you will reduce the usage of electric power from your utility company, resulting in savings on your monthly bill. Depending on the rate structure of your utility company, and size of the system, this reduction could vary from 10% to 50% or more, while making an important contribution to our environment.

How Does It Work?

Every Solar Electric System Consists of Five Major Parts:

First, both sunny and cloudy days produce power in a properly installed solar electric system including sunlight which is visible to you and ultra-violet light which is not visible.
Second, the actual power producing mechanisms are solar electric panels usually installed on your roof which are assembled from solar cells which produce power when exposed to both sunlight and ultra-violet light. These panels have no moving parts, are completely reliable and have a very long life when properly installed.
Third, the panels are mounted to the roof using aluminum and stainless steel, resistant to rust and corrosion to add to the longevity of the system.
Fourth, is the electrical inverter. Solar cells produce DC (direct current) similar to that produced by a car or flashlight battery. The electrical inverter converts this DC power to AC (alternating current) which is used by all home appliances and lighting fixtures to the standard of your local power company. The inverter is in an attractive cabinet which is usually mounted inside the home, garage, or an outside wall.
Fifth, is the wiring directly to your homes power system connected to the circuit breaker box or electrical panel of your home.

Who Will Install My Solar Electric System?

First, an appointment will be arranged by one of our Pre-Site Technicians who will visit your home to take readings of your solar exposure. These readings will determine the best location for your solar panel placement and the number of panels which will be required. Once that determination has been made, your solar electric system will be installed by our qualified electrical technicians who will be responsible for all permits, engineering specifications, and providing documentation to process your rebates. For your added peace of mind, each installation is thoroughly checked and approved by an authorized State of California inspector prior to the system being put into operation.

How long will it take to install?

Systems which produce one to two kilowatts of power will take our installers from one to four days to install.

Will Power be Turned Off During Installation?

In some cases, power may be turned off for a maximum of 30 minutes if the system needs a new circuit breaker to be installed in your electrical panel.

Will this System Disrupt My Power During a Storm?

The inverter in the Future System is independent of power produced by your power company. In the event of a severe storm, the power coming from your local utility would not be interrupted. An added feature is that the inverter includes circuits which isolate the solar electric system from your house wiring in the event of any problem.

Will my System Provide Power During Emergencies or Power Outages?

The standard one or two kilowatt systems will not provide electricity during power outages. An option will be available, however, which will offer limited amounts of stored emergency power in batteries during power outages.

What Does a One or Two Kilowatt System Actually Produce in the Way of Power ?

Each of the systems is designed on the basis of peak power, produced during both bright sunlight and even cloudy days. On the average, a one kilowatt system will produce approximately 2,000 kilowatt hours annually and a two kilowatt system will produce approximately 4,000 kilowatt hours annually.

What is the Life Expectancy of My Solar Panels ?

Thanks to technology, today solar panels have a life expectancy of 25 years or more.

How Does Having Solar Electricity Benefit Me?

The most important benefits are the reduction of your current electric bill and stabilizing your energy costs in the future. Today, consumption of electric power is growing at 2% per year with an even higher rate of growth in the years to come. Nuclear power represents 20% of our power production today and will be reduced in the next two decades. Hydroelectric production from dams in no longer growing and represents 10% of our production. And with current limitations on coal plants, we are becoming increasingly dependent upon imported oil and natural gas, a risky proposition as we have recently seen. The only thing we know for sure about the future cost of electricity is that it is growing predictably more expensive as each year passes.

How Does My Solar Electric System Affect the Environment?

The benefit of solar power is its positive impact on air quality and all other aspects of the environment. According to the US Government Energy Information Administration, over one-fourth of all air pollution is produced by burning fossil fuels to produce electric power. This would be completely eliminated by utilizing solar power to produce the same energy.

If you want to know how just your system alone effects the environment, consider that installing just One Kilowatt of Solar Electric will result in reducing emissions over the course of the 25-year life expectancy of the panels by the following amounts…

Carbon Dioxide: 49,500 pounds
Nitrous Oxide: 125 pounds
Sulfur Dioxide: 400 pounds