Do I need a special kind of roof?
No. Solar panels can be mounted to any kind of conventional roofing system, on a house, carport or other sturdy structure. It is best to have a southward facing surface that is not shaded by trees or buildings.
How much does it cost?
The total costs of the system depend on how large a system you need to meet your electricity needs. But the actual cost to you will be greatly reduced by the federal and state tax incentives. Furthermore, rather than having to invest a large amount upfront, you can spread your costs out into fixed, low-interest payments over the lifetime of the system.
How do the tax incentives work?
Once we’ve installed your solar energy system, we will file all the paperwork needed to access the tax incentives. Once we’ve received the payments from the federal and/or state government, we’ll credit them to your account, reducing the costs to you.
Once the panels are installed, what do I have to do?
Not much. You can monitor the electrical production online and your monthly statements. We will monitor it also just to be sure everything is working properly. You will use your electricity just like you always have. But we do recommend that you try to be energy-efficient so that you don’t use much.
What is net metering?
We use net metering to make sure you get the credit you deserve for the electricity you produce. Your electrical meter spins both ways depending on whether your system is producing more than you’re using or you’re using more than it’s producing. You pay the net bill. If you use more electricity than your system produces, you will have to pay for that electricity through your regular utility bill. If you use less than your system produces, you won’t have to pay any additional charges, and you will receive a credit on your account against future use.
What kind of maintenance will my solar panels require?
Not much. Solar panels are durable and only need to be cleaned periodically. The rain will do most of the cleaning for you. We will monitor your system’s performance and repair or replace any hardware covered by product warranties or our maintenance agreement.
Will I have electricity at night and on cloudy days?
Yes. Your home will remain connected to the regular electrical grid, ensuring you all the power you need, day or night. Your system will produce more or less depending on weather conditions but over the course of the year should produce the same amount that you need.
Can I get batteries so that I have back-up power when there is a power outage?
Yes. We understand that power outages in storms are common occurrences and that being able to weather a big storm requires electricity. We can design a battery back-up system that stores energy from your panels and gives you the assurance you need to deal with extreme weather.
1. Sunlight hits the solar panels on your roof and is converted into electricity.
2. The electricity from your panels then goes to your inverter where it is converted from direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) for use in your home.
3. Now you are using solar power in your home to light your rooms and run your appliances.
4. SEE can design a system that works as a backup power system in the event of a power outage, maintaining power to important appliances, lights, and outlets.
5. Some days, your panels will generate more energy than you use, and will send
this energy back to the electrical grid, making your power meter spin backwards
and reducing your electrical bill. Other days, you will use more power than your
panels generate, and you can draw this extra energy
from the grid.