Sections Explore the many ways that Progressive Solar, Inc. can help bring solar energy into your home or business:
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contact:
Progressive Solar Inc.
620 E. 19th. St. Suite 120
Tucson AZ, 85719
Phone: (520) 792-2188
email us
Question: How much would it cost to install solar on a (specific size) square foot home?
Answer: The price will depend on many factors, typically not on square feet. There are several types of solar applications for residential homes, the most common are grid tied PV to provide electrical power as a supplement to power supplied by the electrical utilities (in Tucson, that would be TEP), and solar hot water heating.
Solar hot water heating solutions typically are lower in cost, ranging from $5,500 and up, with complex systems capable of costing $20,000 or more. They can be mounted on the roof of a home or on the ground near the home, and must be in direct sunlight, oriented at angles to optimize performance. Solar hot water may provide one of the highest returns by reducing the customers bills the most for the smallest initial financial investment.
Solar electrical generation is done using PV modules. The price of a system can range from $4,000 to $100,000. These systems must also be mounted at optimizing angles, and can be on the roof of the home or mounted on a racking system on the ground near the home. Typical PV systems are in the range of $20,000 to $40,000. The rest of the answers will assume to discuss only PV modules.
The electrical utility (TEP in many cases) will provide a significant rebate, paying up to around 40% of the total cost of the system. Many electrical utilities will provide even higher rebates, including Sulfur Springs Valley Electrical Coop and TRICO who service other parts of southern Arizona.
Additionally there are federal and state tax credits that help offset the cost to the homeowner.
Question: What information do you use to determine the number of solar modules for a PV system?
Answer: The system is sized based on the customer's budget, the size and shape of the roof on the home, and/or most importantly the historic use of electricity by the family in that home.
The system size is not determined by the square footage of the home because different families will have very different energy use in the same size home.
If the historic electrical use is low and available space is high, the system is sized based on the year round average historical electrical usage at the property. If possible this is the ideal approach to using solar electric as a source of electric power to the home.
If the available roof space is low, there may not be enough available roof space to fit a system to match the use. In this case the system will match the available space, and provide only some fraction of power used by the home.
If the customer's budget is the limiting factor, the system will match the amount the customer is willing to invest in solar technology. In this case, the system will also only provide for some fraction of the power used by the home.
Question: How can I plan to add solar on the house I'm designing?
Answer: The angle of orientation relative to the sun is the primary design factor. Contact us during the design, and we will help you optimize the unshaded roof space and provide the necessary information to make sure the orientation is optimal.
Question: Is due South the correct directional placement of the solar panels?
Answer: Ideally the modules are positioned at an angle, facing upwards and south, relative to the latitude of the home and true south (not magnetic south).
Answer: The actual installation of solar modules will take several days. However installation is a relatively minor part of the time required.
If well planned, the process of installing a system will take from 3 weeks to several months. The process involves system design, ordering components, acquiring permits for the city, county, and state as required, writing a contract with your electrical utility company, installation of the system, and inspection of the system by the city, county, and state as required, and inspection of the system by the electrical utility.
Question: Does the contractor work with TEP or does the homeowner?
Answer: As with most electrical utility companies, the homeowner must make an agreement or contract directly with TEP if the system is to qualify for TEP's financial rebate program. The solar contractor should provide all of the technical information required to assist in the submission of the agreement to electrical utility (TEP), but ultimately the agreement is between the electrical utility (TEP) and the homeowner.
Answer: No additional contractors are required. Progressive Solar's experience dates back to 1974, and we are a completely licensed electrical contractor for commercial and residential electric, as well as residential plumbing, an Arizona certified solar technician company, with NABCEP certified installers.
Answer: Additional components are mounted near the panel. These include electrical disconnects, a solar power meter, and a power inverter.
Typically the panel is modified with an additional circuit breaker where the solar system will "feed" the panel in addition to the utility. Occasionally if the panel is insufficient to handle the new power supply, a new panel may be required or another solution considered.
Question: With your experience, what is the typical payback time in years?
Answer: This will depend on many factors, including the customers use, and how much of the rebates and tax credits the customer qualifies. And, most importantly it will depend on how much electrical power rates will rise in the near future.
Because of the numerous factors that are impossible to predict. Some people willing to make the many assumptions required predict the payback time can range from 5 to 20 years, however as contractors we do not promise or typically even provide this estimate.
However this simple number would neglect to consider two other key considerations. It is also critically important to consider after the payback period is over, the solar system is not just "paid for" but actually providing electricity completely free of any other cost or fees. And maybe most important is to consider the positive impact on the environment you will be providing.
Question: What about the roof? Who takes care of repairing the roof after the install?
Answer: This is completely dependent on the roof construction type and quality. There are flat roofs, pitched roofs, tile roofs, asphalt roofs, metal roofs, and they all have vastly different lifetimes. Roof can last from only a few years to over a hundred years.
Progressive Solar is not a roofing contractor, and can only state that it is in the customers best interest to have the highest quality roof in the best possible condition before installing a solar solution on the roof. A solar system will likely last well beyond the standard 25 year warranty of the PV modules mounted on the roof, and we would hope the roof under the system will last as long.
Many customers choose rack systems mounted on the ground because of there concerns with their roofs.
Question: Is there anything that an owner needs to do after the install to maintain the panels?
Answer: PV systems are typically as maintenance free as the homes electrical panel and electrical meter. There is no "regular maintenance" required by the home owner.
