Let’s say you have decided you want to reduce your dependency on your utilities company, have pledged to spend less on your home’s energy costs and are committed to decreasing your carbon footprint. You don’t need to be convinced that getting more of your energy from renewable sources is a responsible way for you to help end your country’s dependence on foreign oil. You also hold the fervent belief that leaving a healthier, greener world for future generations is the right thing to do. You have reviewed various clean energy options and are leaning towards solar.

The problem is that when you do a Google search, although you can see there are several solar energy companies listed for your area, they all look the same and appear to offer similar savings, financial and environmental benefits. So, how can you narrow down your choice to the solar installation company most likely to answer your very specific needs? Here are a few tips that could help save you some time;

1. Be wary of automated processes.  Some solar energy panel installation companies provide a calculator or “typical” costs on their website so a homeowner can estimate their energy savings, rebates and tax credits and then sometimes “order” a solar system online. The problem with this automated approach is that in order to get a truly accurate estimate, a home solar energy expert really needs to have a conversation with the homeowner(s) and ideally come to the actual installation site so they can make sure all the elements of your home’s energy usage, roof and/or yard layout, family budget, financial goals, and your home’s current energy efficiency rating are all factored into the recommended solution.  There is no question that a knowledgeable human being is more accountable and helpful than a computer can possibly be. Also, it can take time for a company to update their website, so sometimes the information shown is no longer accurate as incentives and rebates change.  

Although going online to gather information is a good idea, going online to get a solar installation estimate and/or order an installation package is like going online to get a comprehensive medical checkup. A good doctor does not make a diagnosis or prescribe medications to her patients based on educated guesses. A solar installation company cannot give a homeowner a customized energy solution based on guesswork either. To make certain you are getting the best solution for your needs, it is smart to schedule a free in-home analysis with a solar energy expert, preferably from a company that also provides home energy audits and is experienced making homes more energy efficient overall.

2. Trees matter – but there are other options. It’s a myth that solar energy won’t work in colder, greyer climates. Remember when your mother told you to wear sunscreen lotion, even on the cloudy days? Mom knew that UV rays still get through the clouds. The fact is that solar works in all types of climates. If that were not true, Germany, a country certainly not known for sunny weather, would not be one of the world’s top photovoltaics (PV) installers in the world.   Shade is a different matter, however. If your roof is shaded, you might need to cut down a few trees, or trim them. If you don’t want to do that, but have a good amount of property and your zoning allows it, you can still use the sun to power your home by having solar panels installed on mounts. To see an example of what pole mounted solar panels can look like, click here.

3. Good customer service is proactive, not reactive.  Once you have narrowed down your selection to a specific solar energy company, make sure that company will take care of you before, during and after installation.  

Prior to making a commitment, find out how much of the leg work you will have to do for yourself once you agree to buy. Will you have to be the one dealing with the utilities company or filling out all the forms for energy rebates and solar energy credits? Or will your installation company do that for you? The more the solar installation company does for you, the better. The company you choose should be the experts on all of the processes and have the most recent information about money saving options that you may not be aware of. They should also be experienced managing the bureaucracy involved with utilities so you won’t have that headache to worry about. 

Also prior to installation, find out if the installers are subcontractors or actual company employees. There is nothing worse than having untrained, or barely trained installers on the job. Make sure the installers work directly for the solar installation company and are accountable to that company for their performance. Keep in mind that solar installation companies, in particular larger ones that are part of national chains, hire subcontractors most of the time so if you decide to go that way there is no assurance you will be getting the most qualified workers installing your system.

Make sure the company you hire will take care of you once you buy or lease from them. The whole point of using solar panels to power your home is that there is hardly ever a need for repairs or major services. However, there are rare times when the system goes down. In this case, it will be a lot less stressful for you if you are working with a company that not only allows you to monitor your system yourself online, but also continually monitors your system for you. What this means is that you should expect that your solar installation company will be on top of any problem that might occur and will be on their way to have it fixed before you even know there was a problem. If you bought your panels from a large solar installation retailer, it’s unlikely you will get that type of proactive service.

4. Cheapest may not really be cheaper.  If you want to get the most out of your solar panels and/or feel it is your patriotic duty to get panels from an American manufacturer, do your research to make certain you are making an informed investment. Not all solar panels are equal. Your panels should be designed to absorb the most solar energy possible and have a guarantee to help increase the value of your home.

Hopefully the tips above will help you with your decision to go solar. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us by email: info@solareworld.com, or by calling us at 1-866-856-4580.  You can also follow us on the official Solar Energy World Facebook page.

Many consumers, even those who consider themselves greenies, won’t bother to investigate purchasing solar energy systems for their home.  Even the smartest consumers among us have a difficult time understanding how solar could possibly be a viable, affordable energy choice.  Many of us just don’t “get it”.  This disconnect happens for the simple reason that communication about the personal benefit solar can bring to a homeowner as well as the economic benefit it can bring to our nation is lacking.

First, the American news media (and not just AM radio or Fox News) has done a terrible job of articulating how solar energy is actually a responsible energy choice for American homeowners.  We Americans are bombarded daily with news stories that support our addiction to fossil fuels. For example, there are twice as many news stories about the Keystone Pipeline and the economic benefits it might bring to America, than there are about the economic benefits that solar energy is providing. In addition there is a lot of noise made by politicians and pundits who seem almost gleeful when an American company like Solyndra fails because this supports their political viewpoint that there is no market in America for solar.

Of course, this is total nonsense. When the horseless carriage was first invented, some start-up auto manufacturers went out of business, but obviously others survived and prospered. Those who are selling the idea that solar is not ready for prime time and so should be ignored either do not know what they are talking about, or stand to benefit from killing competitors to the fossil fuel industry.

The fact is that the solar energy industry is actually booming and as a result, it is creating lots of green jobs every year. Solar industry leaders in America are working hard to make the USA a leading manufacturer and exporter of solar technologies with the goal to one day we can outperform China.  However, stories about the positive economic benefits of solar are few and far between.

The marketing and advertising done by solar panel installation and solar manufacturing companies is not working as well as it could either. Aside from California based REC’s “Expose Solar” campaign, most solar installation companies have mediocre advertising that looks and sounds the same and contains a lot of technical jargon that might appeal to fellow engineers, but not so much to consumers.

I was hired by Solar Energy World recently to head up marketing and I can see that I have many communications challenges to overcome.  What I have learned so far is that most consumers already understand that solar is better for the environment. Some even understand the potential for a strong return on investment that installing a home solar system on their home can bring.  However, the falsehoods and misconceptions about  solar energy for homeowners still dominates the discussion, dampening the enthusiasm of those who might be perfect candidates for home solar, stopping them from investigating further.

So, I will be working hard over the next years to help dispel some of the misinformation that is spewed out by the media and others who stand to benefit from keeping the status quo alive. (Stay tuned. A new ad campaign is coming soon.) In the meantime, here is a list of some of the most common falsehoods consumers hear (and many believe) every day:

FALSEHOOD:  Solar Isn’t Affordable.

TRUTH: Solar PV technologies have declined in price every year since they were introduced onto the market, driven by improved research and development, and most of all by steady increases in sales volume. Every solar panel purchased makes the next one cheaper, in stark contrast to non-renewable sources, which become scarcer and more expensive with every ton burned. In addition, most states and the federal government offer generous solar rebates, tax credits and other incentives available that make it much more affordable for homeowners.

FALSEHOOD: It takes too long to get a return on my investment.

TRUTH: Homeowners will see a return on investment in a few years, not in decades.

FALSEHOOD: Solar is only a cottage industry and appeals to small niche markets.

TRUTH: The solar industry segment has been growing by more than 35% per year over the past 2 years. In 2001, PV module shipments closed in on the 400-megawatt mark, representing a $2.5 to $3 billion market. The U.S.-based industry itself is now approaching $1 billion per year and providing 25,000 jobs. It’s expected to grow to the $10-$15 billion level in the next 20 years, providing 300,000 jobs by 2025. This sustained growth exceeds that of the semiconductor industry. A market shift has sparked the recent growth in the PV industry. It has shifted from almost completely remote, off-grid, and consumer products to nearly 60% grid-connected, distributed power. And these applications don’t represent small niche markets. They represent the significant growth path for PV — the true distributed power source.

FALSEHOOD: Current solar technology will soon be outdated and I will have to pay for an upgrade.

TRUTH: Solar is a technology that has been around for decades. Although the industry has been experiencing record growth, the technology itself remains stable and dependable.

CAN WE HELP YOU “GET” SOLAR?  To receive a thorough consultation to explore how solar could work for your home and budget, schedule an appointment with one of our solar consultants by clicking here: www.solareworld.com. You might be surprised by what you learn.

Laureen Peck: info@solareworld.com

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The holidays are not over yet and as you schedule festive dinners and holiday travel, buy gifts and try not to eat all the treats at office parties, also remember to set some Solar Resolutions for yourself and family. It’s just as easy to set goals for solar use as it is to map out other New Year resolutions. And we promise these goals are easier to keep (and less expensive) than that new gym membership!

Here are a few brief, easy to use, and simple to implement solar resolutions we use every day:

·        During nice, sunny days, hang your clothes out to line on a clothes line or other open air method to dry them, instead of using a mechanical dryer
·        Install blinds or drapes over windows. In the summer, keep them shut to keep your home cool, and in the winter open them up wide to allow sun and heat into your home.
·        If building or buying a home, consider window placement. Lots of windows that face east and west will provide plenty of natural sunlight, lowering your energy costs as you require less artificial lighting use.
·        Grow a garden! Whether it’s potted on your windowsills or terrace, or a full backyard plot, growing your own food with the suns help will save you money on groceries, and provide some healthy peace and exercise in the process.
·        Practice smart landscaping. If you live in a warmer climate, tress and shrubberies closer to your home will help to keep it cool year round (in addition to the drapes). If you’re of a more northern locale, spreading out your leafy friends will give you a nice wind barrier while letting more sunlight into your home to keep you toasty in those months without leaves.

And, of course, you can also schedule an energy audit! A simple energy audit once a year will keep you in the know of the best way you can save money at home with solar energy. A certified auditor will be able to explain to you how to maintain your appliances (cleaning dusty coils or fans), updating home heating and cooling systems, and checking your windows for air leaks and sealing issues. Plus, a personalized auditor can easily explain to you all local and federal tax benefits, programs, and subsidies available to you in energy assistance.

Call today and see how much money you could save by doing some simple things around your home all year long. You could save enough for all the holiday gifts of next year!

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Solar energy is an exciting field (ok, maybe not to everyone, but we LOVE it) and each week brings exciting new technologies and opportunities. From time to time we like to highlight news related to solar energy, beyond that standard photovoltaic, rooftop panel, and how it may change the future of how we operate. With exploding demand for solar powered homes, more and more home owners are finding new ways to use their cheap, unlimited energy resource, and change the way they work, live, and play.

Some of these homeowners in California and the UK  (and forward thinking commercial developers) have begun installing power stations in their garages for charging electric and hybrid vehicles. These are simple to have installed, and are increasingly coming with their own sets of tax breaks and government subsidies. With more and more automobile manufacturers producing electric cars and their prices falling, it makes perfect sense to combine an electric powered car with your solar powered home. New systems can be installed with circuitry able to charge your car while you sleep. You come home from your day, plug in, and when morning comes you’re ready to go! The best part is that not only did you not have to spend money filling up your car with expensive, polluting gasoline, but the energy you used to charge your car was generated, in part, from solar energy.  Not only are you saving money, but you’re also saving the environment.

Commercial developers are starting to install solar powered charging stations at offices, malls, and some college campuses as well. It’s easy and simple to charge your car while you shop, dine, work, or play. While a mall charging station may charge a fee for charging your car, it is considerably less than the price of gas, and you have the peace of mind of knowing that you can run your errands without contributing to greenhouse gases, all thanks to our ever present sun.

Solar water heating systems are a rapidly expanding modern home installation. A main factor, and arguably the best one, is that the source for heating your water system is free! As long as there is sunlight, your home will never be subject to future price hikes or fuel shortages. By using the sun to heat your water, you will always have an available, unlimited, free resource, every single day. And when it comes to your household budget, you will no longer have to factor in energy costs related to the heating of water, saving you money starting from the first day of installation. Plus, your solar water heater will help decrease your home energy costs by 30-40%, as you see your water heating bill fall 50-80% .

Aside from the immediate reduction of energy costs relating to the heating of your daily water use, solar heated water systems combine efficient, environmentally friendly technologies. Heat from the sun is collected through solar cells and then is transmitted in one of two ways; the first by being stored (Direct circulating systems) in solar heat tanks for later use in heating up water, and the second by actively heating your household’s water (Indirect circulation systems) as it continuously circulates through your system. Both of these methods are easy to use and your choice primarily depends on your climate; long periods of cold temperatures normally use the latter while warmer, southern climates use the former. Solar thermal heaters work just fine here in Maryland’s climate.

Do you already have a standard water heater installed in your home? No worries there either because you can install a solar water heater back up tank too. By having a solar heater tank to assist your regular water heater, you will dramatically decrease your energy bills. Water that is heated by the sun (for free!) generally reaches a heat of 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit. The average temperate of water in a hot water heater ranges between 120 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. By providing water already at 80 degrees, you are considerably decreasing the amount of energy used to heat the water to the hot water temperatures your household is accustomed to. This saves time, energy, and money. Solar water heaters are always a great money saving addition to any home, older or new.

This years Show House just happens to be a Solar Energy World client, at a residence called Holly Manor, showcasing all that is right about the Maryland solar industry.  The theme, perfectly named:  A Journey From Colonial to Contemporary.  Designers from Baltimore and the Washington DC area have paid homage to the home’s 18th century historic roots as well as its 21st century possibilities.

The home is open for touring from September 24th to October 23rd.  While you’re touring, don’t forget to check out the solar panels on the barn!

Solar Energy World project and client:
Fulton, MD homeowners turned a newly built barn into a revenue generating rooftop.  Once the tech-savvy homeowners compared solar energy to other financial investments, they found it to be a solid investment with the shortest ROI.

Connecting with Solar Energy World at a home show in 2009, the homeowner and Solar Energy World stayed in contact.  When Solar Energy World learned that the Howard County Property Tax Credit was coming to an end – this Fulton homeowner was on the top of the list to contact.

Immediately he was ready to go and chose Solar Energy World because of the relationship built over the 2 years.

Installed in September 2011, the photovoltaic solar panel system includes 57 – 190-watt panels with Enphase microinverters – making this one powerful system.  Each solar panel is linked to a microinverter to maximize the energy harvest of the panel.  A traditional configuration would link several panels together in a series connected to one inverter located usually in the home near the electrical box.

Enphase Microinverters allow each solar panel to operate independently and control the power from each with 99.6% accuracy.  This results in a significant increase in the performance of the entire system.

Choosing a trustworthy supplier was essential.

“Solar Energy World did a fantastic job,” this Maryland homeowner says. “They really knew what they were doing, they were responsive, and were very helpful. I have very high praise for everyone we dealt with.  Now I just watch my electric meter run backwards.”

This 10.83kW system will reduce harmful CO2 emissions by 10.3 tons, which is equivalent to not consuming 1,050 gallons of gasoline.

Project Overview
Location:  Fulton, Maryland
Completed:  September 2011
Number of Panels:  57
Products:  Schuco® 190-watt solar panels with 57 Enphase Microinverters

Benefits:

• Eliminates $1,950 per year in energy costs
• Earns $3,750 per year from Solar Renewable Energy Credits
• Saved $27,054 in government incentives
• Will realize ROI in 5 years and 5 months
• Reduce CO2 emissions by 20,647 pounds per year

The Montgomery County Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program offers incentives to homeowners for energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, heating and cooling systems, and appliances.  Owners of single family properties and condominiums can apply for up to $3,000 of funding per applicant.  The minimum rebate size is $500 (typically a $2,000 to $3,000 project). The program is another example of how local governments are supporting the Maryland solar industry.

In order to be eligible, each applicant must have an energy audit from an auditor participating in the Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR or a utility (e.g., Pepco, BG&E, Potomac Edison) audit program.

Homeowners are also encouraged to use these funds in concert with other incentives available from utilities, the Maryland Energy Administration and others.

Detailed information on the program, audit requirements, as well as links to other sources of funding is located on the website www.mcenergyfunding.com.  Interested homeowners will also apply to the program online via the website.  Real time information on the funding availability is posted on the program website.

Some of the most popular types of daylighting include:

• Windows: you can improve lighting in a room by placing windows close to a light colored wall, slanting the sides of window openings so the inner opening is larger than the outer opening, and by using a large light colored window sill to project light into the room.
• Clerestory windows: high-vertically placed windows that are effective at reducing directionality of light to make it softer and more diffused, and to reduce shadows.
• Skylights: horizontal window, roof lantern, or oculus that is placed on the roof of a building.
• Light reflectors
• Light shelves:  A white or reflective metal light shelf is placed outside the window. Usually the windows will be protected from direct summer season sun by a projecting eave. The light shelf projects beyond the shadow and reflects sunlight upward, inside, to illuminate the ceiling.
• Light tubes (solar tube): emits light to a focused area of the interior.
• Saw-tooth roof: vertical roof-angled glass that faces away from the equatorial side of a building and captures diffused light.
• Heliostats: mirrors that move automatically to continuously redirect sunlight in a constant direction as the sun moves across the sky.
• Smart glass: Glass that can be switched between a transparent state and a state which is opaque, translucent, reflective, or retro-reflective.
• Fiber-optic concrete wall: structural concrete walls that are embedded with optical fibers that allow daylight and shadow images to pass directly through the wall.
• Hybrid solar lighting: this design uses a roof-mounted light collector, large-diameter optical fiber, and modified efficient fluorescent lighting fixtures that have transparent rods connected to the optical fiber cables.
• Solarium, sunroom, greenhouse: normally large amounts of glass on the equatorial side of the building to let in maximum light during peak hours.

Daylighting is a cost effective alternative or great addition to installing a solar energy system in your home. And just like daylighting and windows, the placement of solar panels is important. Maryland solar energy is effected by the climate and positioning relative to the sun. Feel free to schedule an energy audit to see how solar energy installation team designs each system specifically for the homeowner.

Post written by: David Zamostny, Solar Energy World Intern

Have you ever went on vacation and left a standard 60 watt light bulb on for the week? That cost you $1.31 based on average Maryland-DC electricity costs.

How about your refrigerator? Well that depends on what model you have. Refrigerators from the late 80’s cost about $123.50 a year to power. For models from the 90’s and beyond, energy efficient refrigerators cost between $52 and $91 per year on average.

And what about that new 52” LCD Television? If you are the average household that has the TV running 5.2 hours a day, you run a yearly tab of around $42.

If you know how much your appliances cost to power, you can make better decisions about your energy consumption. You can see how upgrading to energy-efficient appliances can drastically cut your bill. Or, you might just think twice about using your appliances at the same frequency. For example, using a coffee maker to brew a pot of coffee a day will cost, on average, $3 a month. That’s $36 a year in electricity for your coffee– perhaps it’s time to try instant? Or, if you like all your gadgets, maybe it is time to schedule an energy audit and see how solar power can save you money while you enjoy all the benefits of technology.

For those that want to do some serious investigating, here is the formula you can use to calculate the costs of your appliances:

(wattage / 1000) x hours used per day x electricity cost = the appliance’s daily cost

The two things you will need to know is the wattage of the appliance and your electricity cost per kWh. Wattage can be found on the back, or inside, most appliances. If not, you can usually search online to find industry averages. For your electricity cost, you will want to consult your electricity bill.

For a 60 watt light bulb that was left on for a week:

60watts / 1000 = .06kWh

.06kWh x 24 hours = 1.44kWh to run the light bulb for a day.

1.44kWh x .13 (the average cost per kWh in Maryland-DC) = $.1872 per day

$.1872 per day x 7 days = $1.3104 per week to run a 60 watt light bulb.

Now, if you want to start making the meter run backwards, you can start considering using solar power through net metering.