Solar and Home Resale Value

Thinking of selling your house? As you know, the economic downturn of the last few years has been a game-changer for the real estate market. Buyers today are in the prime position of being able to hold out and get the best bang for their buck, so you need to be prepared.

If you’ve been thinking about going solar and have been doing your research, you probably already know that a home powered by solar energy can command significantly higher prices than the average, utility-powered home next door. But how does brand play into this equation?

As with any major purchase, reputation, quality, and reliability are key. When purchasing a solar-powered home, a deciding factor for every potential buyer is the brand of solar installation on the home. Having to repair or replace a defective or underperforming solar power system will be a major barrier to purchase, so they want only the best.

Make sure your solar system is backed by an established company with a well-known and respected brand, and you will see a nice return on your investment when it’s time to sell.

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Solar Power Systems: Does Size Matter (Part 2)

In the previous post, we talked about the criteria to consider when deciding on the size of solar power system you will need. Today, we’re going to dig into the different levels of offset you can garner for your energy bills with solar power.

So let’s kick this off with a question: How much coverage do you want?

90-100% Bill Offset
If, based upon the criteria outlined in the previous post, your family plans to use more electricity over the next ten years, or if your goal is to eliminate your home’s energy usage from your carbon footprint entirely, this is the amount of offset you will need. One bonus of this is that if your solar production levels end up exceeding the needs of your home, you can also use this to offset other personal energy use that is not tied to your home in order to work toward a low-to-zero personal carbon footprint!

80% Bill Offset
This is the sweet spot. It is generally acknowledged that the ideal bill coverage is 80%, as it serves to drop the electrical usage of most average homes into the lowest (and least expensive) tier of billing rates. With the “Time of Use” billing structure, which is measured with special meters that calculate how much and when electricity is used, 80% of bill coverage is the level at which the solar power system pays for itself the fastest for most homeowners.

70% Bill Offset
This is a very cost-effective way to go if you are planning to use less electricity, conduct a Home Energy Audit or are short on roof space for the number of solar panels needed to fully offset your electricity usage. This option allows you to go solar now to take advantage of government rebate programs so you can lock-in low energy costs. Even if your energy usage drops up to 30% over time, this size system makes economic sense since you will already enjoy low monthly energy bills immediately with a faster ROI thanks to your new solar power system!

Whether your offset goals are moderate or aggressive, there is a solar power system that is right for you. If you have questions, schedule a free solar power evaluation, and we’ll help you decide which size system you need.

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Is Solar a Commodity?

As awareness of solar power grows, and more and more installers spring up around the country, how will consumers base their solar purchase decisions in an exploding market? Will solar become a mere commodity, with customers rushing the lowest bidder, or will sales be driven by the customer experience and quality associated with a given brand?

When consumers become motivated primarily by numbers, whether they be related to fat grams, miles-per-gallon, or price, does brand become insignificant―or a deciding factor?

With competition heating up, manufacturers are going to be forced to reconsider the way they manufacture, distribute, and install product in order to remain competitive in the eyes of the consumer. Given this “commodity” environment, will the quality of solar panels drop industry-wide?

If you ask any potential solar power customer what the differences are between the offerings of Company X, Company Y, and Company Z, you would probably be told which company’s product is the most or least expensive, period.

In five years, go back to that same customer and ask about the three offerings they considered when making their solar purchase. Having lived with their system for a while, you will likely hear more about quality and brand.

The upshot here is that, in today’s (and tomorrow’s) solar energy marketplace, whether customers know it yet or not, brand does matter. And given that, what should savvy consumers be thinking about?

- Innovation: If a manufacturer is offering rock-bottom prices, but 1970s technology, keep shopping.

- Customization: One Size Does Not Fit All when it comes to solar. Lot orientation, roof pitch, landscaping, and many other factors dictate how a solar power system should be mounted. Your expert installer needs to know this.

- Customer Care: Don’t use a solar installer that only wants to install. Get what you pay for, and that means full-service assistance in permitting, design, and government rebate paperwork.

- Warranties: Solar systems are supposed to be built to last for around 30 years, but if they don’t, you need to make sure your installer offers warranties on both panels and inverters so that your investment is protected.

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Putting America Back to Work, One Solar Panel at a Time

It’s no secret that the US, like many other countries right now, is in desperate need of new jobs for the unemployed. The President is acutely aware of this, and enacting legislation that will create jobs for millions of Americans is one of the primary missions of the current administration.

President Obama’s energy plan calls for a $150 billion investment in clean technologies over 10 years, aggressive targets for greenhouse emission reductions, and programs to promote energy efficiency, low-carbon bio-fuels, and renewable energies.

The state of California has been at the forefront of the clean tech movement from the very beginning. Of the $3.95 billion in US venture capital received in 2007 by companies producing eco-friendly products and services, California garnered $1.79 billion. And most of those investments were directed toward companies in Silicon Valley, where the excitement and innovation around solar, wind, and hydro power is reminiscent of the early years of the technology industry.

California―and Silicon Valley in particular―has become a leader in clean tech because of the State’s longstanding support for alternative energy. Clean tech growth and the new jobs created by this revolution are at risk if legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is repealed. Historically, environmental protection and economic growth go hand in hand, and studies have shown that energy efficiency measures and renewable energy standards would help to create the jobs that will contribute significantly to California’s economic recovery.

Lowering or removing the renewable energy standards will significantly slow demand for clean tech products and services, diminish the resources of alternative energy innovators, and reduce the growth of the companies at the forefront of the industry. And that means fewer jobs created in a state that desperately needs to put its people back to work.

Now where’s the sense in that?

The Care and Feeding of Your Solar Power System

Now that spring is in the air, the weather is warming, and the sun is getting ready for its busy season, let’s talk about the best ways to make sure your solar system is always in great working order.

Most solar systems are installed on rooftops, out of sight. And because they have no moving parts that grind, squeak, and attract attention to themselves, it’s easy to forget they’re even up there. But in order to keep enjoying the tremendous energy and cost savings you’re getting from solar, your system needs a semi-annual cleaning―especially if you are located in an area that is particularly dry and dusty.

1. Safety First - The first thing to be aware of when cleaning your solar panels is always safety. Make sure any ladder you are using to access rooftop panels is stable, and work with a partner if you can. If you’re uncomfortable with heights, definitely consider hiring a professional service to perform regular cleanings.

2. Hope Floats, But Glass Cracks - Remember to avoid walking or standing on the panels while cleaning them. Although the tempered glass surface of the modules is extremely strong, the panels will break if you walk on them, and must be replaced if damaged.

3. Don’t Get Sappy - For average dust accumulations, you can simply hose the modules off. Also check for accumulations of tree sap or bird droppings, and clean them off with a sponge or squeegee using a mild dish soap and water solution.

4. Branch Out (and Off)! - Also make sure to clean leaves, branches, and other debris off the top of the modules, and remove any material that may have become lodged under the modules, as it could reduce cooling airflow, or cause water to back up in a severe rainstorm.

Just as you do for your home and your car, it’s important to keep your solar power system well maintained in order to get the most value from your investment. A quick cleaning a couple of times a year will keep your system cranking out that solar goodness for years to come!

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Traditional Solar System Installation: There’s Gotta Be A Better Way!

Traditional roof assembly processes are cumbersome and complex — and as too many have discovered, the end result is only as effective as the installer’s skills! With continued growth, the industry is seeing significant limitations in ordinary panels that can lead to problems that can impact reliability, safety, and industry reputation overall.

The accepted process for rooftop solar installations has remained essentially unchanged since solar systems were first put into use in the 1970s. It included site design, development of a parts inventory, assembly of the parts and tools, transfer of equipment to the roof, identification of rooftop anchoring points, bolting in roof brackets, and attaching aluminum racks to the brackets.

And all of this happens before any actual panel installation takes place!

Once all of this is completed, solar panels are attached to the racks via a clamping system, with the power and grounding wiring affixed to each panel separately. This multi-step, tiered approach to solar power system installation significantly impacts the safety and effectiveness of a system. The wiring becomes its own intricate, labor- and time-intensive process, and the potential for problems is high. Product and service quality is challenged further by the fact that all this detailed work is being done up on a roof, in all kinds of weather conditions.

The best way to eliminate these inefficiencies is through development of a design and assembly methodology that can be replicated easily across many different installations. Better overall assembly, electrical connection, and grounding design and processes are borne from robust product designs that provide simplified, consistently high-quality installations.

Hopefully all of this hasn’t put you off the idea of installing a solar power system, because in my next post, I’m going to let you in on a revolutionary way to install solar systems that dramatically reduces reliability and safety issues, and roof damage.

Sound good? Stay tuned!