GO GREEN with Solar

Solar is one of the greatest options for
renewable energy available to everyone around the world.

The best source of information about Solar is to contact a professional Solar representative at Go Green at the Beach LLC for a free consultation. This way we can take it step by step and provide you all the details for your design. Below we have identified some of the important key points to bring to your attention and form any additional question you may have for when we meet.

 

Solar energy can be used in a variety of ways such as producing electric and/or thermal heating of domestic hot water.

 

Solar PV (Photovoltaic or Electric) is available for everyone, however it is the efficiency of solar energy that we focus on and is also a standard required by the government, and for most states, the utility company. How that standard can best be put in perspective is basing it on the payback period. This is where the cost of your investment equals the cost of electricity you would had paid by a certain time frame.

 

The national average of payback is 8 years, so not exceeding that more than 2 years is good and of course getting it less is even better. So to put this in perspective, with a guaranteed efficiency for up to 25 years, you would avoid paying for the electric you produce and use for 15 to 17 years...

Free Electric for 15 to 17 years...

 

To some of us, waiting 8 to 10 years for benefits/return on investment (ROI) does not seem to attractive when you plan on moving at some point during this time. So here is another benefit to capitalize on for those who predict themselves moving in the next 10 years.

 

Renewable energy or in particular Solar PV, increases your property value 20 times the amount in savings each year not to exceed the savings on the 10th year. For example, the first year of savings is $1,000 x 20 = $20,000 increase in property value. As the utility rate increases each year so does your saving and the property value. So on the 10th year and all the years of rate increases, your now saving $1,600 x 20 = $32,000 increase in property value based solely on the installation of a solar electric system. After the 10th year, property value estimates will remain at $32,000 to simplify future appraisal potential. These figures are only to provide you an example of how to calculate the property value increase and your actual savings per year will depend on your design.

 

Solar Thermal is a great first step if working with a smaller budget since it is primarily used to heat your domestic hot water. The design is much smaller and is comparably in price to a LP Tank-less water heater after incentives and a greater option after installation since you won't have to purchase gas to heat the water.

 

In a Solar Thermal design for a conservative family of four, the system may include 2 to 4 solar collectors that do not require to be positioned in the same manner as Solar PV when it comes to efficiency since it also works off of indirect sunlight, to a degree. The system would also include a supply and feed line to a small heat exchanger reservoir installed above a electric hot water heater to exchange the heated solar water to your household hot water supply. The reason for a electric water heater is to have a back up when you have a day of overcast and cold weather or one day when your whole family, guests, dishwasher, and cloths washer increases your typical daily demand. This is the most simplest way to briefly describe what would be involved if you are thinking of installing one and I would always advise contacting the professionals at Go Green at the Beach LLC for a free consultation.

 

"If the sun rises then we have energy"

 

Solar is one of the greatest options for renewable energy available to everyone around the world. Over the years Solar technology has made leaps and bounds to provide a standard that makes everything Solar worth investing. However, when it comes to Solar/Renewable energy most of us remember the second half of the 20th century as being the age of the conservative hippie wanting to be free from government and big business(this makes most of us hippies). If you knew someone with solar electric back then, they most likely made the system themselves and read about the cost, poor aesthetics, and lack of efficiency.

 

Well, times have changed (as they should) big time. Here's How: 1. Today and until 2016, the Federal Government will pay for 30% of the gross cost.

 

2. For South Carolina, the State Government will pay 25% of the net cost.

 

3. Through most utility companies,

a. You can receive Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC) which means you are paid a certain amount by a big business energy hog (around $200 per month) for each KWH you produce for 10 years.

b. You would have net metering, where if you make more then you use, then the utility company sends you a check at the end of the year.

 

4. Aesthetics are important to us as they are to you. The preferred method of installation on a roof is flat, making it look more like a big skylight instead of an industrial power plant. However, there are no regulations, so it is the owners final decision. There are also many other options that enable us to blend solar into your roof that would make it more pleasing to the eye.

 

5. Certification. It is required that a solar professional is properly trained to design and install your solar PV system. The required certification is through formal training accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). This is to ensure solar professionals are properly trained in design, installation, and maintenance by solar experts. Most of the sources for rebates and tax credits that make solar affordable require this. However, for off grid, anyone can do it since they have no incentives and do not affect the utility grid. So even if you had a cousin without being trained, who thinks he can figure it out and install the system to connect it to the grid, you have a good reason and can let him down easy without upsetting your family.

 

6. Efficiency standards are required for every part of a solar system that will be connected to the grid and must pass a required certification process. Also, the industry has grown so much, that major manufacturers are producing higher quality products that increase efficiency while lowering cost. In 25 years after installation, Solar panels are required to be guaranteed to produce 80% or better from when they were first installed. After the 25th year they would still produce energy, only if it dips below 80% or requires replacement, the manufacturer only guarantee's up to the 25th year. So no more home made systems as a concerning option. And yes, we have "Made in America", American Companies that we prefer to use.

 

7. Thousands of homes and businesses across the nation are having Solar PV/Thermal installed each year. Millions of homes around the world are having Solar PV/Thermal installed each year. Solar PV and Solar Thermal have become a universally accepted and applicable way of producing electricity and made affordable with a return on invest due to the current incentives. Climb on Board before incentives run out.

 

Imagine waking up and the second thing you say is "CHA Ching"