FAQ

Yes, solar thermal systems can be used in conjunction with any type of water heater (gas, electric, tankless, etc.) However, due to the cheap price of gas, your annual savings would be smaller and therefore your ROI would be longer.

A 2 panel solar hot water system can produce as much energy as about 16 PV panels, but in 25% of the space and for about 1/2 the cost. Now, the roof space you saved by installing a thermal system can be used to install extra PV panels to offset other household electrical needs.

There are many factors involved in determining savings such as utility rate, roof orientation, shading, available roof space for equipment, and energy usage habits. The amount of money that your solar electric system can save you depends on the size and number of your photovoltaic modules and the specific geographic conditions of your site. A properly sized solar thermal system can provide about 80% of your annual hot water needs. Considering that a water heater can account for up to 1/3 of your annual energy bill, a solar thermal system can reduce your annual bill by up to 25%

It was believed in the past that a solar collector must be oriented as close to optimal tilt and azimuth inorder to be effective. After decades of testing, it has been determined that tilting a collector off of the roof to gain optimal pitch & direction is no longer necessary. Only a minimal amount of energy is lost by flush-mounting to the roof. Although, this only applies to PV and pool systems as solar thermal collectors must face within 30° of South.

Average residential systems typically only take one to two days to install. Commercial solar systems often require more time to install given the size and complexity of the system.

Yes, there are significant government incentives for going solar that can help make solar more affordable for you! Through the end of 2019, there is a 30% federal tax credit on the fully installed price of any new solar system. This includes PV, thermal for domestic water heating and solar attic fans. Unfortunately, the tax credit does not apply to solar pool systems. Additionally, there are state grants, county property tax incentives, net metering, and Renewable Energy Credits. Commercial installations can also take advantage of accelerated depreciation (MACRS) to reduce the financial impact. Visit www.DSIREUSA.org for more details.

Do you have energy bills? Do you have an unshaded area of your roof? Then the time is right to install a solar electric system in your home or business: federal and state governments are providing significant incentives to those who do, and it’s a great way to avoid mounting utilities costs that are predicted to rise even further. Even a small solar system lowers your energy bill and your carbon footprint.

Between the tax credits, the energy savings provided, the increase in resale value of your home, and the green curb appeal, most solar installations become net positive on the day that they’re installed!

Quite the opposite! A study performed by ICF Consulting determined that for every $1,000 in energy savings you provide to your home, it increases the resale value by about $20,000! Another study on solar homes in California by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) concluded that homes with solar sold, on average, 20% faster and were 17% more likely to sell than homes without solar systems. This trend is being seen across the nation as energy costs are becoming increasingly important to prospective homebuyers.

Thermal collectors produce about 4x as much energy per square foot than PV collectors and can cost about 1/3 to 1/2 less than an equivalent sized PV system. So, if you combine the 2 technologies, you can produce the same amount of energy, but it will cost you less to do so! And unlike PV panels, thermal collectors never decrease their energy output as they age!

Sunlight generates electricity when it hits a photovoltaic cell. There is a “photoelectric” reaction in which light energy from the sun (photons) hits semi conducting materials that cause the photons to lose an electron. This creates a direct electric current (DC) which is converted by an inverter to an alternating current (AC) that can power your home.

No, they produce heat. Solar thermal systems create a greenhouse effect inside the collector by trapping sunlight (shortwave radiation) and converting it to heat (longwave radiation). That heat is then transferred from the collector to a storage tank inside your home. When domestic water enters your home, it comes in at groundwater temperatures of around 55°. Once inside your home, that cold water is sent to your water heater which typically uses electricity to heat an element and warm your water. For every degree that a solar thermal system pre-heats your water, that is less work your water heater has to do and subsequently less energy (gas or electricity) you have to use. See how it all happens on our How It Works video!

No, you will actually have much more hot water than ever before. If the system is sized well for your family, you will no longer need to wait for the water heater to ‘recharge’ between showers. Solar water heaters are always installed in addition to your regular water heater. That means that even during bad weather you will still have hot water. To maximize your savings, you should attempt to use the most hot water in the late morning and early afternoon when the solar system is operating at its peak. Also, it helps to spread your cleaning load over the week. For example, instead of washing seven laundry loads all at once it would pay to do one a day. This will reduce the amount your regular water heater must operate.

Yes. Since the water heater will operate far less frequently, solar will extend its life significantly. Some water heaters that were retrofitted with solar in the 1980’s are still in service today! The life of an ordinary water heater without solar is only between 10-15 years.

The cost may vary from $8,000 to $12,000 or more. It depends largely upon the following variables: Size of the family to be served (and therefore the amount of heat required) Size, type and brand of solar system Type of roof upon which the panels are mounted Building code requirements Local incentives

The ROI (return on investment) of systems can vary based on multiple factors. Typically, the larger the system, the greater the savings and the faster the ROI. While individual results vary, PV systems typically have a 10-15 year ROI and thermal systems are about 5-10 years. Solar attic fans and solar pool heating systems typically have a 3 year ROI. It may be more useful to think of solar as an investment that yields an annual return, much as a bank savings account that provides interest. A solar system will generate savings that can equal a bank account generating a twenty percent (20%) annual return, and the savings are not taxed as income, as is the interest you earn at the bank. The truth is, if you want energy, you will be paying for it. You may prefer to pay the utility bill forever, or you may wish instead to go solar, and become your own utility. It is quite similar to the reason you once decided to buy your home and stop renting. Solar is simply the best investment available today because it guarantees a return on money that you will otherwise “burn” and helps you develop equity as you bank your savings.

Virginia law forbids ordinances, deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements from prohibiting solar equipment use. Under this law, a homeowner may not be denied permission from an HOA or similar entity to install a solar collector or other solar energy device. While your HOA does not have the right to prevent you from installing solar panels on your roof, they do have the right to impose reasonable restrictions on the placement of the equipment. Oftentimes they restrict homeowners from installing equipment on the front of their roof, with no regards to roof orientation. So, it is very important to obtain permission from your HOA before making any plans to install solar. You’ve convinced me – I want to install a solar system to power my home or business!