Solar Installers PA
Solar installers, PA, an informational site for home and business owners, as well as installers, will help you find ways to reduce or eliminate monthly energy costs. Adding solar power or a wind energy system increases the resale value of your home or office building and can last 40 years, or more!.
Solar installers, PA will dive into the subject of safe solar installations, the benefits... how it works, and will offer tips and advice on a variety of related topics. Each area of our state has great geographical variety. It also has varied weather. Our newsletter, solar installers, PA, will help to explain what to look for to maximize your installation.
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- Keep up with the everchanging solar and renewable energy industry
- Maximize your investment.
- Use your house to save the environment.
- Protection in the event of a power outage or disaster.
Using solar installers PA, you will learn a simple but very effective method to get up and running with a limitless source of free energy. The once, " steep price tag" of solar pv has now become the economical way to go.
Sage advice for a greener tomorrow, June 2010
Those of you who are soon to be reviewing estimates for a solar electric photovoltaic system are blessed with a good sense of timing. The impending rate cap removal (January 2011) will have a major impact on the rates we are accustomed to paying for electricity here in Pennsylvania. To offset the effects of these rate hikes (or eliminate them), the installation of a solar PV system is an excellent choice. I hope this article will shed some light on the sometimes confusing process of sifting through these estimates. Here are some factors to think about.
Lets start by ranking the deciding factors in making the right deceision.
If you are relying on The PA Sunshine Program Rebate (currently at $1.25/watt of installed solar and capped at 10 kW), you must choose your installer form the approved contractor list. This list can be found at the website for the PA Department of Environmental Protection. Lets rank this as decision factor number one!
Decision factor number two...does my contractor have the experience necessary to design a system that will last for 40 years, and perform at the highest level?
I rank this #2 because the design efficiency, materials used, integrity of the electrical connections, proper wire sizing, safe wire management, the racking support system and the method used to attach the system to the existing structure are by far the most important factors to consider when choosing a design/installer. If you are dealing with a salesman, and not your system designer directly...well consider that to be red flag number one! There are so many site-specific factors to consider, you would be wise to choose from from a short list of contractors who have achieved a Certificate of PV Knowledge, issued by NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practioners) or a NABCEP Certified PV Installer. The apporved contractors currently on the DEP website had to attend a solar training class as a minimum standard to be listed. Normally, there are no exams given at the end of these courses, only a certificate of attendance. Maunfacturers training courses are even less comprehensive. If a contractor does not hold a Certificate of PV Knowledge, or PV Installer Certification, they may lack the experience to design an efficient PV system. I have seen many PV systems installed since the inception of the Sunshine Program. There can be a huge difference in the quality of these systems.
A properly designed system will perform at peak levels for many years. A five percent difference in performance will result in huge differences in the level of electricity produced!
As the rates increase, the value of the extra electricity produced (or not produced) can result in tens of thousands of dollars lost through design flaws!
The system must be designed to withstand high winds,heavy rain and huge snow loads, extreme temperatures and the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays.
The wiring and wiring methods must be flawlessly designed and installed to achieve the longevity, efficiency, and safety desired. REMEMBER...it must last for 30-40 years.
The design of the racking support system, and weight-loading on each point of attachment to the existing structure must be carefully planned to assure structural integrity. The roof penetrations MUST NEVER LEAK, or the system will have to be removed. The strength and durability of this support system is not normally inspected by any agency at the conclusion of the job. It is the responsibility of the designer and installer to assure that these specifications and application methods meet the required strength and durability that the conditions demand.
If your system designer doesn't plan to be a member of your installation team...well, that could be red flag number two! (A NABCEP certified PV Installer is qualified to make design change decisions if needed). Generally speaking, most experienced PV designers or installers don't perform subcontracting work for other companies (they don't need to). If a company representative pays you an intitial visit, and someone else is doing the design work , the installation work (or both), my advice is to avoid that situation. Pictures on a website, photographs of solar farms and fancy tracker systems are no assurance that the company does quality work. I have recently viewed a number of websites with photos of solar arrays the company neither designed or installed! In fact, I have seen a photo of one of my installations on another company's website! PERFORMANCE, LONGEVITY AND SAFETY should rank number two, or you may well be wasting your money!
#3 How knowlegeable is your contact person? Did they get you the right answers, or just throw a lot of financial information at you? If you want to hire an accountant...hire an accountant. If you want to protect the largest investment you most-likely will ever make, hire a seasoned installation professional who will answer all of your questions, and you feel you can trust. After all, you are placing more trust in this person than you may care to reflect upon...your personal safety...your home. Red flag #3 ...If your contact person is more intent on (or adept at) presenting your payback period, your return on investment, or their "same as cash" financing program, instead of presenting design and installation specifications, and performance information, chances are that you have found a company that is more strongly versed in marketing and sales tactics than they are at designing and installing solar PV systems.
#4 How long has the company been in business? Rank this number four, because the established reputation of a company, and their longevity, speaks to the quality of their work. Companies that are recently-founded may lack the experience to deal with the muliti-faceted installation conditions often encountered on a roof top PV job. If a company subs out their work, the quality can not be predicted. If the company is from out of state, are they willing to show that they paid PA Sales Tax on the materials involved? If they did not, you may be held responsible for the tax, penalty and interest! Are they willing to provide a copy of their CERTIFIED payroll showing that all employees on your job were paid at the PREVAILING WAGE RATE for your County? All companies performing work in PA,(costing $25,000.00 or more) and using any state funds (PA Sunshine Program Rebate) are required to pay all workers on the site at the PA prevailing wage rate. In most cases, the rate is that of a journeyman electrician. These rates vary by county and can be $72.00/hour or more. If this requirement is not met, YOU COULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE for the back wages, interest and penalties. You should not have to ask for this information. If the contractor doesn't volunteer it...beware!
#5 Finally...the cost of the system. Thats right! This ranks last! It should be considered only in cases where deciding factors one through four have been thoroughly examined. It matters little if you got a bargain price on a system utilizing cheap materials, shoddy and unsafe installation practices, inefficient design and a resulting shortened life span. If you are quoted a price that is significantly lower than the others, it is usually safe to assume you will be getting a system that is significantly lower in quality. RED FLAG #4 ... beware of discounts offered after the initial price has been quoted, especially if it is a limited time offer! This is a tactic to undercut the competition, and get the consumers mind off of the quality and onto the money.. It has been my observation that these companiies usually undercut the quality of your system as well. Good business practices, integrity, and good customer references are all important indicators of who you are dealing with.
Don't base your decision on money, or a financing program. If you can't afford the system offered by the better designer/installer,...TALK TO THEM! Most good installers are usually willing to work with a client who is concerned about getting a quality installation. Pursue this as your first choice. It is worth the trouble!
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Solar Installers PA is written by Anthony Guerrera, Certified Master Electrician/PV Installer and recipient of the NABCEP Certificate of Knowledge for Solar PV.