FAQs

• People often think of solar as an independent investment, when it should be compared to our monthly sunk cost on electricity. There is absolutely no return on investment when we pay our utility bills, while solar provides a great ROI over the lifetime of the system.
• If a system is financed, the loan payments can often be the same or less than what the monthly energy bill would have been. Why not take money you’re forced to spend and invest it in a solar system that provides clean, dependable energy for your home?
• The average payback is somewhere between 6 and 15 years, depending on the prices of energy your state, roof orientation and a few other factors. The solar manufacturers we work with warranty their panels for 25 years, so homeowners should expect at least 10-19 years of free energy.
• Solar also increases your home equity. According to a 2019 Zillow study, homes with solar sold for 4.1% more on average.

It really depends on the system size, but the average system size is about 7kW, which costs around $22,000 before tax credits. After the 26% tax credit, that would bring the system cost down to a little over $16,000. That doesn’t include whatever state or local incentives are also available.

• We only use top quality solar equipment that comes with a 25 year warranty for the system components. This covers the inverter, panels and the D/C optimizers.
• Just like a car, a solar system is designed to last longer than the warranty. The performance of the system will slowly become less efficient over time, but it can work well past 25-years, generating great, free and clean energy!

• The EPA estimates that the electrical sector accounts for 27% of America’s carbon emissions just from the energy we use. The average residential solar system eliminates 3-4 tons of carbon annually, which is the equivalent of planting 100 trees every year. That means over 25-years, a solar system essentially created the equivalent of a 2,500-tree forest! Source: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions
• Customers sometimes ask if the production of solar equipment contributes to pollution. While producing solar equipment does generate some emissions, it only takes the solar system 18-36 months to offset the carbon emissions produced from manufacturing. U.S. based solar manufacturers tend to be on the lower end of that spectrum, so Solar Pathways uses locally produced panels and equipment as often as possible.

Solar systems are the most efficient on bright, sunny days. However, anticipating how weather will affect your energy production is incorporated into the design process. Our design software accounts for historical weather data and the seasonal height and brightness of the sun when creating energy production models for your home. Therefore, weather and climate is already factored into your system’s energy production estimates.

• The beauty of a well designed and installed solar system is that basically no maintenance is required! Solar panels are very low tech mechanically with no moving parts, which means very low maintenance. The panels also remain clean from natural rain and snowfall.
• We also take the extra step of installing critter guard with each of our solar systems. This adds a layer of protection from unwanted critters going under the panels, chewing the wiring and causing electrical problems or damage to the system.

There is a lot of thought and engineering that goes into waterproofing the roof when installing the solar racking system. Each penetration is covered with a flashing at the base of the footing, which is then sealed with a polyurethane sealant to ensure complete waterproofing. An argument could be made that roofs are more waterproof with a well installed solar system on it.

There are three parts to consider when determining your system size:

1. How much energy do you use and need?
2. What is your budget? What financing options and tax credits or incentives are available?
3. How much physical space do you have on your roof for panels?

Typically, we start by determining how big of a system your roof size can accommodate. It helps clients to consider the maximum size their roof can accommodate, then compare that potential to their budget and energy needs.

Solar Pathways will conduct an energy bill analysis to determine how much energy you are currently using and what sized system will best match that energy usage. Unfortunately, since sales commissions are usually based on system size, many companies tend to oversell what the customer needs without educating clients on other factors. First, we recommend clients look at other ways to make your home more energy efficient, such as switching to led lightbulbs, using energy saving appliances, improving habits such as turning off lights or unplugging unused appliances, replacing weather stripping, looking for gaps in windows or doors, or adding additional insulation in attic. While some of these updates cost money, they are also one-time costs that don’t require maintenance. Oftentimes, clients can see significant reductions in their energy bill with lighting changes alone.

Sometimes. Some customers remain more energy conscious and keep conservative habits. Others find their usage goes up based on increased needs. We like to ask, how often are you planning on using your air conditioning once solar is installed? Do you plan on using your solar energy to charge an electric vehicle now or in the future? This might justify a larger system as your gasoline costs will be transferred to electricity costs. Considering where you might fall helps our team plan the right system size for you.

We use a suite of different software programs to design the optimal system for your home. Some programs are solar specific, while others are used for creating plans and analysis. One of the most power tools is our energy production estimating system. We replicate your home in 3D, add a chimney or architecture that resembles your house, and insert trees and foliage that match your landscaping. The program will simulate the sun rising and setting over your home for a year, based on your architecture, location, orientation (north or south facing), average dust accumulation on your panels based on your local climate, 30 years of historical weather data, climate considerations, and how obstructions can block the sun, such as trees and even landscape like mountains on your horizon. This provides a very accurate representation of what solar panels will be able to produce on your roof. With this much data being carefully considered, your system design will be highly customized, accurate and efficient for your home and energy needs.

South facing roofs receive the most direct sunlight, which generates the highest level of solar energy. While a south facing roof is ideal, east and even west facing roofs are also very productive. Traditionally, north facing roofs are the least productive, but technology has improved so that even north facing panels can generate up to 85% of what a south facing panel would. This gives homeowners more options to utilize all their roof space, or even put panels in the back of the house if they prefer for them to be out of sight.

As mentioned above, north facing panels are still very efficient, giving customers the opportunity to install panels on out-of-sight roof faces. Also, new panels are sleeker and aesthetically pleasing than before. I find more customers like the look of the latest panels compared to bulkier predecessors. We can also install panels to lay flush with the roof, which has more curb appeal. We can find a solution that meets both your aesthetic and energy needs.

Solar technology has advanced to be much more tolerant of shading than it used to be. Solar panels used to be like a string of Christmas lights- one bulb goes out (or one panel gets shaded) and the entire string doesn’t work. Now solar panels are installed in a modular fashion, so if one gets shaded, the rest will still produce energy. We still want to be mindful of chimneys or large trees when designing your system, so panels are as exposed to the sun as much as possible, but it’s no longer detrimental to have some shade throughout the day.

Solar systems send unused energy back to the grid if you don’t have a battery system installed. If your utility company offers net metering, you can earn money for the energy your system sends back to the utility company. Net metering keeps track of both energy used and energy sent back to the grid, then settles your bill on a net basis called a “true-up.” If your local utility company does not offer net metering, investing in a battery is a smart way to prevent your system from sending unused energy that you wouldn’t get paid for back to the grid.

Many utility companies charge time of use rates, meaning customers pay less for energy during low-usage times compared to peak windows. Likewise, they will also pay more for energy your solar system sends to the grid during peak times. For example, they may pay 8 cents a kWh during low usage times, and 20 cents a kWh during peak hours. Batteries can be programmed to store energy until peak time windows, discharging power during the highest available payout rates. With this time of use payback structure, the battery pays for itself more quickly, while allowing clients to enjoy the reliability of backup power.

No. It is a common misconception that your solar system will continue to work if there is a power outage. This is only the case if you install a battery with your solar system. Solar systems are connected to your utility company’s electrical grid. If the company shuts down electricity for servicing or maintenance, your solar system could continue to send electricity to the grid, risking electrocution for their employees. A battery system provides a way to isolate your solar energy from the grid, which protects utility employees, while maintaining your energy independence.

A battery is the only way to ensure electricity is still available during a power outage, providing:

• Reliability: During a power outage, you can keep food fresh, open your garage, watch news or use your internet. For those working from home, a battery ensures a power outage won’t put you behind in your work.
• Dependability: Certain homes and business can’t afford a loss of power. For example, the lives of those with disabilities and medical conditions depend on power to use life-supporting equipment.
• Peace of mind: You can program your battery to retain 10-20 percent of its power for a surprise outage, or when a large weather storm is approaching, you can change your battery settings to store 100 percent to its reserves in preparation.

We understand how to create plans of building quality that move through permitting quickly and prevent delays due to unanswered questions or unclear plans. Our designs are easy to read and detailed, providing clear instructions for installation workers. This prevents mistakes that not only extend your timeline, but cause problems for your system in the future. Once your system is installed, city and utility inspectors can quickly and clearly identify that your system is safe, up to code and that it is built correctly according to plans.

Many of the pieces we discussed today are overlooked in the design process, but we especially see a disconnect with planning where specific equipment will be placed. The planning phase must consider aspects such as:

• Where an inverter will be placed to ensure maximum efficiency.
• Surveying electrical equipment to determine if upgrades are needed.
• Analyzing roof condition and structure.
• Ensuring there is room for batteries to be installed. (Batteries need to be installed inside.)
• Overall system appearance and aesthetics.

An important part of design is planning where to install equipment beforehand and how we’re going to get power from the roof to that equipment.

After 14 years in renewable energy, I’ve had the privilege of designing thousands of commercial and residential projects, including roof mounts, ground mounts, sun tracking systems, car ports, single pole mounted systems, electric vehicle charging, energy storage and battery backup projects. Recently, I even designed a 40-foot energy-bank container filled with batteries. I’ve enjoyed working across multiple sectors, including schools, multi-family, fortune 100 and single-family residences. I’m a member of NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) and help their leadership write new questions for the NABCEP certification exam. I’m excited to utilize my expertise in delivering the highest quality designs for Solar Pathways clients.