Yes! The health and economic advantages of going solar are huge, solar energy produces 91% less CO2 than natural gas and 96% less CO2 than coal.
Western Canada has some of the highest PV potential in the world. Below is a chart that compares Canada’s solar radiation to Germany’s (it should be noted that Germany is one of the largest producers of solar electricity in the world).
Solar energy varies throughout the year. Typically, the average roof angle combined with the short days of winter makes production low in the winter but optimal during the summer. Snow cover typically slides off or melts off once the sun shines again. Net metering takes advantage of the high summer production to offset the much lower production in the winter.
Each system is unique with different determining factors, however, the average investment for a residential solar PV system ranges from $8000 to $45,000 and the return on investment over 30-years is a healthy 5.5% to 11.2% (annually). Pricing will generally be between $2.50 to $3.50 per watt installed.
No, all of our mounting solutions are professionally engineered, guaranteed to ensure the integrity of your roof.
To prevent water intrusion on shingled roofs, we use metal flashing kits that create a watertight seal every time.
For certain types of standing seam metal roofs, clamps are attached directly to the seam, preventing the need for penetrations through the roof.
Generally, the break-even point is between 10 to 20 years. To determine a more accurate timeline, we will calculate the amount of energy your PV system is projected to produce. We then calculate the value of that energy year over year with anticipated energy costs.
If you are interested in learning more about your return on investment, feel free to contact us and we will do this for you free of charge.
Solar panels come equipped with a 25-year power warranty and 10-12 year warranty on materials & workmanship.
Most Inverters come with a 10-year warranty and extended warranty is available for up to 25-years.
Product warranties such as these ensure that your home/business will be an independent powerhouse for years to come.
There are solar systems over 40 years old that are still producing energy. However the solar modules will produce around %0.5 less energy year over year so a 30 year old system could still produce around 85% of what it did new.
Photovoltaic Panel (PV): Solar cells, also known as photovoltaic (PV) cells, convert sunlight directly into electricity. PV is named after the PV effect which is the process of converting light (photons) into electricity (voltage).
KWH:KiloWatt-Hour is a unit of measurement used to derive the amount of energy consumed over a given time period (i.e.:this month my house used 1100 KWH’s).
Inverter: A device that converts Direct current (DC) into Alternating current (AC)
The electrical power grid: An interconnected network for electricity from suppliers to consumers. It consists of generating stations that produce electrical power, high voltage transmission lines that carry power from distant sources to demand centers, and distribution lines that connect individual customers.
Grid-Tied Solar PV System: Is when your solar energy system is connected into an existing site which is tied to the power grid. Any excess energy that is not consumed while the sun is shining will flow back into the grid and a credit is received. This type of system does not require any batteries.
Off-Grid Solar PV System: Also known as a standalone photovoltaic system is when your system is not connected to the power grid. Typically located in a remote area where there is no existing electrical infrastructure. This type of system usually includes a battery storage system and a backup generator.