Q: I'm considering adding solar and have these questions:
What is the best solar installation for me?
How much will you save on my electricity bill?
Can I be cool or do I have to stay cool?
Should I consider a solar energy storage system?
Answer: A reputable solar company that is licensed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors should answer this question.
It is also important to consult with a company that focuses on customer service rather than sales. Sam Dunbar, Solar & Battery Integrator, and Anthony Wiedenfeller, Rosie Sales Engineer at Certified Home Partner Sun Valley Solar, explain the process for ordering a custom solar system for your home. Both say the best process starts with the first phone call.
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Be prepared to answer your questions and theirs. The information collected will be used to initiate a design process that can help quickly create potential solutions.
When you meet in person or face to face for the first time, you should know the size, layout, and initial cost of a potential system. You do not have to bear the cost of this step.
Most likely, these questions will be asked during the discussion. Knowing the answers will help you prepare to answer correctly and thus get better information about the solutions.
What is your current consumption of electricity?
Usage is measured in kWh and can be found on your electric bill. It would help if you could pay the bills for the year. Otherwise, use what you can muster for the first call.
Where is your house located and what is its layout?
Using your address or your Resident Plot Number (APN), which can be obtained from your property tax bill, Sun Valley Solar can obtain a satellite image of your home. Access to this information provides key information about roof type, orientation, and any obstructions that may prevent solar access.
What is your daily program? How your home is occupied is important information when planning your energy use.
How many AC units do you have?
Do you have a pool with a variable speed pump?
Do you have an electric car that needs a charging station?
These lifestyle questions are key to understanding how you use your energy.
Armed with these answers, your consultant will prepare a basic design including the roof. This process leads to the development of several budgets for consideration.
They will investigate some additional information about your home infrastructure. Checking the location of the home service entrance (SES), where electricity is currently entering your home, is another essential part of creating the ultimate plan.
Further discussion should focus on how to manage the energy used by the sun. Will the energy be consumed during peak or off-peak hours? Peak hours are determined by the utility company. Within a 24-hour period, the peak hour marks the moment when electricity demand is highest and most expensive. Off-peak hours are when energy demand is lowest and electricity is cheapest.
It's no secret that I admire "supercooling" as a way to manage energy consumption. This is a way to determine when to reduce or increase energy consumption. Managing your usage will affect your earnings.
In addition to heating and cooling systems, tuning your appliances is another way to help manage costs.
Energy management is a convenient way to control energy consumption. Maximize the use of solar energy to balance the amount of energy you may need from your electricity supplier or grid.
Q: How can I save energy from my solar panels?
Answer: Solar cells are a useful way to store energy. If no one is home most of the day, when solar energy collection is highest, your energy consumption should be lowest. Battery storage is a tool that can help balance the cost curve and purchases.
Battery storage systems are quickly becoming the preferred choice in response to demand. The use of stored energy has two important advantages.
Reduce "peak" use: Use stored power, not grid power, during peak hours.
Power Outage Management: When your network goes down, all power goes out. A solar battery can power your home for several hours. Runtime depends entirely on the battery system you choose.
The technology behind solar cells has advanced rapidly over the years. Storage batteries do not take up much space. It is potentially the next generation of solar home systems.
Q: What is the best payment option and what kind of return on investment will I get by installing solar energy?
Answer: A key supporting feature of a comprehensive approach to solar energy delivery is the financing of the system. There are a variety of cash, loan, and lease payment options, each with their own trade-offs to consider. Decide for yourself what suits you best.
When it comes to return on investment, there are as many answers to this question as there are different systems and different types of users. The company you choose should be able to give you a good idea of the total savings.
If you're considering the solar system, I urge you to do your homework.
Rosie Romero, an expert in the Arizona home construction and renovation industry for more than 40 years, is the host of The Rosie's Syndicated Show on Saturday mornings, heard locally on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A.M. radio. .
