Are there any financial incentives for installing a PV system? Yes, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut all offer direct rebates in some form which will reduce the installation cost of your solar electric system by as much as 50% in some cases. New York also offers a tax credit in addition to the direct rebate. For more details click on the following link. financial incentives
What is PV? - PV stands for Photo Voltaic. It is the conversion of light energy into electricity. What is Grid Tie? - Grid tie refers to connecting your solar system to the utility line. When connected to the "grid", your excess electricity is pumped back to the utility for credit. You can actually watch your utility meter run backwards!
What is a watt? - A watt is a measure of energy. A watt is equal to volts x amps. What is a Kilowatt? - A Kilowatt is a measure of energy. It is equal to 1000 watts. What is a Kilowatt hour (KWH)? - A kilowatt hour is a measure of power. It is 1000 watts of electricity consumed over a 1 hour period of time. It could be ten 100 watt light bulbs on for an hour, or it could be one 100 watt light bulb left on for 10 hours. Utility companies charge based on your consumption of KWH.
What happens when there is no sun? It depends. If it is a cloudy day, the solar panels can still produce electricity, though significantly less than on a sunny day. At night, when there is no sunlight, the solar panels will not produce enough voltage and the inverter(s) will "shut off".
How much will a solar electric system lower my utility bill? This depends on how much electricity you use, and more importantly how much you pay for it. The more you pay for your electricity, the greater your savings once you've installed the solar system. With a large enough system it is possible to eliminate your electric bill entirely. There are several factors which determine system size and energy production, but it is typical to produce between 30% and 70% of your electricity with the solar system. Solar PV systems produce electricity measured in kilowatt hours (KWH). Your utility company bills you based on the amount of KWH you consume. As your electric rates go up, your solar system produces more valuable electricity. Example - 4 KW system A 4 kW PV system will produce approximately 5,000 kWh each year. If your electric rate is 17 cents per kWh, your solar electric system would save you about $850 per year . If (when) your electric rates go up to 18 cents per kWh you system would save you about $900 a year. When your electric rates reach 20 cents per kWh your system will be saving you about $1,000 per year. It is easy to see that as the cost of electricity goes up your system becomes a better investment.
How long will it take for the solar system to pay for itself?
This depends on what type of system you choose, and again, how much you pay for electricity. Remember the amount of electricity offset by your PV system does not impact payback time. It is possible for a solar system to pay for itself in less than eight years. . As your electric rates increase, the system only pays for itselffaster.
How long will my system last? Solar modules have no moving parts and are very robust. Most are designed to absorb the force of a one inch piece of hail striking at 52 MPH. Because solar panels are so reliable, many manufacturers offer warranties of up to 25 years. The actual life expectancy of solar modules is over 30 years. Keep in mind that NASA uses solar panels to power satellites. This is because of their high reliability and low maintenance, which are key factors for use in space.
Inverters, which are the other main component in solar electric systems, have come a long way in recent years. With these technological improvements, has come increased reliability. Inverters contain electronics which solar modules do not have. Since they are more complicated, they naturally will have a greater potential for something to happen. However, inverter longevity is growing quickly. Almost all inverter manufacturers offer 10 year warranties, with some manufacturers offering even longer warranties. Battery technology has also made great strides, with some battery manufacturers offering warranties of up to 10 years. The overall answer is, your system will last a long time.
ISI Solar warranties labor on all installed solar energy systems for a minimum of 5 years. We will also honor all manufacturer's warranties.
What type of maintenance is required? Almost none. The solar panels should be free of dirt, or anything that will block sunlight. Usually, rain will keep the panels clean. Other than that, there is not much more to do but enjoy the free electricity.
Do I have to put the solar panels on my roof? No. You do not have to put them on your roof. They can be pole mounted or even placed right on the ground. You can install the array anyplace that has unobstructed access to sunlight.
How much space do I need? This depends on how big a system you want. It also depends on what type of solar panels you choose. You can, however, use the general rule of thumb that for every kilowatt (1,000 watts) of solar panels, you will need about 100 square feet of space. So for a typical 4 KW system you would need about 400 square feet.
How much will my system cost? The cost of a solar electric system, including installation, ranges from $6,000 to $10,000 per kilowatt (1,000 watts). The cost depends upon the system components, size, and configuration. This cost is BEFORE rebates and/or tax credits. For residential instalations NYSERDA offers a $2.,500 per kilowatt rebate up to 4 KW and $1,500.00 per kilowatt from 4 to 8 KW.
In addition to the above incentive, New York State currently offers a personal income tax credit of up to $5,000.00. The federal government also offers a tax credit of up to 30%. making it is possible to offset even more of the system cost. Cost example (New York State) - 5 KW system size Based on an $7,000 per kilowatt system installation cost, a 5 kilowatt PV system (5,000 watts) would cost approximately $35,000 before any rebates. After the NYSERDA rebate of $2,500 / kilowatt for the first 4 KW and $1,500 / kilowatt for the 5th KW. This translates to $11,500, which means the out of pocket cost for the homeowner is reduced to $23,500.
Now take into account the NYS tax credit of up to $5,000.00, and the Federal tax credit of up to 30% and you're down to a final cost of approximately $12,000. Remember, even if you pay only $85.00 a month in electricity, in 10 years you will have paid over $10,000 to the utility company. Wouldn't you rather spend that money on improving your home?
ISI Solar 22 Third Street New City, NY 10956 - 845-708-0800 Fax 845-708-0802