1. Will solar work on my home or business?
The two biggest factors before getting solar are the amount of sunlight that your roof gets throughout the day and the amount of open space available on your roof. We can give you a quick assessment by looking at satellite images of your property. If everything looks good, we will schedule a free solar consultation, where one of our experts will evaluate your home and discuss with you a solar power system that will work best for you. We will see what fits your home energy needs and provide a detailed proposal including system location, size, pricing and financing options.
2. What will I have to do to switch to solar and how long does it take?
Nothing! We do it all. Once the solar power system is installed on your home, everything will work just the same as it did before. All you will notice is the changes on your monthly utility bill. A typical solar power installation can be done in under a week, usually between 3-5 days. A commercial installation can sometimes take about 1-3 weeks depending on the size of the project. The length of time all depends on the complexity of the roofing project and the number of panels that need to be installed.
3. What size system do I need?
The size of your solar system depends on several factors such as how much electricity you use, the size of your roof, how much you’re willing to invest, and how much energy you want to generate. Residential solar power systems are typically 3-10 kW and commercial solar power systems range from 50-500 kW for a medium sized business. Every home and business is different, so we will custom design a solar power system to meet your specific needs and offset as much of your utility bill as you desire.
4. What are the benefits of going solar?
Other than saving on your monthly electricity bill, there are also incentives and rebates for people who choose to go solar. Local, state and federal governments offer tremendous financial incentives for businesses to choose solar. A combination of incentives and tax credits can cover more than 30% of the total cost! Now is the time to take advantage of the federal and state mandate to switch to renewable sources of energy; once the adoption rate reaches a certain level, the incentives will disappear.
5. How much will it cost?
With Horizon Solar, we offer $0 down to get started on your solar project. Our financing program will help you find a monthly payment that works for you. Solar is cleaner and less expensive than power from the utility company. Solar is a smart financial investment because you will save money on electrical costs for years to come and increase your home value. Our customers who purchase their system typically see a strong Return on Investment (ROI) and expect to recoup their solar system investment within 5-10 years. Depending on the rebates and incentives offered in your area, you may be able to pay back your system even sooner.
6. Is it reliable?
Solar systems built today are very reliable. They have proven to be dependable sources of energy for large office buildings, mass retailers and governmental agencies, supplying megawatts of energy. Some of the largest companies in the world have buildings powered by solar energy, including eBay,WalMart, and the US Air Force. Horizon Solar Power has high quality products and build our systems to last, also having a 25 year warranty on all projects.
7. How much maintenance is involved?
Your solar energy system requires very little maintenance, largely because it has no moving parts. All your system requires is minimal shade, occasional cleaning and inspection. We suggest that you keep an eye on trees that may shade your system and keep them trimmed. Our service team monitors your system output to ensure your system is working properly as well as maintenance and warranty repairs are included as part of our service to you.
8. What happens at night?
Since the amount of power your solar system generates is a direct result of sunlight, it will produce slightly less energy when the weather is cloudy. Your system will not produce any energy at night. Your solar power system will be interconnected to your local utility grid, so that you can automatically begin to draw power from the grid whenever you need it. You won’t experience any power interruptions-the switch between solar system power and the utility grid happens seamlessly, with no effort on your part.
9. How long will it last?
Solar systems that receive rebates through California utilities are required to have a 10-year system warranty. Most solar systems may far outlast their warranties; many of the first solar systems installed more than 30 years ago are still going strong. While they are sophisticated electric systems, PV systems have few moving parts, usually lasting more than 30 years while requiring little maintenance. The components are designed to meet strict dependability and durability standards to withstand the elements. The best way to ensure and extend the life and effectiveness of your PV system is by having it installed and maintained properly.