A: Everything transfers! You can save money on your electric bill and get paid by your utility company while you have the solar, then you’ll be able to hand everything off to the next homeowner for them to enjoy.
This usually translates to selling your home quickly to any buyer who understands how solar works, as they too would rather pay for a power bill that never goes up and they get to own.
A: If the home qualifies, the upfront cost is $0. Getting solar for your home isn’t free; however, we use a combination of state, federal, and private programs to help you get rid of your utility bill and replace it with a low-cost solar payment.
The best part about these programs, and why you see more solar on homes today, is any home with good sun exposure will generate enough income to not only pay for their own cost but also put money in your pocket. Why pay more to rent power, when you can own it for less?
A: The solar panels used in New England are engineered for the elements, and are quite sturdy. However, snow buildup can affect production, but most homeowners just let them clear off naturally like you would a roof.
In some cases, depending on the roof pitch, solar panels allow the snow to slide right off them due to their glass-like material. Meaning, that you won’t see as much snow buildup on your roof as before.
Check out our article regarding how winter affects solar panels.
A: Although solar has been found to increase property values, Rhode Island and Massachusetts both offer property tax exemptions for the value added. As a result, homeowners who go solar will not see their property taxes increase.
Not only do they offer a property tax exemption, but they also offer a sales tax exemption too.
A: $0 down does mean no out-of-pocket expenses up front.
Instead, the only thing coming out of your pocket is to pay for your solar panels each month, in lieu of your power bill. You’ll net a savings of 20-50% (depending on the sun exposure). On top of the immediate savings, instead of paying that monthly bill to a utility company, you pay your solar panels off (which you own and will eventually produce power without payment).
A: Homes that will see the most savings are the ones that have south-facing roofs and are not too shaded by trees.
Also, your solar system size is based on how much energy your household uses, so too little usage can disqualify a home as well.
The best way to find out if your home qualifies is to schedule a free savings assessment here.
A: The short answer is yes, but only for the power your solar system cannot produce. It all depends on which solar program fits your needs best, and how much we are able to produce from your roof, compared to the consumption of your home. The majority of U.S. installs are still grid-tied. This allows customers to draw power from the grid when/if their system did not produce enough electricity, but in the months where we make 100% or more of your power you will receive a $0 bill from your utility company… and it feels as good as it sounds.
You will always have an account through your current electricity provider, and the majority of our customers’ utility “bill” isn’t actually a bill, but more so a report of money made or extra power that you produced and was credited to you. Nonetheless having solar will definitely result in lower monthly electric bills (with good sun exposure).
A: For Photovoltaic Solar panels, (or PV Panels) that you see around New England, little to no maintenance is required. This type of solar panel is commonly known as “passive solar” as it has no moving parts. Because of this, you will see fields of thousands of panels, or commercial installations on large businesses/malls/carports that rarely have workers around.
Rooftop Power takes this a step further by using a new technology called microinverters, to ensure not just the panels but the inverters as well are maintenance-free, and they come with a 25-year warranty.
A: We do! Rooftop Power is a full turnkey company, we take pride in installing the residential and commercial systems ourselves. Working with just one company will ensure that your work is backed up with strong warranties, and the paperwork process has less opportunity for delay.
Installation typically takes 1-2 days to complete, and you can expect the crew to be there all day. Once the panels are installed we educate you on how to power and shut down your system for future steps.
A: If your roof gets a lot of sunlight, there’s a good chance you will qualify. We provide a free site assessment to determine exactly how much sunlight you get. After a follow-up consultation, we’ll explain why your home is or is not ideal.
Of course, there are other factors such as roof age to take into account, but most can be addressed easily. The best way to find out if your home qualifies is to schedule a free consultation here.
A: The solar process takes about a month to complete after we install your system. The good news is you will begin to earn credit, which reduces your bill, immediately after turn on and should see an impact on the very next billing cycle.
For a detailed list, please visit the energy.gov website.
Kilowatt (kW): A kilowatt (kW) is a standard unit of electrical power equal to 1000 watts.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh): You may notice this on your electric bill without knowing what it means. A Kilowatt-hour (kWh) is 1,000 watts of use acting over a period of 1 hour.
Net Metering: Net metering allows customers with solar systems on their homes to receive bill credits for all power generated back to the grid.
REG: REG is the program in which Rhode Island Energy (formerly National Grid) pays homeowners with a solar system in Rhode Island a performance-based incentive (PBI) for producing solar energy.
PTO: This is an exciting term for new solar system owners because it means you have permission to operate (PTO) your solar system!
Photovoltaic (PV): Solar panels are also known as photovoltaic (PV) panels. The term photovoltaic refers to the direct conversion of light into electricity.
Array: An array is a term used to describe the interconnected system of solar panels that function as a single electricity-producing unit.
Conduit: The conduit is the protective tube for all electrical wiring coming from your solar panels.
Inverter: Solar inverters are used to convert the direct current (DC) output from your solar panels into alternating current (AC) which can be used in your home.
Micro-Inverter: Unlike a standard solar inverter, micro-inverters are used to convert the current from one solar panel as opposed to the whole array.
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