(Newswire.net — July 11, 2019) — Solar power has been an increasingly popular choice among business owners. Installing a photovoltaic (PV) system, businesses have easy access to clean, renewable energy at an extremely cost competitive price. Unfortunately, many find themselves unprepared to take on such a complicated energy project. Luckily, there are steps that can be taken to better prepare you for this big change. So, what are ten things you need to do prior to making the switch to solar for your business?
- Educate Yourself On The Basics Of Solar
- Request Many Quotes From Equipment Suppliers And Installers
- Check The Warranty Information Of Your Equipment
- Gather Some Historical Electric Bills Of Your Business
- Research All Of The Available Financial Incentives
- Make Sure Your Roof Is New Enough To Support Solar
- Fully Understand The Net Metering Policy In Your Area
- Speak With Other Businesses Who Have Gone Solar
- Contact Your Local Utility About Interconnection Capacity Limits
- Understand That Solar Is A Long Term Investment
Educate Yourself On The Basics Of Solar
Before making the large investment into a solar system for your business. Be sure that you research the basics of solar so that you have a firm grasp of it before you begin speaking to suppliers and installers. This will help you to learn the lingo of the industry and keep those trying to sell you a system from taking advantage of you.
Request Many Quotes From Equipment Suppliers And Installers
The two biggest groups of expenditures in installing a solar system are equipment, which are the physical components that make up the solar array, and the labor for the installation crew to come to your business and install the system. Both of these categories should be thoroughly priced out to make sure you are getting a great deal. Brisbane Solar Panels SunElec is a great place to start with regards to solar equipment.
Check The Warranty Information Of Your Equipment
Once you have identified equipment that seems to suit your needs, be sure to pay careful attention to the warranty information. This will give you an indication of how long your system components will be covered in the event that they should malfunction and fail to operate normally. Typically, solar inverters have the shortest warranty periods, around five years, while solar panels have much longer warranties in the range of twenty to twenty five years.
Gather Some Historical Electric Bills Of Your Business
When you approach a solar developer to complete a solar system for your business, they will probably first ask for some historical electrical bills so that they can build load profiles of the business. This allows a team of engineers to best size a solar system that will maximize the value to you. By having all of these electrical bills already gathered, it can save all parties valuable time and make the process much more efficient.
Research All Of The Available Financial Incentives
As with any business, investments in cost cutting measures are one of the best ways to improve profitability. Investing in a solar array is no different. To help get the array for the lowest possible price, be sure to research all of the available financial incentives in your area. Some local utilities may have additional incentives not available to everyone.
Make Sure Your Roof Is New Enough To Support Solar
One of the first things a developer will look for is the integrity of the roof on your business. The quality of the roof will undoubtedly determine whether or not the structure can support the weight of a solar system. Ideally, some businesses try to pair a re-roofing with the installation of a solar array to take car of both tasks at once.
Fully Understand The Net Metering Policy In Your Area
Net metering is the process by which excess solar generation is exported to the grid. This usually happens during the daytime where the generation from a solar array exceeds the total load of the building. The greatest benefit to this system is that the energy that was exported to the grid can then be credited back to your account at the end of the month so that you receive credit for all kilowatt hours generated. Every utility has a slightly different policy on this so be sure to do your homework.
Speak With Other Businesses Who Have Gone Solar
The best way to learn from the mistakes or pitfalls of other businesses is to reach out and ask about their experiences with having a solar array installed. This can be a quick and effective way to see where they got held up in the development process and what steps you can take to avoid these same pitfalls.
Contact Your Local Utility About Interconnection Capacity Limits
Interconnection is the process by which your business’ solar array is connected to your local electrical grid. In some utilities, there is a limit to how much solar capacity is allowed to be interconnected. By checking this prior to seeking quotes, you can save yourself tons of time if there are any type of restrictions on your area.
Understand That Solar Is A Long Term Investment
Most business owners invest in a solar system with the expectation that it will remain operational for upwards of 25 years. This means that you will need to look at the bigger picture over the lifetime of the system. Understanding this fact helps business owners from overreacting to a string of a few particularly cloudy or rainy months where the solar production of the system may be slightly lower than anticipated.
Making the switch to go solar has been a net positive benefit for thousands of businesses. By lowering their electrical bills every month, they are able to reinvest this saved money in order to expand the business. By carefully studying solar power prior to making the switch. You can rest assured that your business is well on its way to more sustainable operations.