FAQs about FLS Energy and Solar Energy Systems
How do I pick a solar contractor?
Track record. As with any industry, do your homework. The best indicator of the work that will be done for you as a customer is the work that has been done in the past by the solar contractor. Check references, training and certifications. NABCEP (National Association of Board Certified Energy Practitioners) is a nationally recognized certification for solar installers and is a good indicator of the quality of work that your solar contractor will provide.
Will solar energy work on my roof?
A solar energy system can be installed on a variety of roof surfaces including metal, composite, shingle, membrane and a variety of others. Solar panels are mounted in a southern orientation to gain the most solar energy production. East and west facing roofs will produce less energy; however, west facing roofs produce more energy during “peak” times when the power can be worth more money and might be advantageous to utility customers with time of use charges. FLS Energy recommends clients with older roofs redo their roofs in conjunction with the solar installation.
How much does a solar energy system weigh?
Solar panels and the associated piping or wiring add very little weight to a roofing structure. A solar thermal panel will add only about 4 to 5 pounds per square foot to a roof structure while a solar electric (photovoltaic) panel adds even less. Storage tanks for a solar hot water system can add significant weight to a roof. If the roof structure cannot support the additional load, a variety of storage options are available including ground floor locations, enclosed outbuildings or buried storage tanks.
How does solar energy help the environment?
Your system will reduce the demand on existing fossil-fuel power plants and help reduce the need to build new facilities. Both solar hot water and electricity systems greatly reduce the CO2 emissions that individual homes or companies produce. Whether your concern is reducing asthma producing particulates in your local town or reducing CO2 emissions globally, solar represents one of the cleanest and most abundant forms of energy available.
How does solar electricity work?
The sun’s energy in the form of photons release electrons from their bonds in the silicon semiconductors that make up the solar cells. The flow of these electrons makes up the current that will ultimately be utilized in your home or building. The inverter in a solar electricity system takes the electricity and converts it, which comes from the solar panel in a DC current, into an AC current which can then be used in your home or business.
What is solar thermal?
Solar thermal systems (also called solar hot water) heat hot water for domestic hot water use. Solar thermal installations involve the placement of solar collectors on a roof top or suitable location. These panels include an insulated copper piping system. As the heat transfer fluid (food grade antifreeze or glycol) runs through the pipes it is heated by the sun and then thermal energy is transferred to the domestic water supply through a heat exchanger. Solar hot water is the number one step, next to conservation, a business or homeowner can take to help our country move towards a renewable energy future (according to the NC State Energy Office).
What if there are clouds or no sun?
All solar energy systems and their energy outputs are based upon long term weather data for the area in which the system is being installed. The solar hot water or electricity system is installed independently of the building's normal water heating or electrical systems. When the sun is not shining, the building's backup water heating and electrical systems operate at normal levels. When the sun is shining, solar replaces the fossil fuel produced power with a clean and renewable source of energy. The amount of energy replaced depends upon the size of the solar energy system installed.
How do I know how much hot water or electricity I use?
Electricity use is a very simple number to determine by looking at your utility bills and figuring out the number of kilowatt hours consumed per month. Solar hot water use can be a little more complicated to determine. For a household, the first 2 people in a home each use approximately 20 gallons of hot water per day and each additional person uses 15 gallons. Commercial and industrial use can be determined through a combination of determining factors such as a percentage of overall water usage, industry standards (hotels have a per person estimate), flow rates (metering of domestic hot water usage), or original design estimates of hot water usage. In most cases, actual hot water usage will be determined through a combination of data sources and system size will be designed to meet 60% to 80% of that usage.
How is solar energy stored?
Solar hot water is stored in tanks which range in size from a normal residential hot water tank (40 gallons) to industrial tanks which can be as much as 2000 gallons. Storage of hot water is one of the most important considerations when installing a solar hot water system. If you do not have enough storage then the BTU’s produced by the solar hot water system will be wasted. The storage for a hot water system is calculated based upon the number and size of the solar hot water panels.
Solar electricity can be either stored in batteries or sent back into the power grid. Unless a client has a strong desire to be disconnected from the power grid, FLS Energy recommends a grid tied system, due to the additional cost and maintenance of a battery back-up system.
What is the difference between solar hot water and solar electricity?
Solar electric panels and solar hot water panels are two separate technologies and independent systems. Solar electricity can be used to operate the small pumps needed to operate a solar hot water system, but the panels themselves either produce hot water or electricity, not both. Solar hot water is produced by circulating a fluid through the solar collector panels and then transferring the heat absorbed by the fluid to the domestic hot water system. Solar electricity is made by converting sunshine into an electric current which is converted into AC electricity and used in your home or business.
Which is more cost effective, solar hot water or solar electricity?
Solar hot water is the most cost effective solar energy solution available (NC State Energy Office). Using the available tax credits (individual state tax credits vary), Renewable Energy Credits, and energy offsetting, a solar hot water system can pay for itself in 3 – 7 years and a solar electricity system can pay for itself in 5 – 15 years (commercial systems fall in the lower part of the range due to additional tax and depreciation benefits available).
Do I have change the way I live after I install solar hot water?
No. Every solar hot water system FLS Energy installs has a backup to ensure that there is always hot water available. However, changing your habits, such as doing the laundry at noon on a sunny day, will enable the system to optimize performance and limit the amount of backup hot water that has to be produced.
What is the proper orientation of a solar panel?
Solar collectors should be mounted on an un-shaded section of a south facing roof. The panels can face up to 45 degrees east or west without a significant loss in energy production. If aesthetics are a concern on a sloping roof, mounting the panels parallel to the roof plane is recommended. Usually a pitch of greater than 4 inches in 12 is sufficient to ensure year-round solar production. On flat roofs, the panels can be tilted to an angle roughly equal to the latitude of the area where the system is being installed (NC is at a latitude of 35 degrees). This angle ensures year round production while compensating for the lower level of the sun in the winter months.
How much maintenance does a solar energy system require?
Solar electric systems are, for the most part, maintenance free. We do recommend a yearly check to ensure the system is operating properly and, depending on the area, a periodic cleaning of the panels can be beneficial. A solar electric system should still be producing 80% of the panel’s rated power after 25 years and can last 40 to 50 years.
Solar hot water systems have an expected lifespan of 25 or more years. Just as a plumbing system in a home or business may need periodic maintenance, solar hot water systems may need to have some electronics, pumps, or storage tanks repaired or replaced over time.
Solar electricity can be either stored in batteries or sent back into the power grid. Batteries can be a great solution when a power grid is not available or a facility is isolated. The size and number of batteries needed is determined by the size of the system, the amount of power produced and the days of power required before the solar electric panels need to recharge the batteries. Unless a client has a strong desire to be disconnected from the power grid, FLS Energy recommends a grid tied system, due to the additional cost and maintenance of a battery back-up system.
Should I wait for more efficient solar technologies?
Solar hot water is an extremely efficient and cost effective solution for both homeowners and businesses. With incentives, a commercial hot water system can pay for itself in as little as 3 years and last for 30. The technology is proven and reliable.
Advances in efficiency for solar electricity have been incremental. Although a technological leap is possible, the most likely scenario will be continued incremental advancements. With the combination of incentives through state and federal agencies, renewable energy credits, and depreciation, there has never been a better time to purchase a solar electricity system. Also, a solar electric system can be expanded over time; as advancements are made, new solar panels can be added to increase the overall efficiency of the total system.
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