David Lupberger: Hi, I’m David Lupberger with servicemagic.com. Capturing the power of the sun and using it as a source of clean energy is becoming increasingly popular in the United States and throughout the world. In local state, in federal jurisdictions, there are more and more homeowner incentives to put solar power to use in their home. Today, we’re going to follow an installation process as it takes place on this home, my home and we’re going to answer some key questions along the way.
Since the dawn of existence, humans have relied on the power of our sun for just about everything. And while it provides one of the cleanest sources of natural energy and capturing its power for consumer consumption is not exactly new. Harnessing solar energy on an individual level is becoming increasingly common. Homeowners typically look at two factors when considering adding solar panels to help power their homes.
Amanda Bybee: For most homeowners, I think that they look at this from a number of perspectives. Certainly the economics of system are important but they are also looking at this from an environmental perspective, from a—we believe this is the right thing to do kind of perspective.
David Lupberger: Amanda Bybee works for Namaste Solar, the company I chose to install the panels for my home. Namaste like most solar companies is capable of organizing the entire project from helping homeowners get information on financing and incentives all the way to installation taking place today in the inspections that will follow.
Amanda Bybee: I think homeowners are oftentimes surprised to learn that there are so much help available to do solar PV.
David Lupberger: That includes me. Long before the installation crew began tying their safety lines into my roof, I made decisions on which incentives to take advantage of in financing options. Make no mistake, solar panels are an investment.
Amanda Bybee: For a lot of folks, the real crocks of the question, is what’s going to happen with the electricity prices? As electricity prices go up, it makes the economics of the solar PV system more favorable.
David Lupberger: In my case, a $40,000.00 project was offset by a $20,000.00 rebate from my local utility company and a $6000.00 federal tax credit. Through a program offered by the county I live in, I financed the rest of it with the balance being spread across my property tax payments for the next 15 years. Those extra payment amounts should mostly be offset by the fact that my electrical bill will be reduced or eliminated depending on consumption.
Incentive programs will vary depending on where you live. The construction techniques are mostly the same. The crew has to find the trusses in my roof and drill into them to begin installing the attachments with lag screws.
Gary Gantzer: We’ll lag—we’ll put two lags into this and lag it right into the truss and—
David Lupberger: As a former contractor, I have to admit I don’t love seeing holes drilled into my roof. But Namaste says with their combination of sealant and flashing, I won’t have to worry about roof leaks.
Gary Gantzer: So yeah, we’ve never had any kind of leak, we just at Namaste really are aware that’s a big concern with the homeowners and we take extra care to make sure everything is sealed up properly.
David Lupberger: So midmorning of day one, work begins. With the 44 roof attachments now firmly in place and properly sealed, Gantzer and his crew began hoisting up and attaching the rails that would support the panels. Everything is laid out according to the design work that began weeks ago and customized specifically for my home.
But by late afternoon, the sun has proven itself as much an adversary as an ally. The shingles on the roof are now melting with the heat of the afternoon sun, so the crew stops working to keep from damaging them.
In part two of this series, the panels go up, the system goes on, and then right back off.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services