Almost all utilities are required by law to offer net-metering, which effectively allows you to bank your solar energy until you need it. Net-metering allows you to send back any excess generation you do not use onto the grid. Net metering continues throughout the year and seasons, so you can build credit in the summer for darker winter days. It measures the difference between the electricity you buy from the utility and the electricity you generate with your solar electric system.

When you are making more electricity than you are using, your extra electricity automatically gets metered back to the utility grid for use at a later date. Essentially, net-metering allows you to use the electric utility grid like a bank account. You can put electricity into it that you don’t use immediately, and you can withdraw the same amount later on at no net cost to you.

Your kilowatt-hour production will depend on several variables: amount of sunlight, size of system, and panel efficiency. A good rule of thumb for the Midwest is 1,350 kwh/year for each kilowatt. In other words, a 25-kW system will produce approximately 33,750 kWh/yr or 2,813 kWh/month.

Shade reduces the amount of sunlight your solar panels receive and consequently reduces the electricity your system will produce. Our solar-design team will conduct a shade analysis and work to position your panels where they can get maximum sun exposure. However, on occasion, a roof may be too shady to make solar feasible.

The amount of energy your solar system generates is directly attributed to the amount of sunlight it gets. As a result, it will produce slightly less electricity when it is cloudy. Surprisingly, the sun shines through the clouds and still produces electricity though.

Your solar-panel system will be connected to the utility grid, so you can draw energy from the grid when your solar system is not producing solar energy. You will never experience any power interruptions because of solar.

The size of your solar-energy system will depend on several variables: utility usage, size of roof, shading, budget, and your local market. We typically install solar-power systems between 20- and 100-kilowatts for our commercial clients. Many times, the system size is dictated by the state incentives. For example, in Missouri, solar-power rebates are capped at 25 kilowatts per account. As a result, most commercial systems are 25 kilowatts. In our East Coast markets, commercial systems are usually much larger as the cap is typically greater than 1-megawatt.

Most of our commercial installations are self-ballasted, meaning they are weighted using no attachments. We engineer the tilt to be slightly lower so there is no lift-off in the wind, and of course ensure your roof is structurally sound enough to handle it.

99% of the time, the answer is no. Battery systems are typically expensive and only make sense for buildings in very remote locations, far from the utility grid. Our systems are typically connected to the grid. In Missouri, in order to qualify for your utility’s solar-energy rebates, you must be connected to grid.

That depends on how much energy you use, your project budget, and the available roof or ground space. In general, you can expect to offset 10 – 30% or more of your energy bill. If your business is very energy efficient, you can expect more. Our solar specialists will provide a complete analysis of your particular situation.

Usually it is fine, but you’ll need to check.  Sometimes there are restrictions on what can be placed on the street facing side of the home.  We are happy to help educate your HOA about solar.  Most restrictions do not hold up in court.

Solar panels are most efficient when they are perpendicular to the sun’s rays. The best angle would be about your latitude (plus or minus a few degrees) and the panels would follow (track) the sun during the day for the most efficiency. For practical purposes, we usually recommend fixed tilt arrays pointed as close to true south as possible. Tracking the sun adds up-front cost and maintenance later on. Efficiency gains are usually not great enough to make up for these extra costs.

After many years of experience, we at Brightergy have come to the conclusion that in most cases solar is the best solution. Solar panels provide more power at a lower price in almost every state. They have no moving parts and 25-year power production warranties vs. 5-year warranties for most wind turbines. Many of our utilities also offer extra financial incentives for solar-energy installations, but not for wind-energy systems.

It depends on the size; larger commercial solar-energy installations may see an increase, therefore, it’s best to check with your carrier.

Solar panels are tested and certified to withstand hail using tempered glass. If a panel is ever damaged, it is covered by your commercial insurance, and we will replace it.

Solar-photovoltaic systems reduce the demand for fossil fuels, thereby reducing pollutants and carbon-dioxide emissions.

Yes, solar energy provides excellent ROI and is eligible for tax rebates. Over the lifetime of the system, you will realize significant energy savings. After incentives, most systems pay for themselves within ten years. After that, you produce free energy for the life of the system.

No, most solar-panel systems do not require a new roof prior to installation. However, because solar panels have an expected life in excess of thirty years, roofs need to be in decent condition; it does not make sense to remove and reinstall solar panels after only a few years.

After your panels are in place, they will greatly reduce the wear on the roof by blocking ultraviolet (UV) rays, snow, and ice from striking the roof.

Some solar systems have received IRS rulings that allow you to receive a 30% Treasury Grant for the portion of a roof where solar panels are installed. In other words, if you install an eligible solar system over 50% of your roof, you will qualify to receive a 30% Treasury Grant on half of the cost of your new roof.

Solar-electric panels need sunshine to generate power. While some sun does make it through several inches of snow, little electricity is generated when the panels are covered with anything. However, because solar panels operate at a much warmer temperature than the outside air, the snow will melt off of your solar panels and your system can continue generating electricity.

A system typically adds 3 – 4 lbs per sq. ft., so 95% of roofs are able to support solar panels. We have our structural engineer evaluate each roof before we will install solar-panel systems.

Luckily, solar-energy systems require very little maintenance since they have no moving parts. Rainfall typically keeps solar panels clean, but you should rinse them off with a hose in case of drought. A good rule of thumb for cleaning your solar panels is to do so if you notice a good deal of dust or pollen on your car.

Most solar panel manufacturers have a 25-year warranty. Most inverters carry a 10-year warranty. There are solar-photovoltaic (PV) systems that were installed in the 1970’s that are still around today.

Solar-photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into direct current (DC) power. An inverter converts this DC power into alternating current (AC) power that can be used in your building. The solar-panel system is interconnected with your utility provider; during the day, if your solar-energy system produces more electricity than your building is using, your utility will allow net-metering, or the crediting of your utility account for returning the excess power to the grid.

The utility provides power as usual at night, and during the day when your electricity demand exceeds that produced by your solar-energy system.