Yes. The installation of wind turbines and solar photovoltaic modules will reduce our nations dependence on foreign oil, reduce harmful emissions to the atmosphere, avoid production of deadly waste byproducts, and potentially eliminate your electric bill! Since the current national electrical generation mix is a combination of coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear, and others, adding additional wind and solar to this mix will reduce the generation from these conventional sources. We at Wind & Solar, LLC believe all of these to be important reasons why you should consider the installation of a renewable energy system. This is a very direct means of voicing your support for renewable energy sources of power. Allow us to demonstrate to you how this choice can be economically competitive with conventional electrical power sources.

What will the payback period be for my Solar energy system?

Typically around 6 - 8 years, depending on the amount of state and federal aid available at the time of purchase. In addition to federal and state incentives, one of the best ways you can improve your solar project´s economics is to monetize the SRECs produced by your solar energy system.

What size system do I need?

It is really up to you and how much you are willing to spend. Typically we recommend that you size your system to produce up to your full monthly consumption (which would eliminate your electric bill), but no larger. With this in mind, you can calculate the size of your system by looking at your recent electric bills, figure out how many Kilowatt-Hours you use on average every month. Once you have established your average monthly Energy consumption (in Kilowatt-Hours), we estimate you need about 1KW of installed Solar energy capacity for every 100 Kilowatt-Hours/month you consume. For example, if you consume 1,100 KW-H/month, you will need a 11KW solar energy system.

Is there financing available?

Yes. We offer financing through the Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (http://www.keystonehelp.com). However, you always have the option of asking your bank for a home improvement loan, or if building a new home, adding it to the price of the mortgage. 

How do I get started?

1. Contact us regarding your questions/concerns.

2. Schedule an appointment to get an evaluation and get a price.

3. Review your options and let us clarify any further questions/concerns.

4. Decide, and put down a deposit. We will immediately get all the paperwork started and make sure everything goes smoothly.

5. Within several weeks you should be enjoying clean renewable electricity and significantly lower energy bills. The physical installation of your system will only take a couple of days. 

What is an S-REC?

Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC) are tradable credits that represent all the clean energy benefits of electricity generated from a solar energy system. Each time a solar energy system generates1,000KWh (1MWh) of electricity, an SREC is issued which can be sold or traded separately from the power.

How can I monetize my S-RECs?

Most residential and commercial system owners have limited options for selling their SRECs. Energy suppliers are not typically willing to engage directly with small system owners and most system owners have little price leverage. That’s why we have partnered with the largest SREC aggregator in the country, to provide you with reliable financing solutions that are tailored to fit your needs.

What is net metering?

Simply put, this is the means of measuring the difference between the electricity supplied by your utility and the electricity generated by a customer-generator (you) when your alternate energy generating system is intended primarily to offset part or all of your requirement for electricity. The utility shall credit the customer-generator (you) at the full retail rate for each kilowatt-hour you produce, up to your total amount of electricity used during the billing period. The grid-connected system has the advantage of allowing the grid to act as a battery, eliminating the need for this costly addition to your alternate energy system. Any excess instantaneous power you produce in high wind and or good sun conditions will be effectively absorbed by the grid, and any additional instantaneous consumption you need in low wind/low sun conditions will be supplied by the grid.

How does Solar energy work?

When photons in the solar radiation reaching us from the sun hit the semiconductor cells (made of refined silica) within a solar panel, there is an effect called "photovoltaics" that takes place. Photons knock out electrons from the cells and they get collected through conductive bands that tie the solar cells together. This creates Direct Current (DC) electricity. The electricity is then wired into an inverter to create usable AC power.

What is an inverter?

Most renewable energy systems produce DC (direct current) electricity. Since AC (alternating current) is used by all utilities, the electricity created by your energy system must first pass through an inverter which will convert the DC electricity to AC. This ensures that the grid remains stable. Only inverters that have been tested and passed UL1741  standards can be connected directly with your utility company.

How long do solar panels last?

Solar panels have a natural degradation of about -0.5% per year. All of our solar modules come with an industry standard 25 year power output guarantee of 80%. However, even though the amount of power generated will continue to decrease over the years, they will probably continue to produce some electricity for 40+ years.

Do I need to replace my roof before I install solar? 

If you are planing on installing a Solar power system on your roof, it is a good idea to plan ahead.  Were you planing on replacing it any time soon? A solar energy system can prolong the life of the roof area it is covering by shielding it from the elements. However, if it is time to replace it we recommend that you do so before we begin installation of your Solar energy system. 

What is the importance of my wind resource?

If you are planing on installing a wind generator larger than 5KW, we recommend you purchase a wind study beforehand. Wind studies last half to one year and typically involve the erection of a temporary tower. Wind resource is is the number one factor to consider when deciding whether to install a wind energy system. The better the wind  resource at your location, the more cost effective your installation will be. The economic success of a small wind system can be measured by predicting the wind resource at the location of interest and determining the output of the turbine in Kilowatt-Hours.

What tower height do I need for my wind generator?

According to recommendations from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), turbines must be mounted at least 30 feet above any physical wind barriers (i,e., trees, buildings, or bluffs) within 300 feet to avoid air turbulence and ensure optimal equipment performance. Some manufacturers recommend slightly less restrictive limits than these, but there is general industry consensus that the wind generator needs to be well above potential barriers at the desired site location. Generally, the higher the tower, the better the wind conditions, and therefore the better the equipment performance. 

Do Wind Generators make noise?

Some noise is produced by wind generators in the same manner as other aero-mechanical equipment (fans for example), however the level can be a very subjective judgment. Some turbines are more susceptible than others and manufacturers generally provide noise level specifications in their literature. This is generally provided as a function of the distance from the turbine. There are different sources for this noise. Some of the noise is produced by the aerodynamic effects of the wind as it passes over the blades (particularly as it leaves the trailing edge). Manufacturers continue to make progress in addressing this and other sources of noise. One way to determine the relative importance of this issue to you as a potential owner is to judge for yourself by visiting some operating turbines. Wind & Solar can provide you with a list of accessible sites in your area.