Q. Does it really save money to have a solar-electric system installed on my house? A. Absolutely. Simply do the math. The payback takes about five to seven years, and after that you benefit from FREE electricity. Think of it this way... you'd be paying the electric bill for those five to seven years anyway, so instead, pay off your solar-electric system, and never pay another bill after that again. And, that doesn't take into account LIPA rate increases, which have averaged about 7% per year. And, a solar electric system adds value to your house. It will be an immediate hit with buyers.
Q. How large a solar-electric system does my house need?A. Your house is different from every other house, and so is your electricity usage, and a professional solar project manager needs to evaluate the particular site in terms of usage, roof area and slope, shading, and so on. Looking at an average home, however, based on 2009 LIPA rates, each kW produced by a solar-electric system provides roughty $30 worth of electricity. That would mean for an average monlhly electric bill of $240 (at 2009 rates), an
8 kW system would be needed to cover the annual electrical usage. But, no home is average. A Bethpage Solar project manager needs to review your usage to determine exactly how large a system your home needs. The review is part of our free consultation process. Q.Does LIPA credit me for any solar power I don't use?A. Yes, any excess solar energy generated over the course of a year is credited back by LIPA. Every time you generate more power than you use, the extra amount goes to the grid, and your meter turns backwards, in a process called "net metering" which credits you over time. You don't really make money on the excess, however. The best choice is to "size" the solar-electric system to meet your needs, not to exceed them because the electricity is bought back from LIPA at a wholesale rate, not the retail rate consumers pay.
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Q. Is it really affordable?A. Again, absolutely. There's no added expense to you. Remember, you will be paying for it with dollars that you would be paying out anyway. In other words, you will pay for the system with dollars that you would otherwise be using to pay your electric bill. Better than that, once it's paid off, you save money with FREE ELECTRICITY thereafter.
Q. How many solar panels does an average house need?A. The size and type of panels dictate how many are needed. The number of panels will be based on optimizing the configuration of the solar arrays for the particular roof. For example, some homes have one south-facing roof with fairly
regular dimensions while others have varied levels that face east and west as well as south. A Bethpage Solar project manager provides a consultation to evaluate the best, most efficient solar array for your particular site. Q. Will my system work during a blackout?A. No. The system is grid-tied, which means that electrical current feeds back to the grid through regular power lines. As a result, power is automatically shut off from your solar site to the lines if a blackout or other outage occurs so that utility workers fixing service are not electrocuted by live current coming from just your house on the block. No battery backup is provided with our systems. Batteries can be pricey and last only about 5 to 10 years, so we have yet to recommend them to a customer. We would consider ordering a battery backup system for a customer as an add-on in an area where blackouts occur frequently, or assist with looking into a possible diverter to a generator, if a customer wishes.
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