4 Oxford Road, Suite D8
Milford, CT 06460
Phone: (203) 878-9123
Fax: (203) 878-9464
www.sunlightsolar.com
Mission Statement:
Sunlight Solar Energy is dedicated to educating our customers and
empowering them to make intelligent buying decisions.
Dear Solar Enthusiast:
Thank you for your interest in clean, renewable – and best of all – affordable photovoltaic (PV) solar
electricity.
After reading this information, please call us at (203) 878-9123 to get started on your own solar system!
Rachel, your first contact, will gladly schedule an appointment for a Systems Designer to come to your
home and give you a free custom proposal. We do not charge a fee for any preliminary proposals or site
surveys.
Sunlight Solar is an innovative and creative company with an industry-leading approach and philosophy
to PV sales. We are one of the first Connecticut Clean Energy Fund-approved installers to offer a 10-year
labor warranty.
We sincerely look forward to hearing from you!
5.16 kW photovoltaic and
2-collector hot water
arrays in Lebanon
Solar energy never looked so good!!
Table of Contents
I.
About Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc.
II. Financial Incentives
A. Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)
i. Connecticut Solar Lease Program
ii. Rebate calculation
B. Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
C. Cost and Energy Production
D. Cost of electricity in Connecticut
E. Renewable Energy Credits/Green Tags
III. Solar Technology
A. Net Metering
B. SunPower Corporation
C. How a grid-tied system works
D. Solar panel quality and warranties
E. Solar panels
F. Inverters
G. Grid-tied battery back-up system
Part of an 18.63 kW solar array in Farmington
IV. Permits and Installation Process
A. Permitting and Interconnection
B. Site surveys and Proposals
C. Post Installation
V. Installation Considerations
A. Orientation
B. Roof
i. Age and weight load
ii. Square footage
iii. Angle
C. Shading
D. Aesthetics
E. Tilt mounts
F. Metal roofs
G. Wiring
H. PV System components
VI. Other considerations
A. Array maintenance
B. Homeowner’s Associations and Historic Commissions
C. Insurance
D. Property taxes and property values
1.8 kW solar array in Manchester
I. About Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc.
⋅ One of the leading PV solar design and installation companies in the United States
⋅ Approved PV Solar contractors in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Oregon, and New York
⋅ Founded in 1988 by Paul Israel in Sacramento, California
⋅ One of the original companies to be part of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund
⋅ Full-time in-house professional installation teams
⋅ Fuel-efficient hybrid and bio-diesel run company vehicles
⋅ Installed more than 300 residential systems and over two megawatts worth of solar systems
⋅ Installed large commercial installations such as Yale University’s 40,000 watt system and the North
Haven Health & Racquet Club’s 190,000 watt system
Walking the Walk: Two from our fleet – a bio-diesel installation truck and a hybrid design car (above)
5.52 kW
ground-mounted
array in Chaplin
II. Financial Incentives
A. The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)
The Connecticut Legislature created the
CCEF to support and encourage the
growth of renewable clean energy
sources for the benefit of Connecticut’s
rate payers. The CCEF is financed by a
surcharge (Renewable Energy Investment
Charge) on your electric bill. Solar
rebates are money collected from CL&P
and UI ratepayers.
i. Connecticut Solar Lease Program
The CT Solar Lease works in
conjunction with CCEF’s innovative
solar rebate program. The rebate is
utilized by CT Solar Leasing to reduce
the monthly cost of the lease.
10.125 kW solar array in Newington
Since CT Solar Leasing owns the solar system, it takes advantage of the tax incentives; the
value of these extra incentives helps eliminate the need for a down payment and reduce the
monthly cost of the lease to the homeowner even more!
With CT Solar Lease, the customer pays a fixed monthly fee which is usually less than their
average electric bill. Another benefit of the lease is that as electric rates continue to rise, the
monthly payment stays the same, thus increasing the savings for homeowners on their
electric bill.
Sunlight Solar is a CT Solar Lease Approved Contractor and Eligible Installer. There is an
income cap to meet the requirements for the lease. Please give Rachel a call to see if you fall
within the qualifying range. For more information on the lease program, we suggest you visit
www.ctsolarlease.com.
ii. Rebate Calculation
The CCEF rebate is based on three specific site conditions: tilt, orientation, and shading. For
a lease, the rebate will be approximately 50% of the total installed price and for purchasing
the rebate will be about 20%.
Three specific site conditions that will affect your rebate are tilt, orientation, and shading.
⋅ In Connecticut, the ideal roof slope is 36 degrees.
⋅ The ideal orientation of your panels to the sun is 180 degrees magnetic south (194 degrees
true).
⋅ Losses due to tree shading and other obstacles are taken into consideration. This is
discussed in more detail below in Section V, Installation Considerations.
The CCEF requires all contractors to conduct an official site survey. During a site survey, our
Systems Designer uses a Solar Pathfinder to calculate exactly when your panels would be
shaded. The Pathfinder tool is a device that views the horizon from the panels’ perspective.
We will calculate all the above site conditions and show you the projected efficiency of your
system. The site survey is critical in determining your true rebate. If a contractor does not
go on your roof to determine site conditions you should question the accuracy of the
projected rebate amount.
B. Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
If you are not interested in the lease program or are over the income limit, you may opt to
purchase the system with the CCEF rebate. By purchasing the system you will be credited 30% of
your investment by the Federal Government. For example, a $35,000 PV system may receive a
rebate of $7,000. You would then be eligible for an ITC of $8,400. If your tax liability is not that
great, it is possible to spread the ITC over a number of years to be able to take full advantage of
it.
C. Cost and Energy Production
A typical installation is 24 SunPower 225 watt solar panels – a total of 5,400 watts (5.4 kW). This
installation costs approximately $43,000 which includes all taxes and permits (but varies on
degree of difficulty).
A 5.4 kW system will produce approximately 22 kWh per day. Relative to a utility bill of $150 per
month, which is the equivalent of 26 kWh per day, this solar system would provide a homeowner
with 85% of their electric power per year. An average monthly lease payment for a system this
size would be about $130.
D. Cost of electricity in Connecticut
Currently, United Illuminating (UI) and Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) customers are paying
the second highest electricity costs in the nation. CL&P residential customers are paying about
$0.20 per kWh for electricity; UI customers are paying $0.24 per kWh.
E. Renewable Energy Credits/Green Tags
Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) are tradable
commodities used in the energy industry and are
essentially the free market trading of the “clean
energy attributes” (not the electricity) of your
solar energy.
Connecticut currently does not have a program
to purchase RECs. When a program becomes
available, customers who purchase their system
will be able to sell their Green Tags for
approximately $0.05 per kWh.
9.2 kW solar array in Brookfield
III.
Solar technology
A. Net Metering
A 1988 state law allows individuals and businesses that generate excess renewable energy to
sell the electricity back to the local utility company through a process called Net Metering.
In addition to the utility meter currently installed at your home, CL&P or UI will install another
utility-grade meter to measure the output of your solar array. This bi-directional meter is in
addition to the meter that comes standard on your solar inverter. Utility-grade and inverter
meters are standard on all SSE installations.
A well-designed PV system usually provides 50-100% of your household electrical needs.
8.28 kW solar array in Bethlehem
B. SunPower Corporation
Our solar panel and inverter supplier is California-based SunPower Corporation. We highly
recommend reading their Annual Report at www.sunpowercorp.com.
SunPower is one of the fastest growing solar manufacturing companies in the world and they
have developed the world’s most efficient commercially-available solar cell.
For a number of reasons, including cell efficiency, quality of construction, warranty, and
aesthetics, we are proud to have been chosen a SunPower factory-direct integrator. This
means solar panels and inverters come directly from the manufacturing plant to you.
C. How a grid-tied system works
Solar PV systems work by directly converting sunlight into electricity without noise, moving
parts, or pollution. Therefore, the system is simple, reliable, renewable, fully automatic, and
virtually maintenance-free.
As shown in the image to the left, energy from the sun
strikes the PV panels (array) and produces DC energy.
An inverter changes this to alternating current, which
ties into your home’s electric circuit breaker panel. As
the solar electricity is produced, your electric meter
will slow down or spin backwards! Your utility
company will install a new bi-directional utility meter.
Your electric bill will be based on this new electronic
meter reading and will look quite different than your
current bill.
In a grid-tied system, if utility electric power becomes
unstable or is lost your PV system will automatically
turn off and your home will not produce solar
electricity. Every five minutes, however, the inverter
automatically tests the utility power for stability and
turns back on once power is restored. The system
works seamlessly and automatically.
Inverters are designed to be installed outdoors, protected from southern or western direct
sun, but can also be installed in the basement, garage, or other areas depending on owner
preference and site-specific conditions.
North Haven Health & Racquet Club, 190 kW solar array
D. Solar panel quality and warranties
Solar panels have no moving parts or chemical reactions and are therefore very low
maintenance. They also have a long life expectancy. Solar panels’ Power Warranties range
from 10 to 25 years (SunPower’s Power Warranty is 25 years), but they will produce clean
energy for many years beyond the warranty. Generally, the Power Warranty guarantees the
panel will produce at least 80% of its rated capacity for the warranty period. Once installed,
experts believe solar panels will be producing electricity for 35 years or more but with a
degrading output of about 0.5% to 1% per year.
E. Solar panels
One way to judge the efficiency of a solar panel is to compare two tests that all solar panels
must undergo: the PTC and STC panel tests. Basically, panels are tested in two different
conditions – a perfect condition and realistic conditions.
If you look at the drop-off in power of the test results, you get an interesting story about
efficiency. All things being equal, you want to purchase panels which have a high PTC/STC
ratio. For example, a SunPower solar panel has an STC rating of 225 watts and a PTC rating of
207.1 watts. This gives a drop-off of 17.9 watts or a percentage loss of 92%. This is very good.
Call us and we can help you compare different manufacturers’ solar panel efficiencies.
5.04 kW ground mount array in Bolton
7.56 kW solar array in Higganum
F. Inverters
Translating the solar DC energy into household AC electricity
uses some energy. For this reason, each inverter has a
published efficiency rating. The SunPower 5000m inverter has
an industry-leading 96.8% conversion efficiency. Call us and
we can help you compare different manufacturers’ inverter
efficiencies.
G. Grid-tied battery back-up system
For people who have concerns about power outages, we can design systems that have an
automatic battery back-up. If the power grid goes down the back-up system will automatically
sense the power loss and immediately switch electric loads to the batteries.
A battery back-up system is much more expensive than a standard grid-tied system because of
the extra components. You can expect a back-up system to cost about $10,000 extra. It is
important to note that the CCEF will not grant a rebate to cover the extra cost related to the
back-up system.
IV.
Permits and Installation process
A. Permitting and Interconnection
SSE takes care of obtaining an
electrical building permit and the
utility interconnection approval,
which are included in your system
price.
B. Site surveys and Proposals
Before a Site survey is done,
Rachel will gather some
preliminary information regarding
your home and any solar PV
system requirements you may
have. She will also look at a
satellite photo of your house to
observe any shading and
determine its orientation.
43.92 kW solar array: the Saybrook Point Inn in Old Saybrook
With this information Rachel can prepare a preliminary proposal for you to consider. Our final
proposal typically does not vary much from our preliminary proposal unless the actual Site
survey reveals significant discrepancies from the initial information. The biggest problem is
usually related to shading: most people underestimate the amount of shade affecting their
roof throughout the year. Therefore, please be conservative when providing shading
estimates.
After carefully evaluating the preliminary proposal, many people decide Sunlight Solar Energy
is the right choice for them. If the proposal, including system components and cost are
satisfactory to you, we can then schedule a Systems Designer to come to your house to
conduct a detailed site survey.
The CCEF requires eligible installers to
perform a Site survey prior to approving a
rebate application. While some
companies charge $80 to $120 for this
service, Sunlight Solar believes this
service should be free of charge.
The Solar Pathfinder tool helps us determine the
amount of shading at your site
During the site survey, our Systems Designer
will take several measurements and
photographs of your site and analyze a
number of important issues including:
⋅ Roof design, shingle age, and condition
⋅ Orientation, height, and pitch of roof(s)
⋅ Available roof space for solar panels; roof vent locations; skylights; etc.
⋅ Distance from solar panels to the circuit breaker panel and electric meter
⋅ Electric service panel suitability, including extra space for a breaker
⋅ Tree shading and other factors that will affect PV system output
⋅ Proposed location of inverter
⋅ Possible ground mount location
⋅ Any other factors impacting system price, energy production, etc.
⋅ Discuss proposal and answer homeowner’s questions
After the site survey, our Systems Designer will prepare a final proposal for you to consider,
along with a photo simulation of what the array would look like at your site.
What has your roof done
for you lately?
9.23 kW
array in
Watertown
C. Post Installation
Once your solar array has been installed we do a “walk through” of your system with you. We
will show you each of the meters, explain the components, and teach you how to turn your
new PV system on and off. We will also present you with an Owner’s Manual that has
specification sheets, technical schematics, warranties, etc. Sunlight Solar coordinates the
following tests: local electrical inspection, utility Witness Test, and the final CCEF inspection.
You can legally turn your system on after the Witness Test.
V.
Installation considerations
A. Orientation
While a southern-facing roof is ideal for a solar array, you may be surprised to learn that
southeast, southwest, and even east and west roof orientations can also work.
East- or west-facing roofs may produce about 20% less electricity than south-facing roofs. In
some cases though, tilting the panels is the only solution to non-ideal roof orientation or pitch.
B. Roof
i. Age and weight load
Your present roofing material should have at least fifteen years of life remaining. This
ensures the investment of your PV system will not be compromised by a deteriorating roof.
Local building codes usually allow a maximum two layers of asphalt shingles on your roof.
Codes dictate this because the additional weight of a solar array may create structural
problems. Occasionally, older roofs may need to be strengthened by adding larger rafters.
We will work with a structural engineer to be certain that your roof can support the
proposed PV array.
Solar panels are designed and installed to withstand severe weather conditions including
hurricane-force winds and 50 mph hail storms. In addition to our own rigorous installation
standards, your system will be reviewed, inspected, and approved by your municipality,
utility company, and the CCEF.
5.54 kW array
in Wilton
ii. Square Footage
Below is a listing of the number of SunPower 225 watt solar panels and the square footage
needed. After approximating the square footage of your roof (length multiplied by width)
you can compare it to the chart below. Remember: pipe vents, skylights, and other
obstacles limit available space.
Number of
225 watt
Panels
12
14
18
21
24
27
Approx. Sq.
Footage of
Roof
156
182
234
273
312
351
Total
Wattage of
PV Array
2,700
3,150
4,050
4,725
5,400
6,075
Working on a 5.16 kW
solar array in Shelton
If there is not enough roof space, Sunlight Solar will
install a ground-mounted solar array.
iii. Angle
The sun’s daily path in the sky changes throughout the year. In the winter, the sun is low
to the horizon, while during the summer it is higher. During the spring and fall seasons, the
sun is somewhere in between. The above diagram depicts the sun’s arc traversing the
Connecticut sky during the winter and summer months.
PV systems on roofs steeper than 35 degrees will product more electricity in the winter,
while roofs with lower pitches or angles will work better in the summer, when the sun is
higher overhead.
White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield, 11.04 kW solar array
C. Shading
Shading has a significant impact on the efficiency of the solar panels and system. It is one of
the prime reasons one cannot install a PV system on some houses or properties. The site
should not be shaded more than 10-25% throughout the day (6am to 6pm), throughout the
year. Ideally, the array should have no shade between the hours of 9am and 3pm, the times of
greatest PV electricity production (“solar noon”).
Shading can be caused by soft sources (snow, leaves, bird droppings) or hard sources (objects
in the distance such as trees, dormers, chimneys). Shading problems from trees can be
handled by pruning, topping off, or cutting down trees and replacing them with shortergrowing trees and bushes; shading cause by chimneys and dormers are unavoidable
obstructions.
Take a close look at your home and see how much sunshine falls on your roof during the day.
Imagine what shade will be on your roof in the summer. What about in the winter, when the
sun is low over the horizon? Seasonal changes in foliage and sun angle are extremely
important.
Trees to the east and west of your roof should be more than twice as far from your house as
they are tall and trees to the south should be at least three times away as they are tall. If the
trees on or near your property meet these general criteria then you probably will not have to
worry about shade during the year.
During our site survey we will climb on your roof and take accurate measurements to identify
potential shading challenges.
D. Aesthetics
A 35-degree tilt of the roof is
the optimum overall angle for
PV panels in Connecticut,
although we will work with any
roof pitch. Typically we suggest
using the natural pitch of your
roof. Our standard installation
method is a high quality UniRac
SunFrame racking system. This
system “frames” out the panels
with no spaces between and
creates the most aesthetic
installation on the market.
1.68 kW solar array in Middletown
E. Tilt-mounts
While not our favorite type of installation for both
aesthetic and labor-time reasons, tilt mounts are
important when the roof is flat or facing east or
west.
We suggest keeping the panels at a 5-degree tilt
towards the south to maximize aesthetics.
However, tilting the panels 36 degrees to the south
will maximize the solar production and the CCEF
rebate.
East roof with southern tilt-mounted panels
F. Metal roofs
For customers with metal roofs we use
clips that attach to the standing seams;
the panel is then bolted onto the clips,
prohibiting any penetration to the roof.
4.6 kW solar array in Milford
G. Wiring
The wiring on your solar electric system is the conduit within which your solar electricity flows.
Sizing the wire properly is a requirement of the National Electric Code (NEC) and allows your
system to be most efficient. We oversize your wires, usually exceeding Code, so that your
solar panels maximize their efficiency.
Managing the wiring on an installation is
very important. All SSE installations will
have no wires touching the roof and all
“strings” of solar panels will be properly
fused with outdoor-rated warning labels.
Tilt Racks (back view) on west roof facing south
Look, Ma - no loose wires!!
H. PV System Components
All components can be installed inside your home except the AC Disconnect, which must be
installed within three feet of the exterior utility meter. This is a standard requirement of CL&P
and UI. All disconnects and components are labeled.
AC Disconnect
VI.
Inverter and DC Disconnect
PV Combiner Box
Other considerations
A. Maintenance
Our best maintenance suggestion is to visually inspect the panels and wiring at least once a
year. If anything looks amiss, just give us a call. It is also good to keep the panels and
equipment clean from dirt, dust, salt, pollen, and debris. You may hose the panels down with
water and, if possible, use a soft brush or squeegee to scrub off bird droppings, pollen, dirt,
etc. A mild non-abrasive detergent can be used to take care of persistent dirt.
A common question customers have is how long it takes for snow to melt off the panels. The
answer depends on a number of factors including the amount of snowfall, temperature, cloud
cover, shading, orientation, and tilt of the solar panels. Generally, if you have six inches of
snowfall overnight, snow on panels tilted 22 degrees will melt off by the early afternoon,
provided there is full sunshine. The greater the tilt on the panels, the faster the snow will melt
off. However, snow could remain on the panels for several days during heavy snowstorms and
cold overcast conditions.
B. Homeowner’s Associations and Historic Commissions
Some homes are located in communities where there are active and stringent Homeowner’s
Association regulations. Associations typically have the power to approve or deny solar panels
on a homeowner’s roof prior to obtaining any required permits.
Historic District Commissions also present challenges to solar installations as they have an eye
towards protecting the historic character of the buildings. However, most Historic
Commissions have allowed PV systems to be installed on homes.
You will want to contact your Homeowner’s Association or Historic Commission to get a sense
if your application will be considered for approval. Our staff will help support your application
and attend any necessary meetings. A number of our customers have received Historic
Commission and Homeowner’s Association approvals for solar panels on their homes.
C. Insurance
Solar PV systems are typically covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. However,
you may have to increase your coverage because of the replacement value of your solar array.
We recommend you check with your insurance agent regarding coverage. Both CL&P and UI
require a minimum of $300,000 in Personal Liability coverage in order to approve the
Interconnection Agreement. This is a utility requirement, not SSE’s.
D. Property taxes and Property values
Many homeowners ask whether installing solar panels on their home will increase their
property taxes. You will be happy to know that the General Statues of Connecticut address
this issue: any municipality may exempt, by ordinance, Class I Renewable Energy Facilities
[such as solar PV systems] for single-family houses or multi-family dwellings of two to four
units.
Call us today to
schedule your
site survey!
(203) 878-9123
6.3 kW
solar array in
East Windsor