Most Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is solar energy?
Solar energy takes advantage of the sun’s rays to generate heat or
electricity. It is an infinitely renewable resource and unique for its
ability to generate energy in a quiet, clean, and consistent manner.
2. How do solar photovoltaic (PV) panels work?
Photovoltaic panels are comprised of many silicon semiconductor
cells. Added to the silicon are the elements phosphorous and boron,
which create conductivity within the cell and activate the movement
of electrons. The electrons move across the cell when activated by
the sunlight’s energy into the electrical circuit hooked up to the
solar panel. One cell produces very little power, but when strung
together in series, the cells work together to create substantially
more power.
3. How much does solar cost?
Every SunPeak project is custom designed and pricing varies
depending on project parameters. The cost of solar has dropped
significantly over the past 10 years, leading to grid parity in 2016,
meaning it costs the same or less than utility rates.
4. What’s the difference between solar photovoltaic and
solar hot water systems?
Solar photovoltaic systems use photovoltaic panels to produce
electricity. Solar hot water, or thermal, systems capture sunlight to
heat water. SunPeak does not offer solar thermal systems.
5. How much maintenance do solar panels require?
Solar photovoltaic panels don’t have any moving parts to wear out
or replace and require very little maintenance. Occasional rain is
enough to keep them free of dust and debris, so regular cleaning is
not required. It’s not a bad idea to perform a yearly inspection, but
it is probably unnecessary for proper performance.
6. Will the wind blow the panels off of the roof?
No, SunPeak works with local licensed structural engineers to
review and approve the roof structure and attachment methods to
ensure the solar system stays put in a high wind event.
7. Does it stand up to weather?
The system is designed to handle 30-40 psf of snow load, 90 mph of
wind gusts and 1′′ hail stones at 55 mph.
8. Is financing available for solar?
SunPeak has a variety of financing options available for our
customers, some even allow a business to go solar for no money
down. Since every business is different, we have financing to fit
every business’ needs.
9. Are there special insurance requirements for solar?
Standard business insurance policies usually cover the system with
no additional cost. It is still confirm with your insurance company
once the system is commissioned.
10. Is a building permit required to install a solar
energy system for my business?
A building permit is normally required, but it depends on your local
jurisdictional rules. SunPeak takes care of all permitting, paperwork
and inspections.
11. How long will it take to install solar at my business?
The typical installation (permits to commissioning) takes 12 weeks.
The physical construction portion of the installation varies by size,
complexity of the system design and local weather patterns, but
typically takes less than a week.
12. What is the lifespan of the system?
Solar electric systems are projected to last 30 years or more. Panels
carry a 25-year warranty and the inverters are warranted for 10
years.
13. What happens if I produce more electricity than I
am using?
Excess electricity will be fed into the utility grid and your meter will
spin backwards when you are producing more than you use. You
will receive a credit on your utility bill per your utility's net metering
agreement. SunPeak designs the system to not produce more
energy than you will use over the course of a year.
14. What is net metering?
Net metering is a billing mechanism that allows customers to only
be billed for "net" energy use. Solar energy system owners receive
credit for the electricity they produce and feed back to the grid if
they have a net metering agreement with their utility.
15. Do I need battery backup for my solar panels?
Net metering essentially stores energy for you in the grid in the
form of utility credits, so a battery backup is not required.
Additionally, storage adds significant cost and maintenance to the
system and really brings down the ROI. If you are concerned about
having power during an outage, a backup generator is more cost
efficient than maintaining a bank of batteries.
16. How many solar panels do I need for an electric
solar power system?
The size of the photovoltaic system is correlated to your business’s
energy-use needs, available space for a system, and overall costs
for the system components and installation. During the design
phase, our engineers will design the optimal system size, taking into
account the various factors to maximize cost benefits.
17. Do I need to have south facing exposure to have a
solar energy system?
Southern exposure increases the energy produced per panel, but
the delta wing (east/west orientation) maximizes solar density for
our commercial clients with flat roofs.
18. Is solar technology changing? Should I wait?
Like all technology, solar technology changes over time. Solar has
come a long way over the past decade and is now less expensive
and more efficient than ever. With the current financial incentives,
now is the best time to go solar.