BE THE JONESES
Your Guide to Building a Solar-Ready Home in Iowa
and becoming a Renewable Energy Champion!
If you’re in the
market to buy or
build a home, or
simply upgrade the
There’s tremendous
potential for solar
energy in Iowa. Federal
data ranks Iowa 16th in
the nation for
generating energy from
the sun.
home you’re in, you
aim to be astute
about it.
And everything you
read on the internet
or chat about with
your friends these
days seems to be
The State of Iowa offers
Iowans Tax Credits up
to 15% of the cost of
your project, on top of
Federal Tax Credits
which are 30% of total
project cost.
That’s 45%!
about building
Green!
You may be
wondering,
Iowa has already built
an entire economy
based on the power of
the sun... solar
electricity is just Iowa’s
Newest Farming
Industry!
How do we start?
WWW.IRENEW.ORG
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5 BENEFITS FOR ALL!
HOMEOWNERS
A Solar-Ready home enables you to save
money on the installation of a future Solar
Domestic Hot Water or Solar PV system now
while increasing your home’s value. When
the time comes to install, you’ll start saving
on your energy costs; think of it as additional
income you can save or spend on other
things you or your family needs.
BUILDERS
Jobs are created or extended when a
homeowner wants Solar. Solar-Ready is a
low-cost environmentally-conscious option
for new homes!
MANUFACTURERS AND
INSTALLERS
As more homeowners, builders, manufacturers,
installers, realtors, and public officials support
Solar-Ready homes, we can prepare to provide an
electric system that looks like the modern internet
Solar and Solar-Ready homes encourage
market penetration of solar energy systems.
UTILITIES
Expansion of Solar and Solar-Ready homes
provide protection during peak demand
season, when temperatures are at their
highest and demand for electricity is at its
peak. Extra charges you won’t have to pay
when your solar electric system is installed!
we’ve come to rely on. Like the internet,
our electric system should be:
DISTRIBUTED
SHARED
DECENTRALIZED
This means energy is safely generated
and distributed from you the producer;
small clean energy sources... not big
coal fired plants that pollute!
Shared renewable energy programs
allow multiple customers to share
costs and benefits of one renewable
energy system. Maybe community
solar is an option for your hometown!
This is energy that’s produced right
where it will be used, not sent across a
grid from far away. This reduces energy
losses (think of the game of
Telephone), and therefore added costs
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you currently pay.
WWW.IRENEW.ORG
HERE’S HOW TO GET SOLAR-READY!*
1.
PREPARATION PAYS
A small investment of a few hundred dollars
now can save on costs later. You’ll need to
start by assessing the following areas of
your home for solar-readiness........
*Steps 1-6 will get you on your way to
achieving your solar-ready home (Phase I).
Steps 7-9 will help you assess how much
energy your Solar Hot Domestic Hot Water
or Solar PV system will offset your current
usage and the investment costs, incentives,
and rebates for installation (Phase II).
Discover your project’s potential!
4.
CHECK YOUR PIPE CHASE
The optimum course/direction of conduit
from your collectors to your utility room will
be the most direct route. This reduces
installation costs. Ensure there is room for a
single chase or two chases (2-4”). The pipe
chase must also slope at >20° angle. If you
are building new, these are important
design considerations.
7.
CHECK YOUR UTILITY BILLS
Most Iowans use about 30 MMBtu (300
therms) of energy for domestic hot water
heating and 48 MMBtu (14,000) kWh for
household electricity. This amounts to
around $250 a year for hot water and
approximately $1,100 a year for lighting,
cooling, appliances and charging devices.
What is your usage and cost?
WWW.IRENEW.ORG
2.
CHECK YOUR ROOF
The optimum placement of solar collectors
will be on a southerly facing roof with open
space and year-round solar exposure. Also
assess that roof slope equals your latitude
(between 40-44° for Iowa); check the age/
condition of your roof, and that it conforms
to current building codes for loading. Solar
collectors/arrays add approximately 3-4
pounds per square foot, additional load. If
your home was built after 1970, you should
be set. If you are building new, these are
important design considerations.
5.
SELECT YOUR SOLAR PROFESSIONAL
When selecting a solar professional, ask for
a list of past clients/projects. Preferably
your installer will be NABCEP Certified.
To find a certified professional, visit
I-Renew’s Sourcebook for certified installers
in Iowa.
8.
CONTACT YOUR UTILITY COMPANY
Check out your utility company’s website or
give them a call to find out what billing
programs and incentives (rebates) they offer
customers who install residential Solar
Domestic Hot Water and or Solar PV
systems. These incentives and rebates,
along with Federal and State tax incentives
for Iowa property owners really add up to
offset the cost of your investment.
3.
CHECK YOUR UTILITY ROOM
The optimum configuration for placement of
your solar hot water tank (Solar Domestic
Hot Water) and controls (Solar PV) will be in
your utility room. Check to see if your
existing hot water heater is aligned with
where future solar collectors might best
reside ( on your roof) and if space permits
for additional equipment (floor, wall, etc.). If
you are building new, these are important
design considerations.
6.
SOLAR ASSESSMENT
Your selected solar professional will
conduct a solar site assessment at your
home or future building site. This important
step will verify your findings from steps 2-4
of this guide and inform design decisions
and specifications whether your goal is to
make your existing home or your new home
solar-ready.
9.
ESTIMATE YOUR COST SAVINGS
A Solar Hot Water System, depending on
system sizing, will offset your hot water
heating costs by 50% or more. Solar PV,
depending on system sizing, will offset your
electricity costs by 50%, or more. You can
obtain a free estimate of your savings to
your investment from the Iowa Solar Energy
Cooperative.
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HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR BUILDER - INSTALLER:
ROOF
1. Your builder/installer will conduct a solar site assessment to locate potential shading caused by existing structural or
natural elements (trees, etc.) throughout the year.
2. Your builder/installer will locate on the roof plans at least 12’ x 10’ of protrusion-free area (chimneys, roof vents, skylights,
gables, etc.) The roof plane will be designed to meet structural loads associated with the rooftop Solar PV or Solar
Thermal (Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW) collectors according to local building code. your builder/installer must notify
your truss designer/fabricator. Roof system must be truss-based (i.e. not rafter-based) and designed and fabricated
according to local building code for applicable loading (including snow-loads) and wind speeds.
3. Your builder/installer will ensure the designated roof area has east to west facing orientation, corresponding to 90° to 270°
from true north. The area must be located below the roof ridge, cannot extend beyond the roof edges, and must be above
the vertical wall line.
4. Your builder/installer will design roof pitch and corresponding angles above horizontal (0°) to maximize output efficiency
when the time comes to install your desired rooftop system, per code.
SOLAR PV
1. Your builder/installer will install and ID (Solar PV) one continuous conduit of at least 1” nominal diameter, constructed of
rigid or flexible metal conduit, rigid PVC conduit, liquid tight conduit, or electrical metallic tubing (per code). Conduit
should run from an accessible attic or roof location to designated wall space (utility room or otherwise) to connect to
PV electrical hardware.
SOLAR THERMAL
1. Your builder/installer will install and ID (Solar Domestic Hot Water) two 2-3” nominal diameter continuous conduit
constructed of rigid or flexible metal conduit, rigid PVC conduit, liquid tight conduit or electrical metallic tubing (per code).
This conduit must run from an accessible attic or roof location, within the home’s envelope, to a designated location in the
mechanical room of your home.
2. Your builder/installer will choose conduit materials considering the maximum temperatures and pressures per design
standards and specifications of a Solar Domestic Hot Water* system and per code (ASTM D1785, Schedules 40, 80 or
120). *Note: Where higher temperatures are required, your builder may need to install an evacuated tube SDHW.
WORKSPACE FOR FUTURE INSTALLATIONS
1. ATTIC: your builder/installer shall allow for ample workspace around terminations above attic insulation and between the
conduit and roof decking. All terminations should be properly sealed and capped around attic penetrations and capped to
maintain envelope tightness and fire ratings per code.
2. ROOF: in cases where the home has no attic (e.g. cathedral ceilings), your builder/installer will ensure all solar PV and
SDHW terminations are sealed and flashed around the roof penetration with a rubber or corrosion-resistant flange/boot
with gasket and capped to be air and water tight, per code.
3. MECHANICAL ROOM: Your builder/installer will seal conduits at the penetration point and cap and seal to maintain fire
ratings, per code. For both Solar PV and SDHW, vertical and horizontal workspace must be provided around termination
points and impeding elements. This ensures future installers will have ample access to conduit and snake wire through as
required, per code.
WWW.IRENEW.ORG
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MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING
1. STANDARD TANK-TYPE WATER HEATERS/INSTANTANEOUS WATER HEATERS/BOILERS WITH DOMESTIC WATER
HEATER HEATING LOOP: Your builder/installer will install two copper (ASTM certified) ‘tee’ connections connections on
your existing water heater’s cold water inlet; one copper or bronze ball valve (ASTM certified) will be installed on the pipe
between the ‘tees’ and left in the open position; two ‘closed’ copper or bronze ball valves (ASTM certified) will be
connected to both ‘tees’ via short length copper pipe. These ball valves will be capped off to prevent back-flow, per code.
2. SPACE: Your builder/installer will allocate space in the mechanical room for the installation of future installation of a Solar
Process Hot Water storage tank. Space should equal to approximately 36” x 36” x 72” and design load limits capable of
supporting a minimum weight of 1000 lbs. Your builder/installer must not impede pathways, exits or access to other
heating, cooling or ventilation equipment, per code and he/she must designate ample wall space for future installation of
SDHW controller, expansion tank, pump, inverter, controls and connection hardware.
3. OUTLET: You will need at least one 110 volt standard outlet within 6’ of your installed or future installation site, per code.
4. ALL BUILDING, ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING: your builder/installer will ensure all work is compliant with the most
current versions of all state and national electrical, plumbing and building codes.
MOST IMPORTANTLY...... HERE’S WHY YOUR SOLAR - READY PROJECT MATTERS:
• SOLAR PERMITTING: As with any building project, your builder/installer will need to obtain a construction permit to get
solar-ready. You will need a solar permit when the time comes to install your solar equipment. Nearly all communities in
Iowa need to improve their city’s solar permitting process by streamlining their solar permitting practices in ways that make
it easier for homeowners and business owners who want to play a role in their community’s ability to increase Iowa’s solar
renewable energy supply/resources. Solar energy benefits all residents by reducing harmful emissions and delivering
reliable on-site peak electricity when our grid is most in need. Your Solar-Ready project serves to send an important
message to city officials that the demand for solar energy is alive. Streamlined permitting practices also reduces project
‘soft’ costs for everyone. To see how your city measures against other cities in terms of solar permitting, click here . To let
your city officials know how to improve your city’s solar permitting process, please click here.
• ELECTED OFFICIALS: Iowa needs elected officials who understand the roadblocks and issues we as property owners
face, and who work for us to pass strong legislation in support of renewable energy. 86% of Iowans support tax legislation
that supports the growth of the renewable energy sector, yet most of our elected officials are in the dark. We need to have
more conversations with candidates seeking public office to know where they stand on our issues. Talk to candidates and/
or your elected officials to let them know these issues matter to you.
• JOB CREATION: Iowa ranked 46th in the nation for job creation in 2013. If we are 16th in the nation for solar potential we
should be at least 16th in the nation for job creation! Installed solar energy generates more jobs per Megawatt (MW) than
any other energy technology. The renewable energy sector creates jobs that Iowa needs from solar-ready construction to
turn-key design and installation; Iowa Realtors are gaining the education they need to appraise your existing or new solar
properties accordingly for the green real estate market; even the utilities have to create jobs when Iowan’s want to install
solar!
• SPREAD THE WORD: Your project spreads the word about solar. You will become a neighborhood and community
champion for renewable energy, leading others on the same path. Drop us a line and tell us about your project!
WWW.IRENEW.ORG
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SOLAR READY
CHECKLIST
Iowa Renewable Energy
Association has put together
PROJECT/OWNER
ADDRESS:
CITY, STATE, ZIP
PHONE:
CELL:
WORK:
this handy checklist for you,
the owner, to present to your
EMAIL ADDRESS:
builder/solar professional
installer to complete and return
to you at project completion to
SOLAR READY CHECKLIST ITEM
COMPLETED
ITEM/
SPECIFICATION
SIGNATURE
AND DATE
ensure each of the following
requirements are met and
notated by your builder/
selected solar professional
installer for the documentation
Roof Orientation and Mounting
Angle
Roof space unobstructed and
plane is marked on plans and
communicated to truss designer
of the Solar-Ready work
completed now for future
Truss-based roof designed to code
reference when the time is
Solar PV conduit size/specified on
plans and installed
right to install solar domestic
hot water heating or solar PV
equipment. This completed
form should be submitted to
you with all plans and
construction material
submittals and each should be
safely kept with other
important home Operations
and Maintenance manuals,
instructions, etc.
Note to Builder/Installer: By
providing your signature and
date to each checklist item you
hereby confirm this Solar
SDHW conduit is completely
installed within the home envelope
SDHW conduit number and size
specified on plans and installed
SDWH pipe runs
Mechanical room workspace
requirements are met and ends
capped (terminations).
Attic termination workspace
requirements are met and ends
capped and sealed.
Roof termination requirements are
met, conduits are capped and
sealed.
Ready Installation conforms to
accepted building code and
SDHW Electrical Outlet
technical specifications, as
SDHW and Solar PV Wall Space
notated.
SDHW floor meets space/load
specifications
Specific Code (compliance)
Permanent ID (on all solar ready
components for future installed
systems)
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