Key Terms 

Kilowatt (kW): Unit of electric power 

Kilowatt-hour (kWh): Energy unit. One unit is defined as the energy consumed by the power consumption of 1kW during 1-hour. 

Price of electricity: Cents per kilowatt-hour 

Utility Company: The organization which provides services to the general public, although it may be privately owned. Public utilities include electric, gas, telephone, water, and television cable systems. They are allowed certain monopoly rights due to the practice need to service entire geographic areas with one system, but they are regulated by the state, county, and/ or city public utility commissions under state law. 

PV: Photovoltaic cell is a specialized semiconductor that converts visible light into direct current. (DC) 

Inverter: The inverter device converts the DC electricity generated by the solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity. 

Array: Set of solar panels within a section 

Net Metering: It’s a billing mechanism that credits homeowners for the solar electricity they add to the grid. For example, when a homeowner produces more energy with their solar system, the excess power gets exported back into the grid and helps with neighboring customer loads. The homeowner receives energy credits for exported energy into the grid that counts against any energy consumed by the homeowner at night or other periods where the home’s electricity use exceeds the output of the system. Homeowners are only billed for their “net” energy use. 

Interconnection: This is the process in which a homeowner will need to apply in order for their solar system to get connected with their utility provider. The utility provider will get notified that you are looking into installing a PV Solar system and you are applying to get NET METERING for your excess production. Some utilities provide Solar-Buy Backs which homeowners agree to get a set price per kWh for their exported electricity. Please do your research for your customer's Utility company. As each utility has their own interconnection policies and requirements. 

ITC: Investment Tax Credit, it’s a Federal Tax incentive for homeowners that invest in renewable sources to reduce their carbon emissions. 

Annual Degradation: The Solar panels we use at Initiate Solar are considered Tier 1 panels. Meaning high production ratings and low production loss over the years. Solar Panels will lose about 0.05% of their production capabilities every year. In 30 years, consumers will lose 15% energy production. 

Solar Panel Efficiency: Two main factors have changed over time regarding photovoltaic technology, design, and efficiency. The solar panel design has become more sleek, modern, with a black-on-black finish, making the aesthetic appealing. The efficiency has gotten better over the years but it does not work like other technologies like our phones. Panel Efficiency 10 years ago peaked at around 15-16%, and today the average Tier 1 panel produces 19-21% efficiency 

PPA: A Solar Power Purchase Agreement where a third party owns, operates, and maintains the PV Solar System on their rooftop or property and purchases the power produced by the solar system for the length of the agreement. The homeowner only pays for the actual power produced by the solar system. 

Lease: Similar to PPA but with a different payment structure. With a lease, you pay the first year’s estimated production and divide the cost per kWh in 12 months. Usually comes with a production guarantee. 

Power Production Guarantee: The guaranteed amount of KWh the system is going to be produced throughout the lifetime of the agreement. 

Tax Incentive: A tax incentive is an aspect of a country’s tax code designed to incentivize, or encourage a particular economic activity.  

Rebate: A government incentive that all customers would receive regardless of tax appetite 

Shade Report: Analysis of what times of the day shadows are cast on the roof from trees or other structures that will determine the output of panels. 

PPW: Price Per Watt 

EPC: Engineering Procurement Construction 

Site Audit: The inspection of the home, site audit team checks, the main electrical panel, meter, attic, rooftop to take account for roof conditions or if there's any obstruction that was not seen on the Original proposal. The site audit team also conducts a shade study to take account of any trees or obstructions that may cause loss of production. 

Final Layout: Final CAD drawing for a solar project, if there are no changes to the agreement the project moves forward to permitting. If there are needed adders for the project to be doable for example, the home needs a Main panel upgrade, re-roof, upsizing, or downsizing the solar system a change order will be issued With the final scope of work for the homeowner To approve and proceed with a solar project. 

Micro-Inverter: A small device placed on the back of each individual solar panel that absorbs and converts DC electricity to AC electricity for the use of the home. (We use Enphase Micro-Inverters)  

String Inverter: A device that is connected to a string of solar panels that collects the DC electricity created by the solar panels into AC electricity needed for the home.  (We use Solaredge as our string inverter+optimizers ) 

Title or deed: the deed is an official written document declaring a person's legal ownership of a property, while a title refers to the concept of ownership rights. 

Land Survey: the land survey is a drawing that shows exactly where the boundaries of a property are. A survey will also layout the dimensions and location of any buildings or other site improvements on the property.

Roof Pitch: When building construction, roof pitch is the steepness of a roof quantified as a ratio or as the number of angular degrees that one 'exposure' surface deviates from horizontal level. A roof surface may be either 'functionally flat' or pitched. 

Azimuth: The solar azimuth angle is the azimuth angle of the Sun's position. This horizontal coordinate defines the Sun's relative direction along the local horizon, whereas the solar zenith angle defines the Sun's apparent altitude.

Photovoltaic (PV) cells: The building blocks of a solar panel, these cells convert sunlight into electricity.

Solar panel: A panel that converts sunlight into electricity, typically made up of PV cells.

Solar array: A group of solar panels that are connected together to generate electricity.

Solar inverter: A device that converts the direct current (DC) electricity generated by the solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is what is used in homes and businesses.

Solar system: A complete solar energy system, including the solar panels, inverter, and other equipment needed to generate and use solar electricity.

Solar energy: Energy produced by the sun, either directly through the use of solar panels or indirectly through the use of solar thermal collectors to heat water or air.

Net metering: A billing arrangement where excess electricity generated by a solar system is credited back to the customer's utility account.

Feed-in tariff: A payment made to a solar system owner for the excess electricity they generate and feed back into the grid.

Renewable energy: Energy produced from natural resources that are replenished naturally, such as sunlight, wind, and water.

Carbon footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, produced by an individual or organization. Solar energy can help reduce an individual's or organization's carbon footprint by replacing fossil fuel-based energy sources.

Solar module: Another term for a solar panel.

Solar cell: Another term for a PV cell.

Solar panel efficiency: The percentage of sunlight that a solar panel is able to convert into electricity.

Solar panel degradation: The gradual decrease in a solar panel's efficiency over time due to factors such as exposure to the elements, dust, and other environmental factors.

Solar panel warranty: A guarantee provided by the manufacturer of a solar panel that covers any defects in materials or workmanship.

Solar panel lifetime: The expected lifespan of a solar panel, which is typically 20-25 years.

Solar panel capacity: The maximum amount of electricity that a solar panel is able to generate, typically measured in watts.

Solar panel wattage: The amount of electricity that a solar panel is able to generate in a given amount of time, typically measured in watts per hour.

Solar panel system size: The total capacity of a solar panel system, typically measured in kilowatts (kW).

Solar panel system production: The amount of electricity that a solar panel system is able to generate in a given amount of time, typically measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Solar panel system cost: The total cost of a solar panel system, including the cost of the panels, inverter, and other equipment.

Solar panel system payback period: The amount of time it takes for a solar panel system to pay for itself through energy savings.

Solar panel system return on investment (ROI): The percentage of the initial investment in a solar panel system that is recouped through energy savings.

Solar panel system performance: The effectiveness of a solar panel system in generating electricity, typically measured in terms of the amount of electricity generated compared to the size of the system.

Solar panel system monitoring: The use of sensors and other technologies to track the performance of a solar panel system in real-time.

Solar panel mounting: The method used to attach solar panels to a roof or other structure.

Solar panel orientation: The direction that solar panels are facing, which can impact their ability to generate electricity.

Solar panel tilt: The angle at which solar panels are positioned, which can also impact their ability to generate electricity.

Solar panel racking: The framework used to support solar panels.

Solar panel tracking: A system that allows solar panels to follow the movement of the sun throughout the day to maximize their ability to generate electricity.

Solar panel shading: Any object or structure that blocks sunlight from reaching solar panels and reduces their ability to generate electricity.

Solar panel cleaning: The regular removal of dirt, dust, and other debris from solar panels to maintain their efficiency.

Solar panel washing: The use of water and a cleaning solution to remove dirt, dust, and other debris from solar panels.

Solar panel dusting: The use of a dry, soft cloth or brush to remove loose dirt and dust from solar panels.

Solar panel inspection: The regular examination of solar panels to identify and address any issues that may be impacting their performance.

Abbreviations 

• DTI-debt to income-with 650-699 credit  

• PPW-price per watt. 

• PV-photovoltaic.

• EPC-Engineering procurement and construction 

• HIC-Home installation contract/home improvement contract.

• ICA- Inter connection approval.

• BP-building permit.

• AHJ-the town-facility's authority having jurisdiction

•  REDLINE/BASE PRICE-The price you get as a lowest point.

• KW-kilowatt.

• KWH-kilowatt hour

• NEM-net energy metering. 

• iT/IC-interconnection. 

• COP-change order pending. 

• HOA-homeowner association. 

• PIPELINE - a source where products and services flow into a said business or company out to an eventual customer.

• UCC1-is a lien on the system which means if customers don't pay their system can get shut down.

• PTO -Permission to operate.

• SL- sunlight

• SRA- sunrun approval 

MPU- main panel upgrade