Customer Frequently Asked Questions

Switching to solar energy is a forward-thinking choice that brings together multiple benefits. By harnessing the power of the sun, you're not only reducing your carbon footprint and contributing to a cleaner environment, but you're also embracing a sustainable future for generations to come. Solar energy offers a seamless transition with easy installation, lower energy bills, and a reliable source of power. Make the switch today and become a part of the movement towards a greener, healthier planet. 

Assessing the suitability of your home for solar energy is a crucial step. Generally, homes with a south-facing roof and minimal shading tend to be ideal candidates for solar installations. However, advancements in technology have made solar viable for a wide range of homes. A professional solar assessment can provide personalized insights into the solar potential of your home, ensuring you make an informed decision tailored to your unique circumstances.

Every household is different. When determining the number of solar panels your home needs, consider the following questions:

How much power do I need? Check your electric bills to see how many kilowatt hours (kWhs) you use throughout the year. What’s your climate like? The number of panels you need depends on how much sun reaches the ground where you are.

How much direct sun hits your roof? Shading, which direction your roof faces, and any aesthetic preferences you have can impact how big your system needs to be.

At SolarHive Warehouse, we have excellent solar design technology using the most up to date monocrystalline panels to help us create a customized system that maximizes energy production better and faster than if we did it by hand.

Absolutely! Transitioning to solar energy brings noticeable positive changes. You'll experience reduced energy bills as your reliance on traditional utilities decreases. Plus, your carbon footprint will shrink, contributing to a cleaner environment. With solar panels quietly generating power, your home's energy source will be more sustainable and resilient. While the transition is seamless, the impact on your wallet and the planet will be substantial.

Just like any upgrade, installing a home solar system can increase the value of your home and make it more appealing to potential buyers. A 2019 study showed that, on average, homes with solar panels sell for 4.1% more than homes without solar panels.

(Source: https://www.zillow.com/research/solar-panels-house-sell-more-23798/)

If you can afford to pay your electricity bill you can afford to go solar. $0-down solar financing options, including both solar loans and solar leases, make it easy for homeowners with good credit to start saving on their electricity bills by going solar.

Southerly-facing roofs with little to no shade and enough space to fit a solar panel system are ideal for installing solar. However, in many cases there are workarounds if your home doesn’t have the ideal solar roof.

Solar energy systems can last for 25 to 35 years, and it can be costly to remove and reinstall them if you need to replace your roof. If your roof needs maintenance in the near term, you should complete it before you finish your solar installation.

In general, solar panels are very durable and capable of withstanding snow, wind, and hail. The various components of your solar power system will need to be replaced at different times, but your system should continue to generate electricity for 25 to 35 years.

The amount of power your solar energy system can generate is dependent on sunlight. As a result, your solar panels will produce slightly less energy when the weather is cloudy, and no energy at night. However, because of high electricity costs and financial incentives, solar is a smart decision even if you live in a cloudy city.

Solar panels absorb the sun's energy throughout the day and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. Most homes and businesses run on alternating current (AC) electricity, so the DC electricity is then passed through an inverter to convert it to usable AC electricity. At that point, you either use the electricity in your house or send it back to the electric grid.

Solar panels convert sunshine into power, so if your panels are covered in snow they can’t produce electricity. Snow generally isn’t heavy enough to cause structural issues with your panels, and since most panels are tilted at an angle the snow will slide off. If snow does accumulate, your panels are easy to clean.

When you install solar panels on your property, you will still be connected to the grid. This allows you to draw from the grid when your system is not producing all of the power that you need, and send power back to the grid when you produce more than you use. It is possible to go off the grid with a solar energy system that includes battery storage, but it will cost significantly more and is unnecessary for the majority of homeowners.

A kWh, which stands for "kilowatt-hour," is a way to measure the amount of electricity you use. Imagine it like the amount of water flowing from a tap over time – a kWh measures how much electricity you're using over an hour. It's a common unit to understand how much energy your appliances and devices consume. So, when you see kWh on your energy bill, it's showing how much electricity you've used.

Solar panels are capable of producing electricity in all types of weather all year round. You will notice that performance will vary from day to day. On a cloudy day a solar system typically performs at 10% to 25% of its capacity.

When we design our systems and estimate their production, we take in to account the amount of sunlight that your specific region receives each year. This means that your system will be sized appropriately for the amount of sunny (or cloudy) days you receive each year.

Absolutely! Solar panels do work during the winter. While they might produce slightly less energy on cloudy or shorter days, they still generate power. Even in cold temperatures, sunlight contains energy that solar panels can capture and convert into electricity. So, your solar panels will continue to contribute to your energy needs during the winter months.

Solar panels generate electricity when they're exposed to sunlight, so they don't produce power at night when it's dark. However, there's an interesting aspect to this – during the daytime, if your solar panels produce more electricity than you're using, the excess energy can be stored in batteries or sent back to the grid. This stored energy can then be used to power your home at night when the panels aren't producing electricity. So, while solar panels don't work at night directly, their energy can still provide power after the sun sets.

Preparing for blackouts involves creating a plan to ensure you have essential resources and power backup in case of power outages. Here are some steps you can take:

Backup Power Source: Invest in a backup power solution, like a generator or solar battery storage system. These systems can provide electricity during blackouts and keep critical appliances running.

Emergency Kit: Create an emergency kit that includes essentials like flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, non-perishable food, and water.

Communication: Have a communication plan in place to stay connected with family and friends during blackouts. Consider having a battery-powered or solar-powered phone charger.

Home Lighting: Use battery-powered or solar-powered lights to illuminate your home during blackouts. This can help maintain a sense of normalcy and safety.

Food Storage: Have a plan for keeping perishable food safe during blackouts. Consider a cooler with ice packs or using non-perishable food items.

Medical Needs: If you or a family member relies on medical equipment, ensure you have backup power options or an alternate plan in place.

Entertainment: Have some activities or entertainment options that don't require electricity, like board games, books, or puzzles.

Stay Informed: Keep a battery-operated or hand-crank radio to stay informed about updates, weather forecasts, and safety information.

Regular Maintenance: Keep your backup power sources well-maintained and periodically test them to ensure they're functioning properly.

Community Resources: Identify community resources like shelters or assistance centers that might be available during extended blackouts.

By planning ahead and having the necessary resources, you can be better prepared to handle blackouts and ensure the safety and comfort of your family.

Net metering is a billing arrangement that allows solar energy system owners to receive credit for the excess electricity their solar panels generate and feed back into the grid. Here's how it works:

Energy Generation: When your solar panels generate more electricity than your home uses, the excess energy flows back into the electric grid.

Credit Accumulation: Instead of going to waste, this excess energy is credited to your account by your utility company. This is typically measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Credit Usage: During times when your solar panels aren't generating enough electricity (like at night or on cloudy days), you can use the credits you've accumulated to offset the energy you draw from the grid.

Billing: At the end of your billing cycle (often monthly), your utility company calculates the net difference between the energy you've generated and the energy you've consumed from the grid. If you've generated more than you've used, you'll receive a credit. If you've used more than you've generated, you'll be billed for the difference.

Net metering essentially allows you to "bank" your excess solar energy and use it when you need it most. It's a way to maximize the benefits of your solar panels and potentially reduce your overall energy costs. Keep in mind that the specifics of net metering can vary by location and utility company regulations.

Energy credits, also known as renewable energy credits (RECs) or green certificates, are a way to track and trade the environmental benefits of renewable energy generation. Here's what they are:

Environmental Impact: When renewable energy sources like solar, wind, or hydroelectric power generate electricity, they produce clean energy and reduce carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels.

Energy Credits: Energy credits represent the environmental attributes of a certain amount of renewable energy generated. For example, one megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable energy might correspond to one energy credit.

Verification and Tracking: Energy credits are tracked through a certification process to ensure their validity. They provide proof that a specific amount of clean energy was generated and added to the grid.

Support for Renewables: Purchasing energy credits allows individuals, businesses, and organizations to support renewable energy generation even if they don't have renewable energy systems themselves. It's a way to contribute to a cleaner environment and promote sustainable practices.

Usage and Compliance: Energy credits are often used by utilities, companies, and governments to meet renewable energy targets and goals. By purchasing and retiring energy credits, they can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.

Marketplace: There's a marketplace where energy credits can be bought and sold. Buyers can use these credits to offset their own carbon emissions and support renewable energy projects.

Energy credits play a role in incentivizing the growth of renewable energy and reducing the carbon footprint associated with electricity generation. They provide a mechanism to quantify and value the positive environmental impact of using cleaner energy sources.

What it is: Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic panels, are devices that convert sunlight into electricity using semiconductor materials.

How it works: When sunlight hits the solar panels, the semiconductor materials generate direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter then converts this DC electricity into alternating current (AC), which can power your home or business.

What it is: Solar batteries store excess energy generated by solar panels for use when the sun isn't shining.

How it works: Solar batteries capture and store surplus electricity produced by your solar panels during sunny periods. This stored energy can be used during the night or on cloudy days, reducing reliance on the grid.

What it is: Solar inverters convert the DC electricity generated by solar panels into AC electricity suitable for household use.

How it works: As solar panels produce DC electricity, solar inverters convert it into AC electricity that matches the grid's voltage. This enables you to power your appliances and feed excess energy back into the grid.

What it is: Solar water heaters use sunlight to heat water for residential or commercial use.

How it works: Solar collectors absorb sunlight and transfer the heat to a fluid, which then circulates through a heat exchanger to warm the water. This preheated water is then sent to your conventional water heater for final heating.

What it is: Solar backpacks integrate solar panels to charge devices while you're on the go.

How it works: Solar panels on the backpack collect sunlight as you walk. The stored energy can be used to charge devices like phones, tablets, or other gadgets.

A whole solar kit is a complete package that includes all the necessary components for a solar energy system. It typically consists of solar panels, an inverter, mounting hardware, wiring, and optionally, batteries. The kit simplifies the process of transitioning to solar power by providing everything needed in one package.

How It Works:

Solar Panels: These panels capture sunlight and convert it into electricity through photovoltaic cells.

Inverter: The inverter transforms the generated direct current (DC) electricity into the alternating current (AC) used in homes.

Mounting Hardware: The included hardware allows the panels to be securely mounted on rooftops or other suitable surfaces.

Wiring: Cables and connectors link the panels, inverter, and other components to form a functional system.

Optional Batteries: If batteries are included, they store excess energy for use during cloudy days or at night.