Solar Equipment

A primer on the main components of a solar PV system

Net Metering

Bank your excess solar power with your utility

Financial Incentives

A look at solar tax incentives, energy savings, and increased property values

A solar system allows you to generate electricity on your roof and feed that energy into your home to power all of your electrical loads. There are three main components in a standard solar system:

solar modules
inverter(s)
mounting system

You can also choose to add batteries to your solar system if you want to store your solar energy to power your home at night or during a power outage, but you don’t need to add batteries if you just want to offset your electrical bill and save money!

SOLAR MODULES

All Standard and Premium Tier 1 solar modules are manufactured using precision robotic technology, ensuring accuracy, quality, and durability, and are certified by a national and international solar energy testing laboratory.

Black-framed modules are installed standard at no extra cost, with other options available.

Modules weigh 40-42 lbs (approx. 2.5 lbs/sq ft) and are designed to withstand dead loads (like snow) of up to 113 lbs/sq ft.

Economy Solar Modules

Industry standard wattage
25-Year > 85% Production Warranty
25-Year Manufacturer Warranty

Premium Solar Modules

15-20% higher wattage than industry standard
25-Year 92% Production Warranty
25-Year Manufacturer Warranty
25-Year Labor Reimbursement Warranty

INVERTERS & PANEL LEVEL OPTIMIZATION

The National Electric Code 2017 requires module level rapid shutdown for all roof-mounted solar. This can be achieved with a variety of solutions, some of which provide additional benefits.

Panel level optimization allows for each solar panel to be optimized individually, enabling every panel to perform at maximum potential. These systems see improved energy harvest and increased reliability. DC optimized systems and microinverter systems both offer these benefits and are compliant with the NEC requirements.

Unoptimized System + Fire Covers

The least expensive way to achieve module-level rapid shutdown and code compliance with a rooftop solar system and string inverter is to add fire covers to each module. When rapid shutdown is initiated, fire covers will instantly power down each solar panel. These do not provide optimization or module-level monitoring.

DC OPTIMIZERS – Buck Converters

When shading or cloudy situations occur, the panel with the lowest voltage will be “bucked” off the string so as not to reduce the voltage and impact the performance of the remaining modules. Buck optimization, such as Tigo, is less expensive but has limited applications on roofs with multiple orientations or heavier shading.

DC OPTIMIZERS – Buck-Boost Converters

During shady conditions, lowest performing modules are bucked off the string, but the voltage of the remaining modules is boosted to allow the inverter to continue operating optimally. Buck-boost optimization, such as SolarEdge, is more expensive but has a greater range of applications and typically will increase a system’s production beyond that of a simple buck converter system.

Microinverters

Each panel is connected to its own dedicated inverter, allowing it to operate completely independently from the rest of the array, so lower production from one panel has no impact on the production of the others. Microinverters, such as Enphase, are a good fit for smaller systems and sites with heavier intermittent shade or multiple roof faces, and also make it simple to expand your system in the future.

MOUNTING SYSTEM

Our roof mounting system features innovative flat edge design that enhances the aesthetics of an array. We provide all-black mounting hardware as a standard with all wires and conduit hidden in the attic when possible, for a clean install at no additional cost.

Our standard mounting systems are ideal for composite roofs and standing seam metal roofs, however we can install on other roof types as well.