Eco Enterprise

Solar FAQ

Solar Frequently Asked Questions

Are there financial incentives for buying solar electricity?
There are many incentives for purchasing solar. These vary from state-to-state.

Some common incentives include:

• Clean electric generation
• Stable electric cost
• Backup power for utility outage
• Fight climate change / global warming
• Take care of my children's world
• Create secure electricity supply
• Political statement for a renewable energy future
• Strongly dislike buying electricity from the utility
• Feeling of empowerment
• Remote site with no electric service
• Sending electricity back to the utility (net metering) 
• Solar energy just makes sense
• Higher resale value for my property

Do the panels need to be mounted on my roof?
Panels are often mounted on the roof, but can also be mounted on the ground. Ground mounts are great if the house is shaded, or if dormers or other obstructions limit available space on the roof.

Do the panels need to face south?
South is best, but panels installed facing east or west still generate a very high percentage of possible power. It is usually more effective (and more attractive) to install the panels in the same plane as the roof direction, rather than build an awkward mount to angle them. Are the panels fragile?
No. While the panels are made of tempered glass, it is quite strong. They pass hail tests, and are regularly installed in Extreme enviornments

How much solar electric power do I need to power my home?
Each home is different, and the amount of electricity you use is very dependent upon your lifestyle, how your home was built, and your appliances. As part of our services,

Eco Builders will work with you to reduce your electrical consumption in easy ways.

How much power does the system produce?
Systems come in all sizes, and produce as much or as little power as required. Many systems produce a portion of the home's required power, leaving room for additional conservation or generation in the future.

How long will the system last?
The solar panels have a 25 year power warranty from the manufacturer. This is longer than almost anything else you can buy. The rest of the system has a 5 year warranty in most areas. Inverters can have warranties up to 10 years.

Do I need batteries with the system?
Batteries are only required if you want backup power when the utility is out of service. Without batteries, the system has no way to store power, and for safety reasons cannot produce power without the utility in operation.

What is Net Metering?
Net Metering is the regulatory ability to get credit for electricity you generate with solar energy and send backwards through your utility meter. Exact provisions vary with each state, but the effect is to allow you to generate excess power during the day, and use it at night, without needing batteries.

How does the power get stored?
In a Clean Power, non-battery system, power is not stored. It is either used immediately in the house, or sent backwards through the meter, creating a credit. If storage is needed, batteries and other equipment are added to the system.

What happens if the panels get covered by snow?
Solar electric panels need sunshine to generate power. While some sun does make it through several inches of snow, little electricity is generated when the panels are covered with anything. Most power is made during clear sunny days.

Do I need to install a new roof before the solar panels are installed?
Solar panels will last many years (over 25). Because of this, we want the roof to be in decent condition, as it does not make sense to remove and reinstall the panels after only a few years. However, after the panels are in place, they will greatly reduce the wear on the roof by blocking ultraviolet rays, and keeping most snow and ice off the roof. Most installations do not require a new roof prior to PV installation.

What happens if the panels are shaded?
PV panels should be installed in areas where they get significant shade-free sun every day. Even small amounts of shade can very significantly reduce the output. Our designs and installations also seek to minimize the impact of any shade issues through selection of the proper equipment and good engineering.

Do I need to clean the panels periodically?
Most of our customers do not clean their panels. In most areas of the country, there is sufficient rain to clean the panels. However, if you are in a dusty area (very near a busy dirt road, very urban area, etc.) you may see a performance gain from cleaning the panels monthly. If necessary, a hose stream is usually sufficient for cleaning. Do not walk on or over the panels to clean them. Do not use metal, hard, or abrasive methods for cleaning. Do not spray water on the panels when they are very hot.

Does solar work for commercial buildings?
We have installed solar on office buildings, retail buildings and schools. Anywhere electricity is used can use solar electricity.

If I sell my property, what effect does PV have on the sale price?
Energy conservation and renewable generation adds value to a home. Surveys have shown that for every $1,000.00 saved per year, $20,000.00 is added to a home's value. Solar energy can be one of the best home improvement investments you make.

How long does it take to install a PV system?
Typical residential systems take from 3 to 5 days to install. Systems mounted on the ground and systems with batteries are more complex, and may take longer. Most of this time is spent outside your house, so there is little disturbance to you. Commercial systems take several weeks to over a month to install, depending upon size and type of installation.

Energy that Does Not Cost the Earth

Whether you are interested in reducing domestic electricity bills, selling electricity back to the Grid or just generating green electricity to power your business or home, Eco Builders can work with you to find your sustainable energy solution

Sustainable "Green" Building

Building Sustainable

Sustainable building is a way to approach the design, construction and operation of your home that allows for the least negative impact to our environment while providing you with the healthiest living space possible. Some of the advantages of Sustainable building techniques include incorporating better efficiency for energy and water technologies, the use of renewable energy and the conservation of natural resources while decreasing the amount of land-fill destined waste.

Sustainable buildings are built for longevity, with lower maintenance requirements. They can improve long-term economic performance while improving resale value. The unseen benefits are calculated by the increase of productivity and decrease in illness reported by industries using more natural lighting and less toxic chemicals in their buildings. As a homeowner, this translates into better indoor air quality (IAQ) that will benefit your health and that of your children in the coming decades.

Conservation and sustainability are now standard practice for many industries, with the architecture and building community fast becoming among its leaders. Since these industries have such a tremendous impact on our environment, from the type and quantity of lumber used in building homes to the kinds of paint and finishes applied to the end product, they also carry a greater responsibility to adopt more green building tenets.

EcoBuilders strives to achieve this through many techniques. With the technologic advances of today and the constant upgrading of industry standards and practices, the ability to build sustainable is right at our fingertips, no more costly, and in many cases more cost effective than conventional building techniques.

If comparing the cost of a home with solar panels to one without, it seems on the surface that the house with panels is much more costly. But it must be taken into account that solar equipped home will immediately begin producing electricity, lowering, and in many cases eliminating your electricity bill. The return on investment on an average sized residential solar system is about seven or eight years. But if viewed over the twenty-five to thirty year life span of the solar panels, the cost savings can easily be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Conserve Natural Resources

In the past, building techniques have consumed almost 40% of the world’s total energy, 25% of its wood harvest and 16% of its water. EcoBuilders recognizes its role in conserving these resources and is always researching ways to be proactive in this area. One of the ways we participate in this arena is through the use of green building materials.

The use of bamboo flooring, the choice of EcoBuilders, is a clear example of why to choose this sustainable product. Durability, cost, installation and longevity are the same as other hardwood flooring. The great savings here weigh in on the side of the environment, as bamboo is rapidly renewable and there is no clear cutting of forests done in its harvesting.

Conservation with Design Criteria

• Shallow footprint which allows for cross ventilation in all major rooms.
• Operable windows to maximize breezes and decrease the need for air conditioning
• Glazing based on solar orientation
• Smaller homes which accentuate quality over quantity
• Design with glazing to outdoor spaces to make the house feel larger than it is
• Using stone flooring to act as thermal mass to help naturally heat

Wood vs. Steel

Is it more sustainable to build with wood or steel? While studies have shown that both materials have sustainable attributes, we have found more research pointing to wood as the more sustainable option for the following reasons: it uses 20% less energy during manufacturing, emits significantly less toxins into the air and water during the manufacturing process, it thermally outperforms steel by 22%, and it provides carbon sequestration which lessens global warming.                                                       

For specifics regarding the environmental and sustainable performance of wood and steel in residential construction, refer to a study prepared by the Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials, a non-profit corporation of 15 research universities. In this study it was proven that wood consistently outperformed steel and concrete in the areas of embodied energy, global warming potential, air emission index, water emission index, and solid waste.

Energy Efficiency

The second major focus of sustainable building is energy efficiency, which incorporates all aspects of your home, from using time proven techniques to construct your home to the type of glazing, insulation and even the kinds of appliances you choose. 

The energy efficiency of your home and the possibilities for generating your own power are key components in the reduction of energy consumption and the reduction of the impacts of global warming. It also offers financial benefits by reducing your utility costs immediately and far into the future.

EcoBuilders goal is to change the notion that when a person wants to heat or cool, it is not always turning on the heating or cooling systems but rather opening or closing windows or sunshades.

Energy Star Appliances
Advances in the efficiency of appliances have paved the way for a new breed of energy saving, cost cutting machines that are as beautiful to look at as they are easy on your monthly utility bill.
The Energy Star rating ensures that your appliances meet the strict energy consumption guidelines laid out by the EPA and the US Department of Energy.

Solar Power
Solar power works by converting sunlight into electricity through the use of photovoltaic (PV) modules comprised of silicon cells. This action takes place when sunlight hits the PV panels which are normally mounted on your roof, as close to a southerly orientation as possible. The direct current electricity (DC) produced is converted into alternating current (AC) through an inverter installed with your system. This electricity is the same as supplied to you by your local utility.

Grid Tied System
This refers to a PV system that is connected to your local utility grid. The system produces electricity for your home or business, supplementing or even eliminating your electricity bill. When you are producing more power that you are using, you can actually spin your meter backwards, storing electricity credit with your local utility that you can use at night or during inclement weather.

• While solar power does incur more front-end building cost, the average residential system can pay for itself in around seven or eight years. Once the system is paid for, all future electricity is produced for free. The average warranty for PV panels is twenty five years and over this time frame the savings can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. The combination of ever increasing energy rates and the inevitable drop in the price of solar costs make this an intelligent choice.
• The price of a PV system on your home will also add to its value. Typically, it will add its full retail cost to the appraised value of your home, even though you won’t be paying the retail price. Depending on state rebates and federal tax credits, a residential system can be substantially subsidized depending on where you live.

LEED Rating
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a market driven program developed for the advancement of sustainable building. It is the front runner for the design, construction and certification of sustainable buildings. Developed for the commercial market, LEED has recently implemented a residential program as well.

Indoor Air Quality

The third Element of Sustainable Building is Indoor Air Quality. (IAQ) With the combination of commuting, working and our home life, we spend close to 90% of our time indoors. Add to the mixture the introduction of literally thousands of new and toxic chemicals over the last fifty years and you have the makings for a deadly cocktail.

Up until 1940, 2/3 of all new homes used lead based paints. Between 1940-1960 that number was about 50%. It was not until research showed the dangers of lead poisoning that we considered the dangers of lead based paints. While the use of lead based paints has been all but eradicated, paints containing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) are still widely in use today. Some examples of organic compounds are octane, butane and sugar. When these compounds evaporate they are considered Volatile Organic Compounds and contribute to the production of smog and ozone. The use of low or no VOC paints, as promoted by EcoBuilders is one way to improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and champion a healthier home environment.

The use of glazing and sun shades also helps bestow better IAQ. By having operable windows and sliding doors, it is possible to heat and cool using passive techniques instead of flipping on the furnace or air conditioner. Using sun shades to keep out the summer sun can help cool without the energy drain of air conditioning. Keeping those same shades open in winter allows for passive solar heating and can reduce the need for heating, cutting energy costs and improving IAQ. Operable clerestory windows and sliding doors permits for easy cooling.

A shallow footprint used for homes allows for good cross ventilation, evacuating hot air off the ceiling and out the clerestory windows. Thus letting in more fresh air and advancing IAQ.  Combining fresh air with HEPA filtration minimizes outside air pollutants and dust buildup in the ducts. The mix of fresh air, humidity control and filtration helps to eliminate the conditions that promote mold and mildew growth.

All of these factors play an important role in why Ecobuilders can build a new home that meets the highest standards concerning Sustainable Building. We are committed to providing the best possible product, in the Sustainable Building framework, while meeting or exceeding conventional building practices