All You Need Is A Roof

To have your very own clean, renewable energy system, all you really need is a roof. You can save money, help the environment and stop burning fossil fuels…and all this for NO MONEY DOWN. Yes, it’s true, the sun is shining on your savings account. There has never been a better time to Go Green With The Guru.

But before you decide to go solar, there are a few qualifying questions you need to answer yes to in order to make it worth your while.

Solar Qualification Questions

• Do You Own Your Home? If not you will need the home-owner’s permission to install a solar system. (Ask your landlord to contact us!)
• Do you have access to the roof? Some people own their home but not their roof, such as a condo. Many HOAs do allow solar, so call us to see if you qualify.
• Does your home have excessive shading? And/or do you or your neighbor have trees that can’t be cut down if shading is an issue?
• Is your average monthly bill over $100? If your bill is less than $100 solar might not save you a significant amount of money right away (but over time it will).

Solar energy systems work best for homeowners.

The higher the bill, the better the candidate. Things like a air conditioning, electric appliances, pool pump, Jacuzzi and electric vehicles and/or plug-in hybrids, tend to cause high energy bills. It’s not uncommon for a household to have a $400 monthly electricity bill for having any combination of the aforementioned. Don’t worry, if your bill is closer to $100, solar might still make financial sense, but you’ll need to call us, so we can run a detailed analysis to find out.

What is the process for going solar?

Your area has some of the most solar-friendly legislation in the United States. Essentially, Net Metering and high energy costs from your utility company is what makes solar work in one city from another. Some areas have no Net Metering laws, which means solar cannot be used to generate credits to be used at night. Other areas simply have such inexpensive electricity that homeowner’s electricity bills are already low. Luckily, where you live is perfect for both; we have favorable Net Metering rules and the utility company charges a lot for their electricity.

The process for going solar is relatively simple. A solar contractor, like SolarGuru Energy, starts by looking at your bill and roof to begin modeling the size and type of solar system you need. We ask a few additional questions about shading and if you will be adding and new loads in the future, like an electric car or pool. A few questions about your credit score and we are not only ready to show you the exact solar system you need, but a multitude of finance, lease, or cash purchase options. When you decide to move forward, solar customers can sign a contract as quickly as the same-day if they choose, and the actual solar panel installation takes just 2 or 3 days.

Thinking of DIY Solar? Here’s Some Things to Consider

Getting City Approval for Solar

After you’ve gone through the steps of having your solar installation designed, it’s time for approvals. If you’re a SolarGuru Energy customer, our staff takes care of the approval process so you don’t have to. Once you as the homeowner have approved your solar installation plans, we will submit said plans and the necessary permits to the Authority Having Jurisdiction or AHJ for short. Every city has different requirements for receiving approval for a solar panel installation. Some cities require complicated structural engineering reports, while some require a stamped letter of approval from your HOA before they begin the permitting process. Depending on where you live, this step can take two to three weeks.

Getting Utility Approval for Solar

The first step in getting permission to operate your solar power system is filling out a long Net Energy Metering application. During this process, utilities ask for a lot of detailed information, which is another reason going solar with us is helpful because, we know how to speak the utility’s language and how to answer all of their highly technical questions. We take care of this process so you don’t have to worry about the headache. After your solar panel installation has been inspected by the city and your utility and is approved, you will then be issued permission to operate from your utility and you can begin using your solar system to generate power for your home.

Solar Installation Options

Roof Mount

Solar Roof mounts are the more traditional mounting of solar panels, especially when it comes to installing solar panels in densely-populated areas where yard space can be pretty limited. The solar panels will be aligned south-facing as much as possible to capture maximum sunlight. When possible, the conduit will run through the attic to your electrical panel.

Ground Mount

Solar For homeowners with plenty of property but limited roof space or poor roof orientation, a ground-mounted solar energy system may be the best choice.
Our ground mounts are just like our roof mounts except of course they’re on the ground not on a roof! Systems are designed so that your solar panel installation is pitched perfectly to capture the maximum amount of sunlight. Trenching for the conduit running from the system’s inverter(s) to the electrical panel is typically required.