HelioPower just posted this great blog post in three parts on the ugly side of solar. It’s really well written and gives some great information on buying solar. This is one of the reasons that One Block Off The Grid exists: to give you security and guidance during the process.

The Ugly Side Of Power (Part 1)
By Scott Gordon
Vice President Sales, Residential, HelioPower
Have you ever driven by a solar installation that was so ugly you wondered what the owners of the house were thinking when they decided to install their system?

Have you found stories on the internet about leaky roofs, fly-by-night solar companies or other tales of solar despair?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you’ve stumbled upon a little talked about topic in our happy industry: the ugly side of solar.

Most solar installers shy away from the topic of ugly solar for fear of scaring off their potential customers. After all, who wants to ruin their home’s curb appeal or wind up with a leaky roof? The reason for this article is to arm consumers with the knowledge they need to avoid falling into either type of botched installation.

First I’ll cover solar installations I would describe as “aesthetically challenged.” The above photo is an extreme example of just how ugly solar can get. As a person with nearly three years of solar sales and design experience, I can hardly wrap my brain around how the above installation was permitted in the first place. I can only imagine how the neighbors feel when they drive by this house. Unfortunately, I see ugly installs like this one far too often.

So, how do you avoid such a fate as you embark on your solar journey?

Asking your installer for a roof plan BEFORE signing a contract is a great first step. This will allow you to review and compare various plans from all bidders involved in order to see who’s come up with the best design for your roof.

For example, if you have a smallish roof, you may be limited to solar panels with high power density like those made by SunPower. Panels with high power densities often obviate the need for tilt kits on the roof. While you may not object to the ‘look’ of the tilt kits in the above photo, you need to consider the wind profile of the area in which you live. Mounting solar panels on your roof so they resemble sails is never a good idea because sails are what they will become during high wind conditions (like tornados, hurricanes, Santa Ana winds, etc). While there is little chance the panels will blow off your roof if properly attached, high gusty winds may loosen “sail mounted” panels over the course of several years resulting in roof leaks, deck rot, and other collateral damage.

If your best roof happens to be above your front door, you’ll want to get black framed panels, with a black backsheet, and back contacts (if you have the budget). The second photo shows a recent HelioPower installation using SunPower 225 panels.

First notice how the panels look more like skylights than panels. Notice how you don’t see any white diamonds or electrical contacts (black back sheet/back contact). Notice how the solar array is contiguous and well organized on the roof. Such a roof layout takes planning. I tried four configurations before I found one I liked enough to present to this customer. Think the folks in this neighborhood have a slightly different opinion about solar aesthetics than the previous example? You becha!!

What are some other ways you can be sure that your solar system will look as good as it performs? Again, make sure you get some roof plans.

Once you’ve reviewed those, ask if there are any systems in your area you can drive by (this is far better than a phone reference). Also ask to see photos of installed systems that will be similar to what the installer is proposing for your home. Ask to see the same panels on the same roof type. For example, if you’re interested in Evergreen panels for your Spanish tile roof, ask to see a photo of Evergreen panels on a Spanish tile roof. A reputable installer with enough installations under his belt should be able to easily provide you with these and may already have examples you can reference on their website. If you’ve heard of the high efficiency of the Canadian Solar panels, then ask for installation photos showing these modules. There are many options. At HelioPower we offer all these panel options and more!

If tilt kits are required for one brand of panel, ask if they would be required if you instead bought high efficiency SunPower modules. In solar, size matters, but in this case smaller is better. High efficiency and smaller panels go hand in hand, but be prepared to pay a little extra for the efficiency. It will be well worth it down the road when you have a sweet looking solar installation that doesn’t leak and is the envy of your neighborhood.

Finally, you may not have a good solar home. That’s right, I said it. Rare is the solar salesperson who will tell you that your home is not ideal for solar photovoltaics (electric), even if that is the case. You may not like it, but you need to listen. Remember, these folks are mostly commissioned salespeople; they want to sell you a system. That’s how they make their living. If one of the bidders declines to bid for this reason, put your feelings aside and consider strongly what he/she is telling you. Fact is that the top photo is of a house that should NOT have solar panels on it. It’s not a good solar house. Period. Of course, the salesman that sold the job would disagree as his/her creativity with tilt kits suggests. But facts are facts. Which system would you rather have on your largest investment – A or B? HelioPower Energy Consultants are trained to provide you with the second option or no option at all.

While aesthetically ugly solar will scare off its fair share of customers, often times it’s what you can’t see that matters most of all. In part two, I’ll get into the gory details of a truly botched solar installation. It’s the type that keeps most home owners up at night. Curious? Stay tuned…

Let’s pretend for a second that I don’t work for One Block Off the Grid and let’s pretend that I’ve never heard about the organization.  Now, let’s also pretend that I’m an average homeowner looking to go solar. So, where do I begin?  The first thing I do is a google search.  I might start with “solar installers San Francisco” (since that’s where I live.) Then, since those results aren’t that helpful, I google, “quality” or “best solar installer” or even “how to choose a solar installer.”

While I love google as much as anyone, I’m disappointed by my search results.  I end up with lists of solar companies in my area, installer websites, maybe an article or two about general installer selection, but the problem is that there’s no way to tell which installers are providing the best installations at the best price.  Nothing lets me know if the installer uses proper installation practices to pass building inspections or if they will charge me the “sucker price.”  The other problem is that a lot of the information is coming from the installers, who are the ones trying to sell you something.

So, that’s part of the beauty of 1BOG. We use an in depth, competitive process to figure out which installer is best for you. We start by issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solar installations companies in the area where we want to run a campaign.  The RFP requires the installer to provide information in the following categories:

• Executive Summary
• Company Background
• Product Information
• Installation Timeframe
• Sales Process and Integration with 1BOG
• Ability to Handle Large Orders
• System Monitoring
• Financing/Rebates
• Pricing
• Program Promotion

Our solar experts carefully review the proposals and narrow it down to a few top runners.  We evaluate the proposals based on all on the RFP criteria, but we’re especially interested in the price (we want to give our members a huge discount) and  the quality of the equipment.  Once we’ve reviewed everything we can on paper, we meet with the installers and take a look at installations that they’ve done.  We carefully evaluate the the installations to make sure that the company is using sound practices that will pass building codes and last a very long time.  After that, we negotiate with the top candidates for the absolute best price possible.  Once we’ve gotten a price locked in stone, we alert our members of the details of the program.

Without this RFP process, it’s hard to know what you’re getting. The bottom line is that we do a lot of work so that you don’t have to. We get detailed, direct information from the installers and decipher the pricing and all of the other complicated stuff.  That way, you don’t have to waste time googling, getting nowhere, and giving up. You can feel comfortable knowing that our selected installers have been fully vetted.

Hi, this is Matt coming at you live and direct from the call center at One Block Off the Grid headquarters. We speak with thousands of people who are interested in going solar. It doesn’t matter whether you are looking to save money or save the world, we want to help guide you through the process of going solar. We offer unbiased advice and information to help you make the correct choices in your pursuit of energy independence.

After you go to 1bog.org, fill out our webform and provide all the requested information, you are part of the 1 Block Off the Grid Community. Not only will you have helped your friends and neighbors get a great deal on a photovoltaic solar system, but you will have taken the first step towards owning a solar system yourself.

What happens next?

One of the prequalification team members is going to call you, welcome you to the program and determine if solar is the right choice for you and your family. Unfortunately, solar is not right for every home. There are a variety of factors that will determine if solar will be cost effective for your home and we want to help you make a well informed decision. Here are the three major factors that we evaluate when we call:

1. Roof shading can be a major hurdle for solar efficiency. A solar panel is made of many individual silicon cells that, working together, change solar radiation into electricity. If one of the individual cells is shaded, it affects the entire panel. The amount of electricity produced is only as effective as the weakest link. If you have large trees that cast a shadow on your house, you’ll need to trim them if you want your panels to produce the amount of electricity of which they are capable.

2. Solar panels work best facing directly south. While this is ideal, not all homes have this possibility. The next best is facing southwest. Unfortunately, the further off of due south a panel faces, the less efficient it is. If you do not have a suitable south or south-west facing roof section for solar installation, you may need additional panels to get the electricity you require. Another solution to this problem is using a ground mount system. Instead of using your roof, we can mount the system directly on the ground.

3. Do the advantages of solar meet your needs?  One of the most attractive pieces of the solar puzzle is that a typical system will pay for itself in 8-10 years, while those who rely solely on an electrical company face ever-increasing rates. The money you save in electric bills will offset the price of the system and after it is paid for, you essentially get free electricity. The only draw back is that a household that spends a lot on electricity will more quickly recoup the cost of the system, while one with a low bill (typically less than $50) won’t recoup the cost as quickly. For some, there is still the incentive to purchase a system out of a commitment to the environment and reducing carbon footprints.

If your house passes this three part test,you are interested in getting your home evaluated for a solar installation, and you’re in an area where we’re running a current campaign, we will be happy to have the selected installer in your area contact you to make an appointment.

At 1Bog, we are committed to helping people adopt solar energy and reduce their dirty power consumption. Please give the team in the Prequalification department a call if you have any questions. Even if you just want to chat, we are here to help and offer advice.

What are they made of?

Photovoltaic solar panels are used for most residential installations. These panels use silicon, a semiconductor, to generate energy. Silicon, also used in computers, is an expensive material responsible for about 60% of the overall cost of a solar electric system

How do they work?

Solar panels collect solar radiation from the sun and actively convert that energy to electricity. The solar panels are made up of several individual solar cells that function similarly to large semiconductors. When the solar cells are exposed to sunlight, they convert the energy from sunlight into usable electrical energy. The energy generated from photons striking the surface of the solar panel causes electrons to be released, and electric fields in the solar cells pull these free electrons in a directional current. Metal contacts in the solar cell harness the directional current (DC) to generate electricity. This conversion of sunlight to usable electrical energy has been dubbed the Photovoltaic Effect.

How do homes get the power from them?

An inverter turns the DC power generated by the sun and the Photovoltaic Effect into alternating current (AC) which is usable energy that powers your home.

Our name is One Block Off the Grid but we don’t work block by block and we don’t take homes off the grid.  It’s a more of a metaphor, so let me at least explain why we don’t take homes off the grid, what it means to have a grid-tied solar installation, and what are the benefits.

A grid-tied system is an electricity-generating system that is linked to the normal utility system of a household.  In other words, it’s simply an extension of your existing utility supply.  Being hooked into the grid allows for net metering which means:

If your solar panels are producing more electrical power than you’re using:

1. That solar-generated energy will be sent back into the  grid and can be used by neighbors others on the grid.

2. The utility company gives you credits for that extra energy: your electric meter will spin backwards, and your monthly electricity bill will be lowered. (We’ll talk about this a bit more when we cover net metering below.)

On the flip side, if you need more electricity than is being generated by your solar system (say at nightime):

1. Electricity will be drawn from the utility grid for you to use, just as it is traditionally done.

2. Your electricity meter runs forward.

Because of net metering, grid-tied system owners receive the full value of the electricity produced by their system.  It measures the net difference between the electricity you take from the utility grid and the electricity you feed to it with your own system.  Net metering is a consumer-based renewable energy incentive, and policies vary by state.

So if I have a battery backup system am I still tied to the grid?

Often, there’s confusion around grid-tied systems and battery backup systems; people wonder if they are still tied to the grid if batteries are included in their installation. Solar energy systems with battery backup systems are still tied to the grid.  The advantage of a battery backup system is that  power can remain available if the grid power goes out.  While this can be important in some places, batteries are an additional expense, only last 5-10 years, require maintenance, decrease system efficiency, and result in a more complicated system.  If power outages are a large concern, it is most often more economical and reliable to purchase a generator instead of a battery backup solar energy system.

A lot of people get excited about the idea of installing solar power on their home without any help using a solar kit they buy from the internet, but the vast majority of homeowners (at least in metropolitan areas) end up using a solar company to install the solar panels on their home in the end.  The rare few who do are often electricians with contracting licenses.  In fact, some of the solar companies host seminars for Do-it-yourselfers, as it’s win-win for them whether you decide to do it yourself or not.  Either they can sell you products at retail, or throughout the training (what happens the majority of the time), you decide to use their services instead of being a solar energy DIY’er.  Some of these reasons are:

• Most of money is tied up in the products. The solar panels, the inverter, the racking system, conduit, etc, make up over 75% of the cost of the turnkey system.   So what you can save by doing it yourself is a pretty small area, and your time is worth money too.
• You’d have to buy your products retail, at a higher rate than the installer, thinning the amount you can save even more.
• String configurations (the number of panels wired in series and then in parallel) are hard, and it takes an electrician to hook it up right and practically takes and electrical engineering degree to understand exactly what’s going on.  Hooking up the panels the wrong way can turn them into a load instead of a power provider, giving you a $50,000 power bill if you didn’t notice (you would after a few days).
• The big one: No warranty for your solar installation. Sure, you will have warranties from the inverter and panel manufacturers, but those are not nearly as solid as the solar company’s warranties. Also, once you’ve put holes in your roof, you’ve probably blown your roof warranty where the solar integrator would keep it intact, as well as cover the penetrations themselves.

It’s true that an installer might go out of business and your warranty can get left in the cold, so you’ll want to think about the company’s longevity when selecting a solar company. Please sign up at 1bog.org to purchase solar in a group for a discount. You’ll save about just as much money as if you did it yourself, with all the benefits of having it done by a reputable solar company.

Photocredit to banana2000

Have you ever bought a new car from a dealership? It sucks. Maybe you love negotiating, but most people who’ve been in the back room in a dealership need a martini afterwards, and they still never know if they got a good deal.

Buying solar energy can be even tougher because it’s so complicated.

Cars have things like torque, horsepower, mph; solid numbers that you can confidently compare from model to model. But if you’re not Will Hunting, accurately comparing solar quotes from different companies requires an immense amount of self education that many people aren’t willing to do.  

For starters, you’d need a fundamental understanding of the difference between a kW and a kWh. You also need to be able to distinguish AC and DC watts. As a result, many people get put off and just say they’ll wait till next year (read: “never”).

One particular example I remember involves a solar sales call back in the day. The homeowner had one quote for solar panels on the steep north side of their roof (the equivalent of lighting money on fire), one that was twice as expensive as the rest, and one that had an impossibly designed string configuration (technically, meaning the number of solar panels couldn’t actually be connected to the inverter that they had been quoted).

At the time, I did my best to explain all the details and spent a lot of time designing the right system that would have been a solid move for their situation, but they were toast. Their trust with the industry was shot and moving forward was not an option. Fughedaboutit.

Solar salespeople often face an invisible force of cynicism and skepticism.

Now what if a prospective customer knew that 200 other people were getting the exact same pricing, contracts, warranties, and installation company… and that all that info was available on the web and visible to everyone in the group?  

Wouldn’t they be more willing to listen to true value proposition of solar?

And there’s the magic of solar community purchasing.  Let’s say you find someone with a slam dunk solar situation… perfect roof, shading, high power bill.  Even if you can show them on paper that it’s a wiser investment than index funds, there can still be a hidden assumptions that will fight against the purchase for all 12 rounds of the process. Lots of my old customers thought the solar industry was trying to dupe them into thinking solar was a wise investment, even when the reality is:  it was a wise investment.

If we can all work together to flip that paradigm, we win.  Consider the knowledge we have about other topics: I heard a 14 year old the other day talking about how you can deduct mortgage interest as a reason for why the economics of buying a home are better than renting.  What if that same level of knowledge was ingrained in the general populace for renewables? 

One solution is group education. Our volunteer coordinator Kanyi has been setting up solar house parties in Los Angeles. Every time we conduct one of these events, dozens of people walk out with a general understanding of solar energy. Whether they choose to buy or not, anyone attending this kind of event can now talk to their friends about it. If we talk enough and the information spreads, perhaps we cause the tipping point in understanding.

Here’s another reason solar group purchasing is awesome: Not only does group purchasing lower the price, but it increases adoption. Participants bring in friends and family members who would have never thought about solar, because they more people that get on the wagon, the more everyone saves.

I sometimes hear people say, “solar doesn’t work here, it’s too cloudy,” or even, “it’s too cold.” Did you know that solar panels actually like the cold?  It makes them more efficient.  They also produce energy while overcast.

Others have heard that even the slightest amount of shading is a dealbreaker.   In that case, there are so many nuances to solar shading even the most educated consumer would probably need the tools of a pro to be sure what the impact was.

… So what Dave, what’s your point?

If you’ve thought about solar for your home, go ahead and get checked out.  It doesn’t cost anything, and it gives the pros a chance to dispell any myths or misconceptions, or provide creative solutions that you may not have known existed.

Sure it may just end up being a few minutes over the phone with a guy looking at satelite photos of your place, before you either realize it’s out of your budget or you realize that giant redwood is in fact, a dealbreaker… and you’re not cutting it down.

But who knows, maybe you didn’t know that leasing could be an option, or you’re surprised by how much energy it actually produces… either way, at least you’ll know.