| 1. | Will solar electric power work for our business? |
ANSWER:
If you have a south-facing (or nearly south-facing) roof that is free of shade from 9 AM to 3 PM, you have a desirable site. If your roof is oriented to the southeast or southwest, it may be a desirable site depending on roof angle and shading. |
| 2. | What are the benefits of using solar electric power? |
ANSWER:
Reduced Electric Bills/ Hedge Against Future Utility Increases—Minimize your electric bills and protect yourself against future utility rate increases.
Reduce Your Peak Demand—Peak electrical demand usually occurs during the business day when AC loads are at their maximum. For solar, this also happens to be the timeframe when its production is at it greatest thereby potentially reducing your most expensive utility power.
No Emissions—Electric utilities are one of the largest creators of carbon dioxide, one of the prime contributions to global warming.
Energy Independence—Solar electricity reduces your consumption of utility generated power and the foreign energy that may be generating it.
Energy Leadership—Your company’s investment in a solar electric system supports an industry that is developing an elegant solution to energy alternatives that have political, security and environmental consequences.   |
| 3. | Is solar a good investment? |
ANSWER:
Buying a solar system represents a one-time cost that will provide you with “free” electricity for 25 or more years. You will see immediate reductions to your company’s monthly utility bill. The actual payback and rate or return of your system will be determined by your electric rates, state incentives and federal tax benefits. There has never been a better time to purchase a solar electric system. Alteris Renewables will develop a detailed after-tax financial analysis as part of our proposal. |
| 4. | What percentage of our company’s power can a solar electric system contribute? |
ANSWER:
The answer to this question is totally dependent on the size of the array relative to level of electricity use of the company. Alteris Renewables will design an efficient system that maximizes the solar fraction of your company’s power needs. |
| 5. | How is the system mounted to a flat roof? |
ANSWER:
There are a variety of systems that Alteris Renewables uses to mount panels to a flat roof. Systems can either be non-penetrating meaning that they require no roof penetrations to secure or they can be tied into the support structure of the roof. Alteris Renewables will manage the appropriate structural and wind loading analysis to determine the optimal system for your facility. |
| 6. | Won’t solar panels need to be angled on a flat roof to capture the most sunlight? |
ANSWER:
The mounting system for a flat roof will angle the panels from 5 degrees to 35 degrees. Because wind resistance increases as the angle increases, an engineering analysis will determine the optimal angle versus the need for increased ballast or roof penetrations at higher angles. Alteris Renewables has extensive experience in this area and a full range of mounting options with which to engineer a solution. |
| 7. | What happens to my roof warranty? |
ANSWER:
Before any system is mounted to your roof, Alteris Renewables will work with your roofing provider to gain their approval of the proposed system and its method of installation. Alteris Renewables is familiar with this process and the importance of maintaining roof integrity. |
| 8. | How much electricity will a photovoltaic system produce? |
ANSWER:
A 200kW PV system located in the Northeast will produce approximately 226,000 kilowatt hours of AC electricity per year. With some of the highest electric rates in the country, this production, coupled with state and Federal incentives, provide solar electric projects with excellent rates of return. |
| 9. | What is the environmental benefit of installing a photovoltaic system? |
ANSWER:
Solar Frequently Asked Questions
provided by Alteris Renewables Inc.
Q: Will solar electric power work for our business?
Answer:
If you have a south-facing (or nearly south-facing) roof that is free of shade from 9 AM to 3 PM, you have a desirable site. If your roof is oriented to the southeast or southwest, it may be a desirable site depending on roof angle and shading.
Q: What are the benefits of using solar electric power?
Answer:
Reduced Electric Bills/ Hedge Against Future Utility Increases—Minimize your electric bills and protect yourself against future utility rate increases.
Reduce Your Peak Demand—Peak electrical demand usually occurs during the business day when AC loads are at their maximum. For solar, this also happens to be the timeframe when its production is at it greatest thereby potentially reducing your most expensive utility power.
No Emissions—Electric utilities are one of the largest creators of carbon dioxide, one of the prime contributions to global warming.
Energy Independence—Solar electricity reduces your consumption of utility generated power and the foreign energy that may be generating it.
Energy Leadership—Your company’s investment in a solar electric system supports an industry that is developing an elegant solution to energy alternatives that have political, security and environmental consequences.
Q: Is solar a good investment?
Answer:
Buying a solar system represents a one-time cost that will provide you with “free” electricity for 25 or more years. You will see immediate reductions to your company’s monthly utility bill. The actual payback and rate or return of your system will be determined by your electric rates, state incentives and federal tax benefits. There has never been a better time to purchase a solar electric system. Alteris Renewables will develop a detailed after-tax financial analysis as part of our proposal.
Q: What percentage of our company’s power can a solar electric system contribute?
Answer:
The answer to this question is totally dependent on the size of the array relative to level of electricity use of the company. Alteris Renewables will design an efficient system that maximizes the solar fraction of your company’s power needs.
Q: How is the system mounted to a flat roof?
Answer:
There are a variety of systems that Alteris Renewables uses to mount panels to a flat roof. Systems can either be non-penetrating meaning that they require no roof penetrations to secure or they can be tied into the support structure of the roof. Alteris Renewables will manage the appropriate structural and wind loading analysis to determine the optimal system for your facility.
Q: Won’t solar panels need to be angled on a flat roof to capture the most sunlight?
Answer:
The mounting system for a flat roof will angle the panels from 5 degrees to 35 degrees. Because wind resistance increases as the angle increases, an engineering analysis will determine the optimal angle versus the need for increased ballast or roof penetrations at higher angles. Alteris Renewables has extensive experience in this area and a full range of mounting options with which to engineer a solution.
Q: What happens to my roof warranty?
Answer:
Before any system is mounted to your roof, Alteris Renewables will work with your roofing provider to gain their approval of the proposed system and its method of installation. Alteris Renewables is familiar with this process and the importance of maintaining roof integrity.
Q: How much electricity will a photovoltaic system produce?
Answer:
A 200kW PV system located in the Northeast will produce approximately 226,000 kilowatt hours of AC electricity per year. With some of the highest electric rates in the country, this production, coupled with state and Federal incentives, provide solar electric projects with excellent rates of return.
Q: What is the environmental benefit of installing a photovoltaic system?
Answer:
A 200 kW of photovoltaic capacity will avoid the release of 3 million tons of carbon over a 25 year lifetime that would have occurred if had you purchased that power from your utility. This is the environmental equivalent of planting 28,000 trees. |
| 10. | Is there really enough sunshine in the Northeast? |
ANSWER:
Absolutely, there is plenty of sunshine; on average, we receive approximately 4.5 hours of direct sunlight a day. One factor that makes solar power make more sense here than in many other places in the US is that our power costs are significantly higher and state incentives are stronger. |
| 11. | Do the panels need to face south? |
ANSWER:
South is the best orientation and will produce the most electricity for you. East and West orientations are possible as well. Alteris Renewables will determine the energy output estimate for you based on 30 years of climate data. |
| 12. | What condition should my roof be in? |
ANSWER:
PV systems are designed for a 25+ year lifetime. You would want to have a relatively new underlying roof so that the system wouldn’t need to be removed for roof repairs at a future date. |
| 13. | Does this system require servicing? |
ANSWER:
Solar electric systems need a minimal amount of attention. Alteris Renewables typically includes an annual inspection of the array in its proposal. |
| 14. | What happens when snow covers the PV panels? |
ANSWER:
After the storm, when the sun comes out, the solar radiation penetrates the snow and heats up the collector melting the snow from the bottom up. The melting at the surface of the collector allows the snow to slide off. Also, since the panels are usually mounted on an angle, the snow is able to slide off fairly easily. |
