[This post is part of a series about our net-zero residential solar project – to see a list of links to the full Solar Project series, click here or to bring up a list of all green-themed posts, click here. Next Post in Series / Previous Post in Series.]
I have been getting enough questions from the blog readers and neighbors that it is time to do a frequently asked questions list. I have divided the common questions into four groups: practical questions, financial questions, technology questions, project questions and philosophical questions. Here is the master list of questions:
Practical Questions
- Q: What about the shingles on your roof? What if they wear out before the life span of the panels?
- Q: Will it work on cloudy days?
- Q: Will it work on snowy days?
- Q: Do they work just as well when it is really cold?
- Q: What about other extreme weather?
- Q: How long does it take?
- Q: What if I cannot fit it on my roof? Can I still do it?
- Q: How long will the system last?
- Q: What kind of maintenance is needed for a residential solar power system?
- Q: Do I need to apply for permits to install solar?
- Q: What if a squirrel or some other animal moves in under the panels?
Financial Questions
- Q: What does it cost?
- Q: What does it save?
- Q: What federal and state incentives are available?
- Q: Can I get savings without spending any money up front?
- Q: How quickly will you get your money back?
- Q: Would this system increase or decrease the value of your house if you sold it?
Technology Questions
- Q: What is net-metering?
- Q: Are these systems safe?
- Q: Do you get heat or hot water from these?
- Q: What is a kilowatt-hour (kWh)? How many does my house use?
- Q: Are these really good for the environment?
- Q: You are all set if you have a blackout and the power goes out, right?
- Q: Does it work at night?
- Q: Are these panels based on experimental new technology?
Project Questions
Philosophical Questions
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How much exactly is your project? Are you using the Sunpower AC micro-inverter panels? What is your system exact specifications? Could you give us your business analysis?
Jack: Thanks for your note. Who is “us” as in “Could you give us your business analysis?” I did not use micro inverters – SunPower does not yet have micro inverters powerful enough to work with the 240W panels (though they just bought a company and will have them on the market soon). Instead I have five strings of about 7-10 panels each. I thought I spelled out the business specifics pretty thoroughly in the various economic and financial posts listed here: http://scratchpaperblog.com/2011/10/the-solar-project-table-of-contents/. Let me know if you have other questions not adequately addressed in one of the posts. Thanks for reading!