Why should I buy a Solar Energy System
from Astralux?
Three reasons: Service, Experience, and Reliability.
We
don't just put a solar energy system on your house and
leave it at that. We want you to get the most out of your
new investment, and we therefore provide
several comprehensive
services (including the Astralux Total Energy Efficiency Solution
Report®) to optimize your new system and work with you on
every detail of the
system to deliver a customized product that meets all
your wants and
needs. Everything is turn-key, your system can be installed
while you work - with most installations lasting 1-2 days
tops!
Also, our installation team is the most experienced
in the state with over 100 systems installed in Colorado
and over 20 years on the job. They are truly craftsmen
(and women) with a keen eye for aesthetics - so that
you end up with a beautiful addition to your home. We
also work to get you the highest quality components for
the cheapest wholesale prices available,
saving you
even more.
Is my home or business a good place for
a Solar Energy System?
This
is a good question, and living in Colorado with solar-friendly
laws, rebates, and lots of sunlight
- the answer is usually yes.
With a free, no-obligation consultation from Astralux we can
quickly identify if your home or business is a good candidate
for solar.
Return to Top How big should my Solar Energy System
be?
This is going
to depend on how much electricity your home uses, the size
of your roof, and what percentage of
your energy
use you want to produce with solar. Solar energy system
sizes for residential homeowners usually range from
1-10kW while commercial system can be over 100kW.
Watts, Kilowatts (kW), Kilowatt Hours (kWh) - What the heck
are you talking about?
Yes, this can get very confusing. Please visit out Solar
Terminology page for more information and a breakdown of
these terms.
What features should I choose
for a Solar Energy System?
There are a variety of features available with
Astralux Solar Energy Systems. The most popular is a wireless
in-home monitoring
system,
which allows you to track the output of your system and
see how much electricity your system is producing at
any time. Talk to
one of our solar experts about additional features such
as this.
Return to Top How much will my system save me in energy costs?
Depending
on the size of the system you choose, you can completely eliminate
your electricity bill - which on average
in Colorado
is ~$60. With most larger households this can reach $100
- $150.
How much does using energy efficient
lighting and appliances really save me money?
Every dollar you spend on making your home more efficient saves
you approximately $3 in energy costs.
Is it hard to clean and maintain a Solar Energy System?
Not at all,
our solar energy systems require very little maintenance.
Manufacturers recommend periodic system checks
and cleaning as part of a preventive maintenance routine.
This includes
regularly clearing away any debris and cleaning the solar
panel surfaces exposed to the environment, which should
be performed
more often if the environment is particularly dirty. Usually
a garden hose does the trick!
Return to Top Why do you conduct an energy audit (The Astralux Energy Efficiency
Plan) before you install the system?
The reasoning behind
our Energy Efficiency Plan is two-fold, first we want to
save you as much money on your energy costs
as possible – and this plan details what can be done to decrease
your overall energy consumption level, and our customers
are usually surprised by the simple yet effective changes that
drastically
lower their energy use.
Second is that we want to maximize
the output of your solar energy system, and with a decreased
household energy load – your system will produce a higher percentage
of your electricity need, which can drastically decrease
the system’s
payback period.
Will my system work on cloudy days?
Yes, but
it will output less electricity than a clear, sunny day.
Panels can produce around half as much electricity
when cloudy
or overcast. If your system is tied to the grid (about 90%
of the system we do are), when it is cloudy or shady you
will pull any necessary electricity from the grid (a.k.a.
the utility company)
What does a typical Solar Energy System
cost?
This can vary
greatly depending on the site (roof condition, slope,
orientation to the sun etc.) and of course the size of
the system. As a general rule - the larger the system,
the lower the
cost per watt.
We have relationships with several
wholesalers so we can deliver the components you want
for a price well below retail.
The current Colorado solar
rebates pay for 50-70%
of the overall cost of the system, and we take care of
the rebate process, so you pay only for the post-rebate
cost of the system. This makes Solar Energy a lot more affordable
and a much more attractive investment than you may think!
Return to Top What incentives and rebates are available from the state
or government?
As stated before, current Colorado solar
rebates pay for 50-70% of the overall cost of the system.
Plus, residential customers receive a 30% Federal Tax Credit
(up to $2,000) and for commercial customers, the credit
is unlimited!
Visit our Colorado
Solar
Rebate page for more details.
Can I finance the cost of a Solar Energy
System?
Absolutely.
We have close relationships with local banks and lending companies
that offer very low interest loans
for solar energy systems. We will discuss all available
financing options
with you before you purchase and work with you to find
the best fit for you.
What is Net Metering?
Net metering simply means
that your Solar Energy System will literally turn your
meter backwards when you are supplying electricity to the
grid (a.k.a. utility company). This meter is standard with
all of our grid-connected Solar Energy Systems and allows
you to sell electricity back to the utility company!
Return to Top What about inspections and permits?
We take
care of all of it! We also work with you and your schedule for
anytime you need or want to be present
for any inspection.
Does your systems include a warranty, what about the
installation?
Each of our systems come with a 5 year
"Worry-Free" warranty on the installation and labor which guarantees than it
is fully functional and installed to your complete
satisfaction.
The solar panels typically include a 25 year
warranty, but can operate in upwards of 50 years!
How long does the Solar Energy System
work for?
There are
reports of systems made in the 1960’s still working
today and studies that estimate that a system built today
with modern components can last up to 50 years. Plus, with
no moving
parts and made of highly durable material, solar panels are
virtually indestructible – these things are built to last!
As of now, all of the solar panels we work with are guaranteed
to 25 years - therefore all of our financial and environmental
modeling of what your system will produce is based off of
that 25 years. It is very possible, however, that your system
could producing electricity for 30, 40, even 50 years!
Return to Top Are the manufacturers and vendors solid corporate citizens
or fly-by-night operators?
In the mid 1980’s a rather
widespread scam hit the solar water heating community – where
illegal “fly-by-night” solar
heating installers delivered bogus system to many homes,
leaving damage to the roof and often the plumbing system.
This was an isolated
event as the Solar Energy Community is rooted in reliability
and dependability. Our people have been involved in the Colorado
community
for many years and we personally take pride in our reputation
and standing in the solar energy industry.
But I’m too old to get my
money back out of it?
You
are never too old to reap the benefits of a solar energy
system! Putting a system on your home or business
immediately
increases the value of your property and you being producing
electricity immediately.
I want the ability to produce extra electricity and
sell it to the utility!
No problem, we can discuss
options to create a system large enough to cover all
of your electricity plus extra which
can be sold back to the utility - which they are forced by
law to purchase.
Return to Top Will the system perform reliably or will it break down
frequently?
Our systems are guaranteed reliable and functional. Our installation
team is stellar, and we have therefore are yet to have
any major problems whatsoever with a Solar Energy System not
performing to standard.
Remember, solar technology is very dependable
and durable. This mature technology delivers a virtually
unaffected uptime and
a continuous flow of
clean and efficient
electricity
to your home or business.
Will a large hail or windstorm damage my system?
Highly
unlikely. The mounting system which secures the solar panels
to the roof have been tested to withstand in
upwards
of 130 mph winds. The modules themselves can withstand
over one inch hailstones at 50 mph. In fact, there
have been cases
of huge hailstorms completely damaging a roof of a solar
home and the solar modules came out of it virtually
unscathed.
Are there codes or covenants that prohibit it?
Colorado
Solar Access Law for Homes (C.R.S. §38-30-168)
limits the effect of restrictive covenants on solar energy
system. Boulder country has many solar-friendly laws concerning
homeowner
rights. We will always check beforehand any codes or covenants
that may be a problem and will personally discuss options with
your covenant director or HOA. We have experienced very
little problem with this in Colorado.
Is shading a problem?
It can be a problem because in the wiring
design of a solar panel, all
of the individual solar cells on a panel are connected in
a series,
so that if any portion of the panel is shaded then entire
output of that panel is decreased. If shading is a problem
that cannot
be avoided (a tree that can’t be cut down or an adjacent
house that can’t be moved) then a simple option is to
add an additional panel to make up for the losses of a shaded
one. During our site assessment of your home, we will thoroughly
inspect any shading issues and present several solutions - we
haven't met a roof we couldn't put at least a little solar on!
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