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 only 1-2 days! 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.
Our exclusive SolarCare™ Plan ensures that your system will
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.
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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.
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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.
We will work with you to maximize the energy savings from
your new solar system while keeping to your budget.
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. Besides, you have the assurance of the Astralux
SolarCare™ Plan, which offers free cleanings and general
maintenance of your system.
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What in the Astralux SolarCare™
Plan?
The Astralux SolarCare™ Plan offers
the best and most comprehensive labor warranty, service, maintenance,
and monitoring program in the solar industry.
This plan also offers a production guarantee, which ensures
that your system will produce at the levels we specify or
we will pay you for the lost electricity. Contact
us for more details.
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.
The current Colorado solar rebates pay for 40-60% 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 might think!
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What incentives and rebates
are available from the state or government?
As stated before, current Colorado solar
rebates pay for 40-60% of the overall cost of the system.
Plus, residential customers receive a 30% Federal Tax Credit
and for commercial customers, the credit has been changed
into a grant - which is mailed to you 60 days after the installation.
Visit our Colorado
Solar Rebate page for more details.
Can I finance the cost of a Solar
Energy System?
Astralux Power Systems and Boulder Valley Credit Union offer
a streamlined, cost-effective way to finance your new solar
energy system. Ask about the Eco-Discount, which can reduce
your rate by a full percentage point.
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!
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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?
The Astralux SolarCare™ Plan offers 10, 15, and even
25 year labor warranties, the best such warranty in the industry.
This plan also includes cleanings, maintenance, service, and
a performance guarantee - which ensures the continued functionality
of your new solar energy system.
The solar
panels themselves 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!
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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 and the Astralux name 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 begin producing
clean, clean 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 (albeit at a discounted rate).
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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. The SolarCare™ Plan carries a standard
15-year labor warranty, the best in the industry. We can offer
this because of our dedication to accurate and well designed
solar energy systems.
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? Astralux works
closely with your HOA, and we have even given presentations
to HOA boards to ensure your new system will be approved.
We have NEVER had a solar system denied due to an HOA!
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.
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, or to utilize new
technology such as EnPhase Inverter Technology, which minimizes
the effects of shading on a solar energy system.
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