Here are some basic qualifiers for solar — if you answer “yes” to just one or more of these questions, contact us for a free solar consultation! 

• Do you own your home?
• Do you pay high electric bills? More than $100 in the average month?
• Are your electric bills higher in the summer than in the winter?
• Is your house unshaded or only lightly shaded (by trees or other nearby structures)?
• Does your house have a large roof surface facing south, southeast, or southwest?
• Does your property have open, unshaded ground near the house (within 100 feet)?

Solar energy systems have high up-front costs, but once installed, the fuel (the sun) is free forever. This compares with conventional electric energy costs, which have been rising at around 3% per year, however, in 2023 we saw energy prices jump 30% for many Ohioans just in one year.

Plus, the Solar Tax Credit in 2023 allows you to deduct 30% of the cost of your solar system from your federal taxes.

Put simply: if you spend $25,000 on your solar system, you pay $7,500 less in taxes when you file. If the credit is larger than your tax liability in the first year, the remaining amount can be applied the next year. Generally, all expenses included in the quote you receive from your Solar Consultant can be included in the deduction. There is no cap on the value of the credit, and it is available to both residential and commercial customers.

Going solar is easy. First, schedule a consultation. We make a free analysis of your home to gauge sun exposure, shading, roof conditions, and existing electrical service. We look at a recent utility bill to see how much power you use, and when. We match your available space, electricity needs, and budget to find your solar sweet spot – the best system size for you, with the best payback. You want to make the cleanest power for the least money – and that is what we can do for you.

For safety purposes, grid-interactive solar systems are designed to immediately disconnect and shut off if a utility grid failure is sensed. The system will automatically restart a few minutes after grid power is restored. As a result, no power will be available from the solar panels during utility outages. This protects utility workers who may be out working on power lines.

Solar energy systems can provide around-the-clock, independent backup power during utility outages if they are connected to an appropriately-sized battery bank to absorb and store the energy they produce. Natural gas and propane generators are other options for backup power. We have installed solar panels and a generator on numerous jobs when secure power is an absolute must-have.

Solar panels last 30 years or more. The industry-standard panel warranty is 25 years. 

Solar panels degrade gradually over time with exposure to sunlight, wind, and weather. Panels are typically warranted 25–30 years and have a design lifespan of over 30 years. Energy production is expected to degrade by about one-half of one percent per year.

Inverters are warranted for 10–15 years and have an expected lifespan of 15–20 years. You may need to replace an inverter once in the system’s lifetime and we figure that cost into our financial predictions.

All other system components have service lives over 30 years.

Great question! Grid-tied solar electric systems automatically feed power into your house. Any excess electricity produced by the solar system and not used by your home is put onto the electric grid and spins your electric meter backward. Your utility credits you on your bill for the kWh produced!

Great question! Grid-tied solar electric systems automatically feed power into your house. Any excess electricity produced by the solar system and not used by your home is put onto the electric grid and spins your electric meter backward. Your utility credits you on your bill for the kWh produced!