Frequently asked questions
1.) What happens at night?
This is perhaps the most frequently asked FAQ about solar energy! You will always have electricity. Your system will produce electricity during the day, which you will either use right away and your meter will stand still, or you will send excess power to the grid and your meter will spin backward. At night, you will burn off some of the credit you have accumulated with the utility company.
2.) How much will I save?
The average homeowner stands to save tens of thousands of dollars on their electric bill, with $0 upfront cost. Keep in mind that not every home will qualify for solar with $0 out of pocket. Your home must receive enough direct sunlight to be eligible for the incentives that make it possible for us to install a system on your roof with no upfront cost to you.
3.) Will I still get a bill from the utility?
It depends. Every home is different, so we will customize your solar energy system based on your electricity usage and roof capacity. Our goal is always to get you as close to 100% of your energy needs as possible. Any energy you get from solar is a benefit to you because it’s cheaper than the utility. Your solar representative and our engineers will discuss all of your options with you to help you achieve a system that meets your needs.
4.) What happens on cloudy days or during the winter?
Even on cloudy days, your system will produce electricity. When we calculate your annual production, we look at historical weather data, including the number of sunny and rainy days, average amount of snowfall, and all other weather conditions. There will be days when your system generates significantly more power than others, but it will average out over the year, to the offset percentage that we calculate at the beginning of the project.
5.) How do I know it’s working?
We set you up with a monitoring platform, which tracks the production of your system in real-time. You can rest easy, knowing that your system is actively monitored on our end. And you can also always check to see how much energy you are producing.
6.) What happens in a blackout?
If the power goes out, your system has an automatic safety feature to stop sending power to the grid. While the utility is working to restore power, your system remaining off will ensure that power will not be sent into the grid and potentially injure the workers in the area.
7.) What happens if I move?
If you move, the system is fully transferrable to the next homeowner. It will transfer over just like a water bill—the next person simply picks up where you left off. They get the same benefits of cheaper electricity, guaranteed production and hassle-free, no cost of maintenance. We have a dedicated team to assist you and the future homeowner with the process.
8.) How do I qualify?
As you would imagine, the primary qualifier is a roof that gets a lot of sunlight. If that sounds like your roof, chances are, your home is a good candidate for solar. Also, if you are paying $100 or more on an average per month for your electric bill, we can definitely help you lower that. Contact us to find out if your home qualifies!
9.) Will I notice any difference in my electricity bill?
No, your electricity will continue to work the same way it did before solar. Our systems are grid-tied, so in the event that you need more energy than your system is producing, you will still be connected to the utility and always have power. The only difference you will notice is a lower electric bill every month.
10.) What’s the catch?
There is no catch, but not every home will qualify for solar with $0 out of pocket. Your home must get enough direct sunlight to qualify for the incentives that make it possible for us to install a system on your roof with no upfront cost to you. Whether they know it or not, everyone in New York is already paying for solar! Utility companies in New York have been mandated to get more electricity from renewable resources, because of which they’ve added a charge to all our electric bills to fund renewable energy projects.