Divorcing the Electric company
Smart Solar for Homeowners
2nd Edition
2nd Edition
Divorcing the Electric Company
Smart Solar for Homeowners - 2nd edition
Part 1 - Discovery
So you’d like to install solar panels on your home or business. Perhaps you’ve seen your neighbor put a system up on his roof or in his backyard, or you’ve been approached endlessly by solar door-knockers and telemarketers, or maybe you read an article about solar energy that piqued your interest and you’d like to learn more about its benefits before you pull the trigger. If so, this book is for you.
With nearly 7,500 commercial and residential solar systems under my belt, I’ve learned a thing or two about solar energy and everything that goes along with it, and I’m going to share much of what I’ve learned with you. In this book, I’ll discuss how to select the right equipment and contractor for your job, the ins and outs today’s solar finance models, the federal solar tax credit, long term care and feeding of solar systems, common pitfalls to avoid, and a host of other topics that will make you a solar salesperson’s worst nightmare – well hopefully not, but after reading this book, you’ll know more than 99% of the solar salespeople working at big box stores, relentlessly knocking on your door, or hammering your home telephone number night after night.
Armed with this knowledge, you’ll not only get the best deal, you’ll get the right deal – a custom tailored solar energy system that is financed correctly (for your needs), cash flow positive, and virtually maintenance free for decades to come. You’ll divorce The Electric Company and be free from their naggingly high and often enigmatic charges.
So, where to start? Well, there’s no better place than Discovery. After all, every divorce starts with Discovery. It’s the process of obtaining the information you need to defend your interests and get the best settlement once the divorce is finalized. When shopping for solar, the more time you spend in Discovery, the better off you’ll be as your divorce from The Electric Company shakes out.
First, you need to have an open and unobstructed roof or area (could be a field or hillside) that receives lots of direct sunlight. An area that faces the equator is best (this is south for those of us located in the Northern Hemisphere), though east and west roofs are ok if they are all you have available. North is a no-no!
Your roof should also be in good repair. This means that it will not need replacing anytime soon because once you install a solar system on it, a roof tear-off and replacement gets a lot more expensive. When in doubt, have a reputable local roofer conduct a thorough inspection and make any necessary repairs before you get any solar bids.
Additionally, some roofs require extra care when considering solar. These are: clay, slate, wood shake, lightweight concrete, and other brittle roofing materials. If you have a brittle roof, ask how the solar company intends to water seal it. There’s nothing like a leaky roof to rain on your solar parade.
Having a big electric bill is usually a qualifier for solar power. In my experience, solar begins to make economic sense when you pay The Electric Company a minimum of $150 per month. It also desirable that your ROI (return on investment) is less than eight years. Anything longer than that deserves additional scrutiny, and don’t take the solar salesman’s word for it. Do your own math.
Over the years, I’ve seen example after example of shady solar contractors ‘dressing up’ their customers’ (victims’) ROI. Some popular techniques include (but are not limited to):
Notice I asked ‘how’ NOT ‘how much’? See the difference? The sad reality is that most home owners can’t answer the first question at all and only make a guess at how much. The ‘how’ is far more important than the ‘how much’. Why? Understanding how you use electricity can guide you to discover myriad ways to become more energy efficient.
But why would you want to become more energy efficient? After all, aren’t you going solar so you can use as much electricity as you want without the hassle and pain of high bills? Hopefully not, because more efficient buildings use less electricity (and other fuel stocks) and therefore require fewer solar panels to ‘zero out’ their associated electric bills, and isn’t that ultimately your goal? – To save the most money for the least amount of out-of-pocket investment? I imagine that’s why you’ve chosen to read this book. It was certainly my intention in writing it.
I can cite example after example of cases where I saved my clients so much money with the energy efficiency techniques I taught them, they decided not to go solar. While I may have lost a few sales, I ultimately gained many strong references and made a big difference for many families struggling to save money who couldn’t afford solar at the time.
It is often said that knowledge is power. When it comes to solar, knowledge saves power, and saving power saves you money – lots of money! During the discovery phase of your divorce from The Electric Company, you’ll need to learn everything you can about how you use electricity and how to employ energy efficiency strategies to get your consumption under control.
Mastering the Discovery phase of your divorce could save you thousands of dollars and possibly tens of thousands of dollars on your solar system.
So you’d like to install solar panels on your home or business. Perhaps you’ve seen your neighbor put a system up on his roof or in his backyard, or you’ve been approached endlessly by solar door-knockers and telemarketers, or maybe you read an article about solar energy that piqued your interest and you’d like to learn more about its benefits before you pull the trigger. If so, this book is for you.
With nearly 7,500 commercial and residential solar systems under my belt, I’ve learned a thing or two about solar energy and everything that goes along with it, and I’m going to share much of what I’ve learned with you. In this book, I’ll discuss how to select the right equipment and contractor for your job, the ins and outs today’s solar finance models, the federal solar tax credit, long term care and feeding of solar systems, common pitfalls to avoid, and a host of other topics that will make you a solar salesperson’s worst nightmare – well hopefully not, but after reading this book, you’ll know more than 99% of the solar salespeople working at big box stores, relentlessly knocking on your door, or hammering your home telephone number night after night.
Armed with this knowledge, you’ll not only get the best deal, you’ll get the right deal – a custom tailored solar energy system that is financed correctly (for your needs), cash flow positive, and virtually maintenance free for decades to come. You’ll divorce The Electric Company and be free from their naggingly high and often enigmatic charges.
So, where to start? Well, there’s no better place than Discovery. After all, every divorce starts with Discovery. It’s the process of obtaining the information you need to defend your interests and get the best settlement once the divorce is finalized. When shopping for solar, the more time you spend in Discovery, the better off you’ll be as your divorce from The Electric Company shakes out.
First, you need to have an open and unobstructed roof or area (could be a field or hillside) that receives lots of direct sunlight. An area that faces the equator is best (this is south for those of us located in the Northern Hemisphere), though east and west roofs are ok if they are all you have available. North is a no-no!
Your roof should also be in good repair. This means that it will not need replacing anytime soon because once you install a solar system on it, a roof tear-off and replacement gets a lot more expensive. When in doubt, have a reputable local roofer conduct a thorough inspection and make any necessary repairs before you get any solar bids.
Additionally, some roofs require extra care when considering solar. These are: clay, slate, wood shake, lightweight concrete, and other brittle roofing materials. If you have a brittle roof, ask how the solar company intends to water seal it. There’s nothing like a leaky roof to rain on your solar parade.
Having a big electric bill is usually a qualifier for solar power. In my experience, solar begins to make economic sense when you pay The Electric Company a minimum of $150 per month. It also desirable that your ROI (return on investment) is less than eight years. Anything longer than that deserves additional scrutiny, and don’t take the solar salesman’s word for it. Do your own math.
Over the years, I’ve seen example after example of shady solar contractors ‘dressing up’ their customers’ (victims’) ROI. Some popular techniques include (but are not limited to):
- Underestimating or discounting the impact of shading from trees, chimneys, or other obstructions. Shade can have a dramatically negative effect on solar energy production. The more shade you have, the longer your ROI.
- Basing solar production on a south facing roof when in fact their client’s roof is east, west, or even north!
- Overestimating the annual increase in electricity costs from The Electric Company. A fair and conservative estimate in my experience is 4-6%. I’ve seen disingenuous salesmen use 30% or more. This particular scam makes your ROI appear fantastic when it is in fact, fantasy.
- Using all three of these deceptions at once on the same bid. If your ROI is unrealistically fast (like less than one year) and your savings absurdly high (like $10,000,000 for a 5KW system – yes, I’ve actually seen this), chances are the solar salesman is intentionally deceiving you.
Notice I asked ‘how’ NOT ‘how much’? See the difference? The sad reality is that most home owners can’t answer the first question at all and only make a guess at how much. The ‘how’ is far more important than the ‘how much’. Why? Understanding how you use electricity can guide you to discover myriad ways to become more energy efficient.
But why would you want to become more energy efficient? After all, aren’t you going solar so you can use as much electricity as you want without the hassle and pain of high bills? Hopefully not, because more efficient buildings use less electricity (and other fuel stocks) and therefore require fewer solar panels to ‘zero out’ their associated electric bills, and isn’t that ultimately your goal? – To save the most money for the least amount of out-of-pocket investment? I imagine that’s why you’ve chosen to read this book. It was certainly my intention in writing it.
I can cite example after example of cases where I saved my clients so much money with the energy efficiency techniques I taught them, they decided not to go solar. While I may have lost a few sales, I ultimately gained many strong references and made a big difference for many families struggling to save money who couldn’t afford solar at the time.
It is often said that knowledge is power. When it comes to solar, knowledge saves power, and saving power saves you money – lots of money! During the discovery phase of your divorce from The Electric Company, you’ll need to learn everything you can about how you use electricity and how to employ energy efficiency strategies to get your consumption under control.
Mastering the Discovery phase of your divorce could save you thousands of dollars and possibly tens of thousands of dollars on your solar system.
Part 2 - Filing for Divorce
Well the big day has come. You’ve had enough! Your marriage to The Electric Company has been a one way relationship for as long as you can remember. But what do you do? You can’t just divorce The Electric Company, can you?
Well, the short answer is yes, but…
Well the big day has come. You’ve had enough! Your marriage to The Electric Company has been a one way relationship for as long as you can remember. But what do you do? You can’t just divorce The Electric Company, can you?
Well, the short answer is yes, but…
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