Solar Electric - Photovoltaics (PV) Residential Solutions

Big Savings on Solar Electric (PV) - 30% Price Reduction in Past Year Alone

As a solar system owner, you may have considered solar electricity and been discouraged by high costs. Be aware that solar electric (PV) has seen a 30% drop in costs over the last year alone. Combined with the current incentives from the state and federal government, along with some counties, payback on these systems are as little as 4-5 years and, as with hot water systems, are designed to last 25-30 years.

Ever-increasing utility bills are on the minds of most Marylanders. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert free, clean and unlimited sunlight into electricity for your home or business. Not only does a PV System ensure a "fixed price" on your home's electricity costs for the next 25yrs, but “net metering” standards allow you to obtain credit for any extra energy that you produce.

Click on any of the photos for a larger shot of our Solar Photovoltaic (PV) installations - both residential and commercial.

Why is Solar Energy referred to as Distributed Energy?: "Distributed Energy" - as is the case with most residential and small commercial solar systems - has a multiplier benefit since essentially all of the energy generated is used locally -- therefore no "line losses" or other recurring transmission costs. Traditional electricity suffers from heat losses as a result of energy transmission - often up to 10% or more. Solar Energy has none of these recurring transmission costs - saving energy and mitigating the harmful effects of coal.
Should I Buy or Lease?: In the majority of cases, if you can afford to purchase the system outright, your return on investment will be much greater than if you lease it. However if you don't have the cash or financing to buy your system, leasing may be a good option for you. Read Our Article...
How Does a Solar Electric System Help the Environment?: The majority of our electric power in this area is from coal-fired plants; and coal is the single biggest air polluter in the world today. Coal fired operations contribute greatly to acid rain, surface water contamination, smog, global climate change and a variety of other concerns. Your solar electric system makes you a direct and vital part of The Solution to these every growing concerns.
How Does Sunlight Create Electricity?: In a nutshell, your solar electric panels are made up of silicon semiconductor cells. When light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. This absorbed energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely. This direct current (DC) energy is converted into alternating current (AC) by your Inverter; thereby powering your home's electric.
What Is An Inverter?: Your solar system creates a Direct Current (DC) which needs converting to an Alternating Current (AC) that powers the devices in your home. This is the job of the inverter; an essential part of your solar electric system.
What Is Net Metering?: Net metering, which is allowed in forty-four states including Maryland, VA, and DC, occurs when your solar electric panels are generating more energy than your home needs at any given moment. Excess energy is fed back in to the power grid, which means that you are sellign electricity to your utility company. These electricity sales are then used to offset your power bill.
Why can't we use Solar Electric to Heat Our Water?: You can. However, it is far cheaper for you to install solar water heating panels. Solar Electric (PV) panels are an entirely different technology from Solar Thermal (water heating) panels. Moreover, they are a much more expensive technology. Solar Thermals panels will provide more energy, at a lower cost and less roof space, than Solar PV. We are one of the few companies who install both systems for exactly this reason.
Where do you put the solar panels?: Ideally, the solar panels are most commonly attached to your South Facing roof; however other directions work also. You may opt to have them ground-mounted somewhere on your property - your choice, wherever the sun shine's best!
What if my roof needs replacing?: Ideally, any solar panel should be attached to a roof that will remain in good condition for the forseeable future. However, should repairs be necessary, Solar Energy Services, Inc. will remove and re-install your solar panels for a reasonable fee.
How long does the Installation last?: Length of installation depends on the size of your solar system and the pitch of your roof. The majority of our residential installs take less than a week, and your power supply will not be disturbed. Prior to the installation, time allotment needs to be made for permit requirements etc.; depending on the site and jurisdiction. Solar Energy Services, Inc. provides all the necessary components from design through system commissioning for a seamless installation.
How can I finance a PV System?: Solar Energy Services, Inc. offers Same as Cash financing to help bridge customer to the receipt of their incentives.
Will a PV System work on my house?: This is the first question our sales team answers in your site visit (or looking at your roof via Google Earth). The ideal house has an area with full sun - zero shade - for at least six hours during the middle of the day. A roof with Southern exposure provides optimum solar insolation levels, however other orientations can also work well. Ground-mounted systems may cost slightly more, but can be beneficial in that they can be positioned anywhere around the house with perfect orientation - more sunlight, more energy collection!
So will I be "off the grid" with a PV System?: Our most common residential system is Grid-Tied. This means that your system is directly linked, through your meter, to the power lines that normally provide you and your community with electricity. This ensures that you will i) always have a back-up for days when you use more electricity than available sunlight -- and ii) you can "store" any excess power produced by your PV system and receive credit by "net metering". Alternatively, you can choose to install a system with batteries that will provide backup power for your critical loads in the event of a power outage.
How much does a PV system cost? Will I get my money back?: When you buy a PV system, you essentially ensure that your "rates" for electricity will not increase for the next 20 - 25 years; the abundance of sunlight available to us here in Maryland is not governed by variables such as politics, warfare, nasdaq or other factors that generally increase the cost of energy. The Return on Investment (ROI) is typically 8 - 12%. Not only will you receive a low or Zero electric bill, but any extra energy will essentially "spin the meter backwards". Moreover, there are unprecedented financial incentives at the county, state, and federal level that provide excellent savings. See our FINANCIAL INCENTIVES page for the particulars.
How does a Solar Electric or "PV" system work?: A photovoltaic (PV) system converts the sun's light energy into electricity by producing direct current (DC) in the PV panels. The DC current may be stored in batteries, or sent to an inverter, which converts the DC current to alternating current (AC) for immediate use in the home or grid distribution.