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Electrical Energy Evaluation & Solar Review

All projects begin with an Electrical Energy Evaluation. This service helps you to audit your electric usage and identify opportunities for reducing consumption and saving money. The evaluation reviews electrical equipment, all electrical lighting, ballasts in fixtures, automatic light switches, sensors, equipment load, electric utility usage and peak demand.  The Electrical Energy Evaluation is a required step prior to a solar panel installation. Upon completion, you receive:

• A written report that identifies each recommended and optional action to reduce consumption, as well as the projected associated savings with the new solar panel installation.

• PLUS a free solar panel installation evaluation and preliminary plan for your building/site. This includes an estimate on installation costs and projected energy output. Should you wish, the solar panel system can be scaled and designed to fit your budget.

Solar System Design & Panel Installation
Each installation includes the same basic components, but it must be custom-designed based upon your geographic location (valley, hilltop), rooftop orientation, and sunshine access due to neighboring structures or landscape components.

At Underwood Solar Future, we design and install a system that meets your site needs and your budget. We can work with you to identify a phased approach that allows you to expand your number of panels and power generation capacity as your budget permits.

Systems come in several options:
On-Grid System – This is the most common scenario. Your PV panels generate power that you sell back to the utility, thus reducing your own electric bill. In Pennsylvania, the Public Utilities are required by law to purchase any power that you generate in this manner through “net metering.” In this setup, your system cannot function unless it is tied to the public electric grid. This is a simpler and less costly approach. The trade-off is that when the utility experiences a power outage, you will too.  You will still, however, enjoy significantly reduced electricity costs and the satisfaction of knowing that you are reducing your carbon footprint and dependence on fossil fuels.

Off-the-Grid System - This scenario includes all of the components of an on-grid system, plus a large array of batteries.  Considerations include the need for additional maintenance, plus the space to house a dozen 300-lb. batteries for the average home. With this configuration, your electricity generation, storage and usage is completely separate from the public utility company service and not dependent upon it. You will have electric service as long as your PV panels are generating power and your battery array is functioning properly.

On-Grid with Back-up Battery - This mid-tier system functions just like an On-Grid system, with the addition of one or two batteries that store a portion of the electricity that you generate, providing you with a short-term back-up supply suitable for several hours.

QUESTIONS?
For questions about any of our services, please contact us via email at: questions@underwoodsolarfurture.com.