FAQs

It’s 106 degrees Fahrenheit outside and all of the sudden, the air conditioner and fans in your house begin to power down. What do you do?

What are the advantages of solar energy in comparison to fossil fuels? Cheaper? More environmentally friendly? More reliable? Does switching to solar energy save money? Is a solar power plant reliable in generating electricity? Does solar energy have a positive effect on the environment?

We provide the answers.

So, does solar energy make sense overall? Does it make more sense than fossil fuels? Does it make sense to switch to solar energy? We answer these questions with YES! How it looks like in the individual case financially and concerning the productivity – we will find out for you.

When the days get shorter and the sun shines less, the productivity, of course, decreases a bit, let’s not fool ourselves. But you don’t have to live in Florida or California to produce your own solar energy. First of all, the days with less sunshine are limited to a few months. In these few months, there is usually no continuous snow. And even on cloudy days, your system can produce energy. You also have to see it from the other side: if you live further north and therefore further away from the equator, the days in summer are all longer and therefore also the time in which the solar system can produce power.

The answer to this question is: yes!

If the solar panels are covered with snow, they do not produce. However, snow usually doesn’t stay on the panels for long. They shed the snow very well because they are designed to attract the heat of the sun, usually, they are laid out in the direction of the sun and mounted down. All this helps free the panels from snow more quickly. In addition, the sunlight can also shine through smaller amounts of snow, so even a thin layer of snow on the panel can generate energy. In general: Attention! Please do not remove the snow yourself. This can damage the panels and that would be a real shame.

The answer to this question is: as long as there is sunlight shining through the snow, the panels will produce energy.

The cold doesn’t bother the solar system. You have to know that solar energy is not produced by the heat of the sun, but by its light. Energy production is more efficient at colder temperatures, so the amount of electricity produced daily can be increased despite less sunlight during the day.

The answer to this question is: the productivity of the panels is not negatively affected by the cold.

Now it’s getting a little more scientific, but we’re trying to explain it in a simple way. Electrons move around atoms. If it’s cooler they don’t move. But they are activated by increasing sunlight because it means energy. The resulting difference in voltage makes a solar module produce more energy. In summer, however, when it is warmer, the total energy level of the electrons is higher. The energy difference is, therefore, smaller and less energy is produced. The amount of sunlight hitting a solar system is not affected by the outside temperature. However, the latter has an influence on how much energy is produced in the solar cells. So that means: If the solar radiation duration on day A and day B is the same, but the temperature is different, more energy is produced on the colder day.

Another fact: depending on a so-called peak temperature, the manufacturers of solar panels evaluate the output. This is the moment when the panels work most efficiently. If the temperature rises above this point, the system is less efficient and generates less energy. The probability that this point will be reached in winter is therefore much less likely.

If you own a holiday home or a seasonal home, you might ask yourself: Does it make sense to install a solar system there?

We say: Yes of course! Find out why.

Your solar system produces electricity. Whether on your main house, your summer or winter house, your barn, … And it does that no matter if you are around or not at home. The difference is that when you are home, you use electricity. When you’re not there, you don’t use it. The excess electricity is then fed back into the grid.

The net-metering takes place monthly. But you can have the electricity fed back into the grid credited to you. So if the solar system produces more electricity than you use in a month, this amount is carried over to a month in which you use more electricity than the system produced.

The homeowner’s usage pattern has no impact on cost efficiency, so homeowners who live in the house mainly during the cloudy winter months still save the same amount of energy on an annual basis as homeowners who live there during the summer months.

The great opportunity to be able to sell back additional electricity when it is not needed and buy additional electricity when it is needed makes photovoltaic economically more affordable. But don’t just think about it and stop speculating. We would be happy to look at your individual case, come by to get an idea of your options and then show you what they are! Make your seasonal home green with solar and save money.

Contact us!

Installing a solar system is an excellent investment that allows you to earn returns. Returns are the benefits that you receive from purchasing an investment. Returns are great ways to gain money or save costs when purchasing solar systems. They offer many superior characteristics for buyers that are listed in this article. These characteristics are beneficial for both homeowners and businesses.

Solar systems are designed to last more than 25 years. IGS has a 25-year warranty to ensure our solar panels have a long-life span. With a long lifespan, our panels are not only durable but also require minimal maintenance. During the duration of a solar system’s lifespan, you can generate returns in savings. Since solar panels significantly reduce electricity bills, the savings will outweigh the cost you would have to pay for your utilities.

Owning a solar system increases the value of your property. You can increase the value of your property through upgrades with the savings you have earned from your solar system but also from the solar system itself. Properties equipped with solar systems increase the value significantly more than properties without solar. According to Energy.gov, when you decide to sell your property, you can sell your property faster. Buyers are also willing to pay a premium of about $15,000 for your property. Solar systems make homes more energy-efficient, which in turn lowers your electricity bills. Buyers are also interested in energy-efficient homes because it reduces their environmental impact. You can learn more about increasing your property value.

Solar Renewable Energy Certificates, or SRECs, are an incentive for electricity generation from renewable energy sources. You may be able to sell your system’s SRECs, depending on your state. Your state or even your utility may have a market for you to sell your SRECs. Purchasing and installing solar panels can be expensive to pay for upfront. Many buyers tend to get a loan and pay for their solar systems over time. SRECs can help you break even on your solar investment faster and even generate additional income!

Electricity rates vary per state. The higher your electricity rates, the more money you can save when transitioning into solar. Installing a solar system allows you to become energy independent to avoid extra costs. Because electricity is constantly increasing, you will be able to save more with solar. The graph below shows what you would save with solar.

Some states offer a solar tax credit for installing a solar panel system. The federal government also provides buyers with solar credits, otherwise known as the federal investment tax credit (ITC). ITC allows buyers to deduct solar costs from taxes by allowing you to apply 26 percent of your solar system’s value as a tax credit to your income tax bill as of 2020. Additionally, tax rebates encourage solar installation. Homeowners and businesses can receive a cash rebate from their state, their utility company, or from organizations that promote solar energy. Companies can take advantage of the depreciation tax benefits using accelerated depreciation, which reduces businesses’ tax burden and increases solar return. You can learn more about financial incentives in our cost-benefit section: When is the Right Time For Me to Go Solar?

Solar systems provide you with the benefit of solar investment, otherwise known as return on investment. Businesses who transition to solar will experience increased sales from customers who are attracted to the company’s sustainable values.

Electricity costs for customers of New York State Electric & Gas Corp. could rise by up to 23.7% in the near future.

The increase is due to the company’s vegetation management program. According to NYSEG and RG&E President Carl Taylor, the company is investing heavily in its power infrastructure and vegetation management to increase the reliability of the system, especially in heavy storms. Both utilities will keep prices stable until May 2020 after an 11-month review by the PSC.

If the tariff request is approved as requested by the power company, NYSEG and RG&E will increase revenues by $200 million.

“NYSEG has 900,000 electric customers and 260,000 natural gas clients over a patchwork area of New York covering 20,000 square miles, about 40% of the upstate New York region. RG&E has 375,000 electric connections and 308,000 natural gas customers in a service territory covering 2,700 square miles in a nine-county region centered around Rochester,” says poughkeepsie journal article.