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"Photovoltaic" describes the solar technology utilized to generate electricity.
The abbreviation PV is common shorthand for solar electric systems.
When they are struck by energy from the sun’s rays, the panels’ photovoltaic technology
generates electrical voltage and current. This energy is measured in watts.
A watt is a unit of electrical energy, as determined by inventor James Watt in 1889.
Thus, a kilowatt (KW) is equal to 1,000 watts. The watt and kilowatt measure instantaneous
power. When you turn on a light switch, the power required by the bulb instantaneously
is the wattage. For example, you may have a 60-watt light bulb, so turning on the
light requires 60 watts. If you have a 1,000-watt (1 KW) space heater, its instantaneous
demand is 1 KW.
When a time component is added, the watt hour and the kilowatt hour come into play.
If your 60-watt light bulb remains on for 5 hours, it will consume 300 watt hours.
In the same way, your 1,000-watt (1 KW) space heater running for 5 hours will consume
5,000 watt hours or 5 KW hours of electrical energy.
The production of power by a PV solar system is measured in KW hours.
Our energy consumption also is measured and billed by utilities in KW hours. You
can assess your own monthly and annual use of KW hours by checking your electricity
bill, or by contacting your utility company for this information.
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First Step: Site Visit
To investigate a grid-tie PV solar system for your home or business, contact Buglet
Solar right away for a FREE, in-person site analysis and energy use inventory.
We will be pleased to make a complimentary visit to your location. During this visit,
we will:
- discuss your annual electricity consumption (You can gather this information by
checking 12-months’ worth of your electricity bills, or by contacting your utility
company.)
- check your solar access and the most ideal location for your solar system
- evaluate your roofing material and roof tilt
- determine whether you want to produce all or part of your own electricity
- analyze your appliances, energy use and opportunities for conservation
Shortly thereafter, we will provide you with a proposal and cost estimate, including:
- in-depth analysis of the best options for your system’s design and location
- color photos and graphs illustrating your annual solar access
- detailed breakdown of environmental benefits and pollution offsets
- estimates for appropriate rebates and other financial incentives
- description of proposed location of solar panels
- recommendations for energy conservation
- comparison of multiple options for your solar system, if applicable
Scheduling a site visit is a risk-free, no-obligation way to see if a PV solar system
is a good option for you.
Click here to set up a site visit!
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Our goal for you is several decades of clean, maintenance-free energy production.
We personally design and install all of our own systems. We guarantee our workmanship
for 10 years following installation. Most panels have a 25-year guarantee, and will
likely produce electricity for five decades.
Benefits of PV Solar Systems
- Protect yourself from increasing energy rates
- Maintenance-free, clean, safe and reliable energy
- Reduce carbon dioxide emissions, nitrogen oxide emissions, and water use by power
plants
- Increase value of your home or business
- Substantial rebates from Xcel Energy and other Colorado utilities
- Generous federal tax credit
- Technology advances increase efficiency and affordability
- Zero-out electricity bills through net metering
Buglet Solar is pleased to offer complete site analysis, system design, solar equipment
and installation expertise for installation of grid-tie and OFF-GRID solar systems.
What is the cost of an average system?
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grid-tie SOLAR SYSTEMS
Now is the time to take advantage of great financial incentives! Facing requirements
to add solar power to the utility grid, energy companies like Xcel Energy are offering
rebates that can cover half the cost of your grid-tie solar system.
When a PV solar system is installed on a home or business and connected to the electrical
utility company’s service at the same time, it is called a “grid-tie” system.
A system like this uses “net metering.” When the solar system is producing more
energy than you’re using—during the day—your electric meter spins backward, giving
you credit for generating your own electricity. When you start using energy in the
evening, your meter spins forward, drawing from the utility grid the energy that
you produced during the day.
Because the solar system produces some or all of your electrical power, you only
pay the utility company for the net energy that you use from the grid. Sized correctly,
your PV solar system can completely “zero out” your electricity bill!
There are no batteries used to support most grid-tie systems; the backup is effectively
provided by the utility grid. The solar system only operates when the grid is working
normally. (If desired, an optional battery backup can be installed for times when
the grid is down.) grid-tie systems require no maintenance and can be expected to
produce clean electrical energy for four or five decades.
grid-tie solar systems in Colorado currently qualify for a range of incentives from
utility companies including Xcel Energy, Aquila Energy, Colorado Springs Utilities,
Holy Cross Energy, Aspen’s Community Office for Resource Efficiency and La Plata
Electricity Association. These systems also qualify for a generous Federal tax credit.
What is the Cost of an Average System?
Learn more about financial incentives
OFF-GRID SOLAR SYSTEMS
When a solar system is installed on a home or business without being connected to
the utility grid, the system relies on batteries rather than the electrical grid.
The batteries in such a system provide power at night, when the sun is not shining
on the solar panels.
An off-grid system is ideal for a mountain cabin or any location distanced from
the utility grid, as the cost of bringing utility service to a new location runs
about $15,000 per half-mile. Off-grid solar is comparatively affordable, and it
doesn’t rely on fossil fuels.
To investigate an off-grid system, please call Buglet Solar or send an email message
about your specific needs. Because the design of each off-grid system is entirely
unique, this is the best way to get started.
Contact Buglet Solar now about a grid-tie or off-grid solar system!
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Home and business owners throughout Colorado currently qualify for a range of substantial
financial incentives from utility companies & cooperatives, local jurisdictions,
and the Governor's Energy Office. These incentives pertain to grid-tie solar systems.*
In addition, all residential and business solar systems qualify for a generous federal
tax credit equal to 30% of after-rebate cost. (See more information below, under
FEDERAL INCENTIVES)
Buglet Solar is pleased to manage all applications and paperwork on behalf of clients
in order to take full advantage of PV solar incentives.
Most of these incentives pay a percentage of the total purchase price of a solar
system, in many cases covering as much as half of the cost.
As a homeowner or
business owner, you pay half the cost, but accrue all of the energy savings and
property value increase!
Several Colorado utilities and governments currently are offering financial
incentives for residential and commercial PV solar installations.
Rebates
Xcel Energy has a tiered
rebate structure, which can be viewed on the Xcel Energy website: http://www.xcelenergy.com/Colorado/Residential/RenewableEnergy/Solar_Rewards/Pages/CurrentPricing.aspx
Other utility incentives
include:
- Black
Hills Energy $3.50 per watt
- Colorado
Springs Utilities $3.00 per watt
- Holy
Cross Energy $2.00 per watt
- La Plata
Electric Association $2.00 per watt
Low-Interest Loans
Boulder County has
pioneered the ClimateSmart loan program for its residents: http://www.beclimatesmart.org.
Eagle County, Gunnison
County and Pitkin County also are launching Energy Smart loan programs
following their November 2009 ballot approvals.
In addition, the
Governor’s Energy Office is partnering with a number of utility providers, to
provide grants or rebates to customers of the following companies and
cooperatives.
For details, please
contact Buglet Solar or visit http://www.dsireusa.org.
0% Interest Financing
Buglet Solar is pleased
to be one of the exclusive approved installers for the Partnership for
Sustainability (www.partnershipforsustainability.org), a Denver-based nonprofit
organization that provides zero-interest loans for PV solar installations.
The Cost of a PV Solar
System
The overall price of
each PV solar system varies according to the specific equipment required and
according to the complexity of the installation. These variables will be
reflected and explained in your bid from Buglet Solar.
PV systems are priced by
the watt of the potential energy production. The overall cost of a grid-tie
solar system generally falls in the $5.00-$6.00 per watt range.
For example, a
3-kilowatt (KW) solar system in ideal orientation on the Front Range is capable
of producing an annual monthly average of 365 KW hours of electricity.
Because 3 KW is equal to
3,000 watts, this system priced at $6.00 per watt would have an overall cost of
$18,000 before rebate and tax incentives. Xcel Energy’s current rebate of $3.00
per watt would reduce this cost by $9,000 to $9,000. The federal tax credit of
$2,700 further reduces this cost to $6,300.
*Off-grid systems
qualify only for the federal tax credit described below.
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SMART INVESTMENT
In addition to reducing power plant emissions and fighting climate change, installing
solar now will cut or eliminate your monthly electricity bill. Now is the time to
protect yourself from rate hikes, as petroleum-based energy becomes scarce and Americans
pay more and more for electricity.
According to Smart Money magazine (June 2007), “With energy costs at records
levels, and solar gear becoming cheaper and more efficient, the economics have never
looked brighter. The cost of installing solar panels has quietly fallen by half
over the past 15 years.”
Adding a PV solar system to your home or business also increases its resale value.
According to a study conducted by ICF Consulting and published in The Appraisal Journal
(October 1998), home buyers “can profit by investing in energy efficient
homes even if they do not know how long they might stay in their homes.”
The article sites “research findings that the selling price of homes increased by
$20.73 for every $1 decrease in annual fuel bills,” adding that homeowners “can
expect…to recover their investment in energy efficiency when they sell their homes.”
According to this estimate, a home valued at $250,000 with an average monthly electricity
bill of $75 will see an immediate appreciation of $18,657 with a PV solar system
that generates 100% of household electricity.
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FEDERAL INCENTIVES FOR SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEMS
For homeowners and business owners installing grid-tie OR off-grid solar systems,
and who otherwise qualify, there is a federal tax credit equal to 30% of total system
cost after any available rebates. If the full benefit of this tax credit cannot
be realized in the first year, it can be rolled forward to the following tax year.
For business owners, in addition to the tax credit, the Federal Modified Accelerated
Cost-Recovery System (MACRS) also allows accelerated depreciation deductions over
five years for PV Solar Systems.
The Federal tax code also offers a $1,000 to $2,000 corporate tax credit for builders
of energy efficient homes.
A Federal Energy Efficiency Mortgage (EEM) program for homeowners installing PV
solar systems on new or existing homes also is available to those who qualify.
For details on Federal incentives and financing programs, please
contact Buglet Solar or visit http://www.dsireusa.org.
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