How much do you know about solar energy? You’ve probably heard things like it can help you save on your electric bill or eventually eliminate it completely. While these statements are TRUE, the positive environmental impacts of solar energy are very important and worth understanding, too. Top 4 Environmental Benefits of Going Solar No pollution. [...]
What Is Net Metering? If you’re new to the solar world, you may have heard the words "net metering" thrown around and wondered what this term means. Net Metering is a system in which solar panels (or other renewable energy generators) are installed at a home or business, and then connected to a public-utility power [...]
When you get your electricity bill, the chances are high that you look at the total cost first. Most likely, you stop at that and don’t bother examining the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) you’ve consumed. Maybe you don’t even know what those numbers mean and what’s the difference between a kW and a kWh. Well, [...]
Everybody knows that if you live in Colorado you’re going to endure a few hail storms each year. At ARE, the solar panels we provide are manufacturer-tested to ensure that they are capable of withstanding Colorado hail storms. In most cases, solar panels are tested and certified to withstand hail of up to 25 mm [...]
Solar panels don’t work when it’s cloudy - Solar panels will very rarely stop generating during cloudy weather and the reason is quite simple - clouds don’t completely block sunlight. The amount of solar energy generated during cloudy weather is reduced due to solar radiation being absorbed or reflected by the clouds. How much radiation [...]
Applying for the Solar Tax Credit doesn’t need to be hard! If you’re considering a new solar system, you’ve probably heard about the federal solar tax credit, also known as the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The Federal ITC makes solar more affordable for homeowners and businesses by granting a dollar-for-dollar tax reduction equal to 26% [...]
Congress has passed, and the President has signed, the new appropriation bill into law that also extended the 26% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) through the end of 2022. The Federal ITC has been in place since 2005 and has played a major role in the adoption of solar energy across the country. The credit has [...]
In early 2021 we will have a new administration in Washington DC that has pledged to be more involved in advancing renewable energy systems around the country. The question that I often get is how will this play out here in Colorado? While no one has a crystal ball, I believe it is very [...]
The federal earned income tax credit ITC has been in place since 2005 and has played a major roll in the adoption of solar energy across the country. The credit has allowed homeowners and commercial entities to deduct a significant portion of the cost of their solar system installation from their income taxes, which made [...]
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BID/CONTRACT 1. Is this bid an estimate or a fixed price? What is the process you will follow if you find unexpected problems with this installation and want to charge extra to fix the problems? 2. Does the bid include the total cost of the project, including components, materials and labor? 3. [...]
