The Benefits of a Site Assessment

Solar Photovoltaic Electric Energy Systems

• Performing a Solar Site Assessment
  Helps determine how a solar photovoltaic system can fit your site, building, budget, and environmental goals. By conducting a site survey, the details of installing and using solar energy can be considered before you make a purchasing decision. This ensures that any system you consider will be optimal for your location and budget.
• Site Evaluation
  Entails a visit to your site with the primary task of determining the feasibility, installation requirements, and preliminary costs of installing a PV system. By determining this in advance, you can make the best decisions for the future. The site visit helps to determine how the physical installation and potential location and configuration for the PV modules and the rest of the system best fit your site. An assessment determines many things, among them:
  • Is there enough space for the physical location?
  • Is the location appropriate?
  • Will all the system components fit?
  • How will the installation meet the electrical code?
  • What are the utility requirements? What equipment do I purchase?
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation
  The natural "first thing to do" before installing a renewable energy system. Energy efficiency and conservation actions are the least expensive and easiest to implement because they can provide immediate returns. The size and, thus cost, of a PV system is directly related to the energy consumption of your dwelling. By implementing energy efficiency and conservation actions, you not only immediately save money by reducing your electric demand, but you ultimately save money on the size and complexity of the PV system. The more you know about how to increase efficiency and conservation, the easier it is to specify a cost-effective PV system.
• Product Evaluations
  Provide insight into which systems and manufacturers' products are best matches to your site and circumstances--you can make informed decisions when it comes to reviewing bids and proposals for your system. Assistance in selecting and sizing a system that meets your needs by being attentive to your budget is part of the assessment.
• Financial Review
  An important part of the decision-making process. Site assessments provide you with a review of financial options and--depending whether a basic or advanced assessment is chosen--various levels of financials such as payback, return on investment, and rate of return.
  
  A review of available incentives, typically utility rebates and state or federal tax credits, provides additional financial information. Rebates and incentives hold the opportunity to reduce the out of pocket costs of a system by as much as fifty percent-occasionally more. With this information, a better decision on a solar investment can be made.
• Environmental Appraisal
  Provides information on the environmental benefits of a solar electric system, such as reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2, greenhouse gas) emissions, the size of ones carbon "footprint" and other avoided pollution.
• A Report & Consultation
  Provided after completion of the tasks. You'll now have reference material to help guide your plans. Telephone and/or in person follow-up is provided for further questions.
• Bid Evaluations
  A separate service. A review of bids or proposals obtained by your chosen solar installers helps you determine which system and installer might prove best and most cost effective.