Every business owner has basic questions about why they should invest in commercial solar energy. Here are some of the most common commercial solar faqs.
The word photovoltaic comes from the Greek words: photo,’phos,’ meaning light, and ‘volt’, which refers to electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) means light-electricity, which perfectly describes the process where you can convert light into electricity with solar photovoltaic cells.
Solar cells are made of materials that can take energy from the sun in the form of photons and convert the photons into electricity. In other words, converting photons into electrons. When the sun shines onto a solar cell, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV that is inside the panel. This energy then creates electrical charges that move, causing electricity to flow through the solar panels.
If your business invests in commercial solar then it is likely to experience reduced operating costs, strong return on investment, tax credits, customer appeal, and reliable long-term access to energy. A study by the Solar Energy Industries Association found that the average commercial solar system saves businesses 50% on their electricity bills, with some reporting as much as 80-90% reductions. With an average property value increase of 10%, the choice of investing in solar starts to become more appealing.
Check out our blog post: “How does solar benefit commercial buildings?” to learn more about why your business should invest in solar energy!
Switching to commercial solar system installation can be a great way for enterprises to reduce their carbon footprint. Additionally, these businesses are taking a positive step toward sustainable energy usage. First, the process involves an initial consultation with our solar panel installation team.
During that consultation, we will assess the enterprise’s energy consumption needs. and design a customized system to meet those needs. Upon design approval, the installation process begins, which typically involves mounting panels on the commercial rooftop and connecting them to the building’s electrical systems. With a quick solar installation process most companies experience a return on investment within just a few years of installation.
Adopting solar power, can significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease carbon emissions. Not only does this benefit the environment, but it also gives enterprises more control over their energy usage and costs.
Many commercial solar panel installation companies offer ongoing monitoring and maintenance services to ensure that the system continues to function optimally and produce energy efficiently. With the increasing urgency of climate change, switching to solar energy is a smart decision that demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.
There are many financial benefits when you invest in solar. Reduced operating costs is one of the biggest ones. Business owners can expect to save more than 40% on utilities by converting. There will also be an immediate reduction in your electric bill.
Some companies’ favorite benefit of solar is the strong return on investment (ROI) that you have the opportunity to receive. Not to mention, there is also a 30% tax credit available for commercial properties that decide to invest in solar. This tax credit usually offsets the cost of installation for your solar system.
Solar energy is a renewable source of power and it has a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation of climate change. This is crucial to protecting humans, wildlife, and our ecosystems. Solar energy improves air quality and reduces water use from energy production. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!
Solar panels can still produce electricity during the winter months just as well as the summer months. Obviously, if the panels are covered in layers of heavy snow, the system will not be able to produce energy. However, light layers of snow will not be a hindrance, and because the solar panels are installed with a vertical slant, the snow will easily melt and slide right off.
Installers will generally recommend additions like snow guards in order to prevent the panels from being buried in ice and snow. Even during heavy rain and cloud cover, sunlight still reaches the panels successfully and generates power. The rain actually helps to keep solar panels working efficiently because it washes any dust or dirt off of them.
If installed correctly, solar panels are designed to last up to 30 years with minimal upkeep.
When it comes to maintenance, very little is required. Cleaning twice a year will suffice, as long as they aren’t being subjected to any major weather events. Hiring a professional to clean your solar panels can cost no more than a couple hundred dollars. This will keep your panels in their best shape. Also, it is unlikely that you may need any of your solar panels repaired or replaced, so there is no need to worry about your solar panels. Just let them do their job!
For commercial solar projects, solar technology choices are critical. For example, using a tracker mount for your solar panels can produce more energy than any other mounting system. These trackers follow the sun all day, ensuring you get the most out of your solar array and allowing you to make more accurate predictions about your solar energy production. If you have a flat rooftop on your commercial building, Point Load Power offers PV Booster , a tracking mount meant for rooftop installation that can produce significantly more energy with your solar panels than a fixed tilt rack.
Bifacial solar panels are another solar technology factor that can help you make the most out of a snowy day. Bifacial solar panels produce energy from both sides of the solar panel and generate energy from sunlight reflected off the backside panel. If using bifacial solar panels, weather events like snow can be a benefit and can help reflect more sunlight onto your solar panels.
If interested in learning more about how climate and weather affect solar energy production, check out Energy Information Administration’s website.
Unless you’re utilizing solar batteries, which store your excess solar energy, it is unlikely you will be able to go entirely off the grid when you install your commercial solar energy system. In fact, almost all commercial buildings using solar energy still utilize the grid but with significantly reduced energy costs.
Solar energy systems for commercial buildings are not meant to completely eliminate your need for the grid, but to replace the majority of your electricity usage with renewable sources, creating a more sustainable energy solution and allowing you to take advantage of the solar tax incentives in your state.
Now more than ever, commercial building owners are profiting off their solar energy systems. As a building owner utilizing a solar energy solution, you will need to sell solar power to your tenants. This is simpler than it sounds. By using an electric meter, you can record how much solar energy your tenant is using and bill them accordingly. To learn more about your options as a building owner for billing your tenant for solar energy, see Energy Sage’s Solar for Landlords Guide.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Inventronics.
Installing solar on your commercial building will also allow you to take advantage of net metering (NEM), a solar incentive that allows you to store excess solar energy on the grid. It is unlikely that you will use all the solar energy produced by your solar panels on a daily basis, so net metering sends excess energy back to the grid, and in return, your utility company will give you credits that further lower your electricity bill. To learn more about net metering in your state and how it can help you see a faster return on your solar investment see DSIRE Clean Energy’s website.
For commercial building owners, going solar is a strategic decision that almost guarantees a significant financial return for your business. EnergySage market data shows the average commercial building owner in the U.S can reduce their electricity bill by up to 75% after switching to solar power. Switching to solar energy will also lock you into a low electricity rate for the life of your solar panels, usually 25-30 years.
There are many tools that can be used for estimating how much you stand to save from switching to solar. Check out our webinar, Unlocking Idle Assets , to see a demonstration of our favorite energy bill estimator, Energy Toolbase. This demonstration uses PV Booster , Point Load Power’s rooftop tracker, to show how building owners can generate up to 70% more revenue per panel when using a rooftop tracking mount on their commercial building.
The cost of solar energy has dropped by about 90% in the last decade, and prices are continuing to drop. This is due to a combination of consumer preference for corporate sustainability and government mandates meant to reduce the effects of climate change.
On top of already historically low costs, commercial building owners can further increase their return on investment by taking advantage of government incentives in their states. Check out DSIRE database to see what incentives are available in your state.
The amount of money you save by investing in a commercial solar energy system varies based on multiple factors including:
The solar incentives you utilize
The type of solar technology you use
Your solar energy usage/the number of solar panels you choose to install
Solar panels have low maintenance costs and can last up to 30 years. Most commercial buildings have significant rooftop space and will profit the most from solar panels. We call this rooftop space your biggest idle asset, which is potential revenue generating square footage that commercial property owners should put into use. In our experience, commercial building owners usually see their ROI in 5 years or less. To determine you’re ROI for a commercial solar power system , contact your preferred solar panel contractor and check out Renewable Energy Hub’s Business and Commercial Solar Panel ROI .
For commercial building owners looking to install solar panels, you have a few options. Solar panels built on top of parking lots, carports, or mounted on poles or building facades send a great message but may not significantly reduces your electricity bills. These solutions do somewhat reduce energy costs but mostly are a great way to let your customers know you support renewable energy. For more information on these solar power options check out Lets Go Solar’s page .
If you have a large flat rooftop or ground space near your commercial building, you can install larger solar power systems that will greatly reduce your energy costs and increase the value of your property. Using a tracker mount for your solar panels, as opposed to fixed solar panels, will ensure your panels face the sun all day, making your solar energy production more predictable. 70% of ground mount projects use tracking panels and that technology is starting to take over the rooftops of commercial buildings too. Point Load Power offers PV Booster, a rooftop tracking mount designed for commercial buildings that increase energy production significantly.
Installing solar panels on your commercial building will undoubtedly increase your building’s value. Having a solar energy system could improve your company image as a green company, ensures low energy costs, and updates a building’s physical appearance. These factors increase your profits margin and the value of your building.
The best buildings for commercial solar are buildings with large, flat rooftops in good condition. Solar projects will last many decades and it is best that you make sure your rooftop lasts just as long. At Point Load Power we call these rooftops “idle assets” because of the lost opportunity commercial building owners face by not investing in a solar power system. Technologies, like rooftop tracking systems, provide additional solar production with a smaller overall investment, freeing up additional capital for rooftop replacement or refurbishment.
Check out our webinar, Unlocking Idle Assets with Highly Profitable Solar Projects to see what kinds of rooftops are best for tracking solar panels.
1. Save money every year
2. Increase your property value
3. Lock in your electricity rate
4. Earn big tax incentives
5. Double Digit ROI quickly
6. Demonstrate commitment to sustainability and social responsibility
To learn more about how solar can financially benefit your commercial building, see Benefits of Commercial Solar for Business.
Want more information on Commercial Solar Energy System? Feel free to contact us.