Solar Panel Mounting Systems

A couple of weeks ago, we discussed how solar can work in the northeastern US with its cold and often snowy weather. It is true that solar performs well in the northeast, but there are other factors to take into account when determining if your home is “solar ready.” Is your roof south facing? Are there trees or other buildings that will block the sun? If trees are an issue can they be trimmed or removed? Is the roof even large enough to fit the size solar system you would like?

Luckily, for those whose homes have one or more of the issues mentioned above, there are viable solutions that will enable your home to incorporate solar. Solar panels are not restricted to a roof-mounted system only. There are other ways to have solar panels and still get maximum efficiency, even if you have an east/west facing roof, or a large tree or building shading your home

Ground Mounted System
A ground mounted system generally has a steel frame and a concrete foundation. These systems are ideal for those who live in rural areas. They can be set back on the property and made to point directly south. They may be a bit bulky, but they are easy to clean off and cost little, if anything more than a roof mounted system.

Pole Mounted System
Pole mounted options are the most expensive of the options, but can be more aesthetically pleasing. In this situation the panels are mounted on top of a steel pole that is anchored into the ground. The additional cost can be offset by the added efficiency of this option. These systems can generally be a couple percentage points more efficient than the other two options due to the fact that the pitch of the panels can be changed throughout the year to capture more sunlight.

To learn more about a solar system that would work best for you home, contact us at Earthsponse today!

-Lisa Dougherty

Micro vs String Inverters

There has been a lot of talk lately about microinverters.  Microinverters are small inverters that mount on the racking system directly under each solar module.  There is a one to one correlation between microinverters and solar modules.  For example, if you have 20, Kyocera KD230GX-LPU modules on your roof, you would have 20 microinverters.  Microinverters have been gaining in popularity lately due to the advance of one manufacturer in particular: Enphase. Enphase recently came out with a new microinverter.  It's the model M215.  The biggest change is that this new inverter comes with a 25 year warranty. For the first time, the inverter warranty last as long as the module warranty.   This could be a game changer for the solar industry.

Some of the benefits of installing microinverters:
-Each module/inverter works independently, so shade affecting one module does not affect the whole system.
- No central point of failure, if one microinverter stops working, the rest of the system still functions
- Truly advanced data logging showing power output at the module level
- No high voltage DC wires to run.  DC-AC conversion takes place at each module on the roof and each microinverter is connected with an AC trunk cable.  This cable is then run down and connected in your main AC panel.

For more info on the M215, visit http://enphase.com/

Call the Earthsponse Solar Solutions Center at 866-94EARTH and ask for a system quote using microinverters, you may be pleasantly surprised at the results.

-Andy Young

So you live in the northeast…PV is perfect for you!

One of the things we most frequently hear at Earthsponse is: Is it worth installing solar panels on my home? I live in upstate NY and the sun rarely shines! The answer to that question is most definitely yes! It is more than worth it. Solar panels can work in all types of weather conditions, and actually perform better in the colder weather. This is because the cold temperatures cause an increase in the conductivity of metal and wires. In fact, PV systems in the northeast region produce roughly 5-10% higher energy output than PV systems in southern states. Of course, this doesn’t mean that southern states shouldn’t invest in solar. The vast space, little obstruction, and constant sunlight make the south a hot spot for solar.

Germany is a great example that constant warm weather isn’t needed for successful solar energy production. Geographically, Germany’s latitude is about the same level as that of North Dakota, a state not typically thought of as an ideal solar spot. And Germany is the world leader in solar! Germany accounted for over 50% of solar installations in the world last year.

Another great reason to think about solar in the northeast is the incentives. The states with SREC markets are primarily in the northeast. (Check out our previous post “SREC FAQs” to learn more!) Massachusetts and New Jersey are the two states with the highest SREC values of any state. There are also utility rebates and state tax credits to take advantage of in various different states that could cover a large portion of the install cost. To find out what state specific incentives you can take advantage of visit: http://dsireusa.org/solar/index.cfm?ee=1&RE=1&spf=1&st=1

-Lisa Dougherty

Countries that Love Solar Energy

Solar energy is one of the most rapidly growing markets in the United States. With a growth of 67% just last year, solar became the fastest growing energy sector in the U.S. But where in the world is solar most popular? For 2010 the top 5 countries in solar generated energy were: Germany, Italy, The Czech Republic, Japan and the U.S.

Germany topped the list, reporting that they had installed 7,400 MW of solar PV. December alone saw over 1,000 MW of solar installed. In fact, Germany has been a leader in renewables for some time now. A 2010 report shows that Germany generates nearly 17% of its electricity from renewable sources, and plans on raising that figure to 37% by 2020.

Italy is installed more solar PV in two months than California did in one year, and California is the solar leader in the U.S. and has a similarly sized geographic area to Italy. By the year 2020, Italy hopes to have 30 GW of solar installed. The original goal of 8 GW was completed ahead of schedule.

The Czech Republic has seen extremely rapid growth in the solar industry in the past few years. From 2008 to the end of 2010 the amount of solar installed by The Czech Republic rose from 66 MW to an enormous 1,820 MW.
Japan is fourth on the list, just ahead of the U.S. Renewables only account for 1.3% of total energy use, but Japan has set high goals. Since the tragedy in March, Japan has abandoned their nuclear expansion plans. They instead hope to have 10 million solar powered homes by 2020.

Lastly, the United States has been working hard to keep up in the renewables industry. As mentioned above, solar grew 67% just last year. Renewables accounted for over 11% of the domestically produced electricity in the United States. In 2009 President Obama called to double this amount in the following 3 years.

-Lisa Dougherty

Top 5 Reasons to go Solar

5. Energy independence
The installation of solar panels makes you less dependent on foreign energy sources with constantly fluctuating prices. While the supply of fossil fuels decreases each year, causing your neighbor’s energy bills to rise, you can relax knowing that you have access to an infinite supply of clean energy. In fact, every hour, the sun radiates more energy onto the earth than the entire human population uses in one whole year. All we need to do is capture it!

4. It works no matter where you are
The sun shines everywhere. Even in upstate New York in the dead of winter (believe it or not). Solar actually works great in the cold!

3. It’s low maintenance
A misconception about solar panels is that they need a great deal of maintenance to keep them clean and continually producing electricity. This is not the case! Solar panels are virtually maintenance free. Once they are on your roof or in your yard, that’s it. The only moving parts in your solar system are contained in the inverter, which converts the DC power your solar panels generate into AC power, which the appliances in your home use. Concerned about cleaning your solar panels? Rain and other precipitation keep them spotless. If it snows, the panels will still heat from the sun and the snow will slide off. If you choose to go with a ground or pole mount system, snow can be easily brushed off, but it is not necessary. In fact, when you receive your proposal from Earthsponse, a 30 year weather study by Nrel is taken into account, which factors in the days when poor weather conditions may occur.

2. You’re helping the planet
With the noticeable climate change occurring throughout the past few decades, we need to be thinking about the amount of greenhouse gases we are releasing into our environment. Most of the electricity in the U.S. is still coming from non-renewable, polluting sources, such as coal and other fossil fuels. Solar is the perfect remedy!

1. It saves you money!
Perhaps the most important reason to go solar is to save you money on your electric and hot water bills. Your system is constantly producing electricity, even when you are not using it. Through net metering, you can sell that unused electricity back to the grid at the retail price. Not only that, no matter where you are in the U.S. there are incentives to help make solar affordable to you. The federal government provides a tax credit, worth 30% of your system cost, with no cap! Other states provide more incentives. To see what your state has to offer, visit http://dsireusa.org/.

Along with these incentives, solar will add value to your home. Every $1 saved on your utility bill can add up to $20 on your home’s resale price, according to the National Appraisal Institute and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

-Lisa Dougherty

MyGen kits for Wireless

All of the Kyocera MyGen kits provided by Earthsponse come with a great data monitoring function, so you can keep track day to day and hour to hour of exactly how your solar PV system is doing.  All that is necessary is an Internet connection and a cable.   Plug a standard Ethernet CAT5 cable from your home’s Internet router into the special data card that comes in the PVPowered inverters.  That’s it!  You’re ready to data monitor.  Your respective Earthsponse or Earthsponse dealer representative will set up the deck monitoring website using the serial number of the Inverter! 

But what happens if I installed the inverter outside away from my house on a pole or other outbuilding?  Well, your installer will make the judgment call.   If a trench is available, then special underground cable can be run back to the Internet connection in the home or business.  If this isn’t available, then we can hook up a wireless bridge at the Inverter side (requires 120VAC) and a wireless router in the home.  These wireless devices have to be perfectly matched and programmed by your solar professional.  In most case the simple wireless-N protocol is used due to its increased transmission capabilities.  Also the wireless-N frequency ranges have less interference than the standard wireless-B/G protocols in common use today.   Earthsponse has successfully connected a remote inverter to the Internet via wireless connection at a distance of over 300 feet!

For more information on data monitoring with Kyocera MyGen kits and to see a sample visit http://www.deckmonitoring.com/mygen_sample

-Andy Young

SREC FAQs

Last week’s post discussed how investing in your own solar system can be affordable, provide a worthwhile return, and help you to be a better citizen of planet earth. One incentive mentioned in the post was an SREC. For many, this is a confusing topic. This week, we at Earthsponse hope to answer any questions you may have about SRECs, so that you can better understand this potentially lucrative opportunity.

What is an SREC?

Let’s start from the beginning. In the U.S., 30 of the 50 states (plus Washington D.C.) have established Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). This means that these states are required to obtain a portion of their electricity from renewable sources, (i.e. wind, biofuels, solar, etc. ).

An SREC, or Solar Renewable Energy Certificate, is a certificate that you receive every time your solar system produces 1000kWh of electricity. The SRECs contribute to the solar aspect of the state’s renewable energy goals. These certificates are proof that you have produced renewable, solar electricity. For a 5kW system about 6 of these are produced every year, and these certificates are worth money!

Once your solar system is installed, it must be certified by the state, and an account must be created with a trading platform (Earthsponse will help you with this!). SRECs are then issued based on what your system generates.

How much are SRECs worth?

Even though most states have RPS, they do not all have an active SREC market. The states that do are: Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington D.C.. There is no set price for SRECS. They are traded similarly to stocks, so as the demand goes up, so does the price. Current market prices can be viewed at http://www.srectrade.com/. Currently New Jersey and Massachusetts have the most attractive SREC markets, with certificates trading at $640 and $570 respectively. This means that with a 5kW system in New Jersey, you could potentially put an extra $3,840 in your pocket each year you produce solar electricity.

How are SRECS sold?

There are two ways to sell your SRECS once they are produced:

1. They can be sold to a middle man, who will take on the risk, complete all administration work, and sell them to the utility for a cut.

2. Register and sell your SRECS on the open market.

How can you get started?

The only way to begin producing your own SRECS is to install your own solar system! Give Earthsponse a call, or complete our online assessment to learn more today!

-Lisa Dougherty

You Have the Power to Go Solar

One of the more frustrating trends happening today has to be the ever rising energy prices. Filling a car with gas or receiving that monthly electric bill has become quite a scary experience. Although this daunting expense seems unavoidable, there are ways to help make it hurt a bit less. Solar panels are becoming more affordable than ever. Not only are they now affordable, but solar customers can expect to save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of their solar systems, which are warranted for 25 years. It is an investment where you are all but guaranteed a return for your money – try that in the stock market.


One of the main reasons solar is so affordable is help from the federal and state governments, which support an investment in solar through incentives and rebates! In addition to these rebates, solar adds value to your home (according to the EPA and the National Appraisal Institute, for every dollar you save on your energy bill you add 20 dollars to the value of your home), and you are able to start saving on your utility bills immediately. The federal government alone will refund 30% of the cost of your solar electric or solar hot water system.

There are also state incentives that make solar easier than ever to acquire at a low price. One state that is showing its commitment to going green and saving you money is New Jersey, which offers exemption from the 7% state tax on all solar PV and solar thermal equipment. That is not all - New Jersey has also made a commitment that by the year 2021, 22.5% of its electricity sold will come from renewable sources. Therefore, it offers one of the best SRECS (Solar Renewable Energy Certificate) in the country.

Although New Jersey is making a big statement in the renewable energy world, it is not the alone in making solar a more worthwhile investment for taxpayers. The Pennsylvania Sunshine Program offers a rebate of 35% on your solar thermal or PV installation costs. In New York, NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) is offering money back on electricity produced with solar thermal and PV systems as long as certain criteria are met. There is also the NY Solar Jobs Act that, if passed, could create over 20,000 green jobs and boost the local economy. All federal and state incentives can be found at http://www.dsireusa.org/solar/.

Here at Earthsponse, we believe that producing your own solar energy will be one of the most rewarding investments you make. You will be energy independent, you will help to save the planet, and you will save money. How much better can it get? Visit our website, fill out your free virtual solar assessment and our solar experts can tell you! http://earthsponse.com/

-Lisa Dougherty

Get to Know Earthsponse!

Welcome to the official Earthsponse blog!  This will be a place for you to view news, opinions, testimonials and  other information to keep you informed about the renewable energy industry, solar energy in particular.  For our first post we thought we would give an overview of who Earthsponse is.

Earthsponse is a renewable energy company that was founded in 2008 by Dan Babcock as a subsidiary of Modern Marketing Concepts (MMC), in Binghamton, NY.  Through direct sales in our local area, and our network of dealers throughout the East Coast, we provide our customers with top-quality solar energy products, and even better service.  Our goal is simple - , we aim to make solar as easy as possible. Our team of experts will do the heavy lifting – federal, state, and local incentives, designing your system, and helping you select the best options available to finance your project, if needed.

We offer two types of panels for residential and commercial customers: Solar electric and solar thermal.  A short summary of these technologies is below.

Solar Electric Systems
An electric solar system has few components: photovoltaic (PV) panels which collect the sun, and an inverter,  which converts the DC power your system generates into AC power, which fuels the devices in your home.

During the day, the PV panels capture the sunlight and the inverter converts it to usable electricity. Any energy you produce that isn’t used  is effectively “sold” back to your utility for credit. At night, or when your system isn’t producing electricity, the utility grid supplies your electricity. Solar Thermal Systems
Heating water is just as easy. A solar collector plate is positioned to face the sun, where it catches and absorbs the sun's heat. A fluid (water or glycol) flows through the piping within the collector. Behind the insulated plate is an air gap, which allows excess heat to be released, preventing stagnation and overheating. As heat is collected, it's transferred to your water tank through a heat exchange process.

Currently, Earthsponse has dealers that service areas in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Virginia, and Connecticut, and we’re looking to expand even further.  More information can be found at our website, www.Earthsponse.com.

Continue to check back often for news regarding Earthsponse and the growth of the renewables industry!

-Lisa Dougherty