FAQ

For many companies, the main motivation for looking at a solar energy solution is to save money from high electricity bills. This frees up capital that can be used elsewhere in the business and will positively affect the bottom line. Every company needs electricity so you will be paying for it anyway. Why not own your own solar powerplant and shift the money you would have paid to the utility into an asset for the business which pays for itself in savings?

Some businesses may be thinking about adding solar shade structures (carports) to their parking lot which is a benefit for customers and employees alike. Solar carports have been popping up all over the nation to offer shaded parking during the hot summer months as well as paying for themselves with savings from the solar energy they produce.

Going green is not just a catch phrase anymore. It is a necessity. Commercial enterprises will show a positive willingness to help the environment by going solar. This can be a critical motivation for employees and customers choosing where they would like to work or do business.

Every business, nonprofit, manufacturing plant, or industrial property is different and has its unique needs and design scope. The main factors are the amount of power the business uses and the size and available space on the roof, parking lot, or land area surrounding the property. A qualified solar company will take these factors into account when designing a solar solution.

That depends on several factors. Are you looking to utilize just your roof space and does the roof have space to add enough solar panels? Rooftop solar energy systems can be one of the most cost-effective ways to go solar. Does your business want to add carport shade structures for the benefit of customers and employees? Adding carports does add cost but also offers intrinsic benefits. Can tax incentives benefit your business? Because of the solar investment tax credit and depreciation, businesses can utilize incentives that can pay a sizeable amount of the cost of a system. Even schools, churches, and other nonprofit organizations can receive some incentives with the right financing partner.

1. Utility Analysis - Analyze the usage and billing amount for the previous year. This can be done by submitting 12 months of electric bills or if the business is in certain utility companies, we can gather the bills or interval data directly from the utility company and load it into our analysis software.
2. Spatial Dynamics - Using our sophisticated software the engineers map out the roof space of your building and determine any obstructions, required setbacks, shade and more. Then panels are placed virtually on the building to determine what size system can fit and how much the production can offset the yearly electricity usage.
3. Location Review - Depending on the type of building, size of the system, location, and other special requirements, a preliminary site survey may be necessary. This can usually be a simple walk through to take a few pictures of the point of connection with the utility. Depending on the difficulty of the location we may need to do a more comprehensive advance site survey.
4. Proposal – Feeding the data into our Energy Tool base software we can model what the production and savings would be from the suggested solar energy system. This shows cost of the system, tax incentives, other incentives, and savings estimated so that you have a complete picture of the economic benefit of going solar. The environmental benefits are an added plus!
5. Design and Engineering – After creating our solar agreement we will have a very comprehensive site survey team take exacting measurements and many pictures of the roof, structure, meters, and the electrical room. Then the team of engineers will review the site survey data and come up with the best design for the solar project. They generate plans and we submit them to the proper agencies. This may involve clearances from different departments as well as a preliminary review and sometimes a walk through from the utility.
6. Construction – Solar installation experts will follow the plans to the letter and safely and efficiently install your solar energy system. Then they test it and when the utility is satisfied with the installation, they authorize us to turn the system on. Energize and save!
7. Operations and Maintenance – While solar panels come with a 25 year warranty and most of the time the system just works - like the old saying “set it and forget it”. We do set up a monitoring system so the business can keep track of the production it is getting. As a bonus GCS can offer an extra O&M service which will include annual panel cleaning plus electrical tune up of the system. This gives a little more peace of mind that the solar power plant is working efficiently to save money and help the environment.

Yes, there are both. Most companies invest in solar with cash due to wanting to save money on interest with a loan. Because there is access to the 26% Federal Tax Credit, they can recoup that amount of the cost usually the first year. Nonprofits that don’t have tax incentives can take advantage of our nonprofit financing partner and 12-15% of the cost of the system will be paid by them. It acts like a 15% discount to the nonprofit.

In general, since a solar energy system can pay itself off with savings in anywhere from 4-8 years, that ensures a business will receive at least 10-20 more years of free energy. Imagine the savings that will accrue. By going solar your customers and employees will see this action as a positive step forward in today’s world of stagnation. Solar energy is the future – and the future is now!