- How much solar do I need to zero my electric bill?
- What does it cost?
- How many batteries will I need?
- Who is going to do the install, do I have to hire an electrician?
- How much space will I need?
- How do I calculate ... ?
- Will my meter actually run backwards? How?
- How does my roof effect solar output?
- Will a tracking system produce more energy and will it save me money?
- Thin film, what is it? What kind of roof do I need?
- What happens if my roof needs replacing?
- How long has Freedom Power been in business?
- How long are your systems warranted?
- What is required for me to receive my state and federal rebates?
- What is the wind rating of your systems?
- Can I purchase a system from you and install it myself?
- Can I purchase a solar energy system online and have Freedom Power, LLC install the system?
- When is the price of solar going to come down?
- What are the benefits and downsides to thin film?
- How long will it take to install my system?
- How will I pay for my system? Do you have financing? How does financing work?
- Is your company insured?
- How warm can I expect my pool to be with a solar pool heater?
- How much will a solar pool heater save me?
- Will I run out of hot water with a solar water heater?
There is no simple answer. Each home is built with its own
efficiency and people use energy differently. The easiest thing
to do if you would like to zero your electric bill would be to
figure out the yearly average of your electric usage in kW hours.
From your yearly electric usage you can back figure the size solar
energy system you would need to effectively zero you bill. Take your
yearly average kW usage and divide it by 365 day. Then divide that number by
4.5. The result is the size system it would require to effectively
zero your electric bill at your current energy usage.
Steps can be taken to reduce your energy consumption which in
turn would reduce the size system required to zero your electric
bill. For example, if your home uses electric water heaters,
replacing one electric water with a solar water heater could save as
much as a 3 kW photovoltaic energy system would produce. Other
options are radiant barrier insulation, and solar attic fans. Often
times simple things like tinting window, curtains, compact
fluorescent lighting and programmable thermostats can add up to
large energy savings. Freedom Power can analyze your energy usage
and make suggestions on additional energy saving options.
Solar electric systems cost about $7.50 per watt installed. Solar
water heaters and solar pool heaters are about $6,500.
No batteries are required unless the system is to work off the
utility grid. Addition energy that your system produces is "stored"
on the the utility grid.
Freedom Power, LLC is a Louisiana state licensed electrical
contractor with a specialty in solar energy equipment. We do
our own designs and installs. All systems are turn key and we
are a one stop shop for all your renewable energy needs.
The amount of space required depends on the type and size of
solar energy system installed. A typical 3 kW solar electric systems
requires approximately 250 sq. ft. of roof area. A solar domestic water
heater would use approximately 40 sq. ft. of roof area. Solar pool heaters
are typically sized at 70- 80% surface area of panels to surface area
of pool for maximum efficiency.
[This is the answer to the question.]
Yes, utility grid tie solar energy systems utilize synchronous inverter systems.
When your solar energy system is producing more power than your
home is using your utility meter will turn backwards as additional power is sold back
to the power company.
Primarily, all solar energy system operating in the Northern
Hemisphere operate
best facing true South. Generally, the further away from true South the less output
the system will produce. The angle of the roof is also important in determining the
output of the system. For maximizing the output of a solar energy system, the angle
of the roof would be about a 7/12 pitch.
If there is no shade affecting the solar array, a tracking system can increase output by more than
33%.
Thin film solar panels are made from anamorphic silicon in rolls instead of crystal cylinders
that are cut and shaped into panels. Thin film modules are less
efficient than crystalline type modules meaning that they requre twice the surface area to gather the same amount of energy, but
they will produce 20% more power per installed watt. They are able to produce more energy
because they are less susceptible to heat degradation and are able to produce more power in less than
optimum light
situations.
A solar energy system should not be installed over a deteriorated roof.
The panels would need to be taken off and reinstalled.
Freedom Power was started in 2003 and incorporated in 2007.
Solar electric panels are warranted for 25 years. Inverters are warranted for 10 years. Solar pool heaters and solar water heater panels are warranted for 12 years. Solar water heater tanks are
warranted for 6 years. All work is warranted for one year from the
date of installation.
You must claim the system on your state and federal tax returns.
freedom Power, LLC will handle all the paper work involved to ensure
you receive your rebate in a timely manner.
The wind rating depends on the type of system. Solar pool heaters have the highest wind rating at 130 mph. Standard installations of solar water heater systems and solar electric systems have 125 mph wind ratings. When installing solar on pole mounting systems often the wind rating is 90 mph.
Absolutely, check out our catalog for great deals on all types of solar energy products
This is not a good idea since there are many variables involved in choosing proper components in a system.
Producing solar energy panels is a energy intensive process, therefore as the price of energy goes up the cost of solar energy panels go up
proportionally. There has been talk of cheaper solar energy technologies for years, but there has yet to be much progress made to bringing technology to market.
Thin film panels can produce as much as 20% more power per rated Watt when compared to multi and mono
crystalline solar panels. When installed on metal roofs, they have the same wind rating as the roof, are theft proof and practically
indestructible. The downside to thin film is that it requires twice the surface area to produce the same amount of electricity as conventional solar panels.
The length in time to install a solar energy system depends on the size and type of
solar energy system being installed. A typical solar pool heater takes as little as one day.
Solar water heater usually require two days. Solar electric systems can take from two days to
two weeks or longer, depending on there size
Freedom Power, LLC offers 0% financing through Energybank for a period of one year to qualified customers.
Absolutely. Not only are we bonded and we carry general liability,
but we also have workman's comp insurance. Workman's comp protects the
home owner in case an employee is injured on the customer's property.
Before having any work done on your property you should ensure that
the company working for you has workman's comp insurance.
In the spring and fall months you can expect a 15 to 20 degree
temperature rise over normal pool water temperature.
A solar pool can often times pay for itself in as little as one year with the cost savings in natural gas.
No. Solar water heater have back up heating elements for maintaining water
temperature during long periods of in climatic weather.
