How to Plan the Best Solar Energy System for Your Home

Planning for Best Results

Just about anyplace in the Bay Area is a potentially good location for solar energy systems – which may come as something of a surprise to those in the fog belt.

Says Brendan Neagle of Borrego Solar, which does installations throughout the area, “Obviously we’re looking for the most sunlight, but you’d be surprised, because from the Central Valley to the Peninsula to the Sonoma coast, the variation in the amount of sunlight is fairly minimal. Solar panels work on light, not heat, so while there is more fog in the San Francisco Bay Area, keep in mind that it’s always light out, so you don’t see much reduction.”

To get the best system for your needs, and to make sure it lives up to its potential, though, there’s no substitute for doing your homework.

First, Assess Your Site

Before you do anything else, assess your property to see if it’s got the right stuff for solar.

The best locations for solar energy systems are usually roofs facing south, allowing the panels maximum exposure to sun all day. However, there’s a fair amount of wiggle room in this, and only northern exposures are real deal-breakers. Says Neagle, “North-facing roofs, even roofs that face northeast or northwest, are not ideal, and we would never install solar panels on those. But typically anywhere from west all the way around to east works pretty well. Ideally we’re looking at a south-southwest orientation; you might get less power in the morning if you’re more west, but you’ll get more in the afternoon.”

The other potential deal-breaker is shade. “If there’s a significant amount of shade – for example, someone who has redwood trees on the southern side of their home – solar wouldn’t make sense,” says Neagle.

This can lead to some soul-searching on the homeowner’s part – in extreme cases, a dilemma of whether or not to cut down tall trees (not green) to allow more sunlight on solar panels (very green). It can also lead to issues with one’s neighbors if the trees are on their property – and while the California Solar Rights act (see below) allows the creation of “solar easements” by which a property owner agrees not to block sunlight to a neighbor’s solar array, it does not require them. If your neighbor to the south has a forest shading your roof and doesn’t want to trim it, you’re unlikely to be able to force the issue.

Local Ordinances and CC&R’s

So, your location’s great. What about your city and the neighborhood association?

The good news: The California Solar Rights Act greatly limits the degree to which local government and private entities may restrict a homeowner’s ability to install a solar energy system. In particular, they’re forbidden to impose aesthetic requirements that would add significantly to a project’s cost, and must base their acceptance or rejection of an application on health and safety issues.

The bad news: In many cases the law’s language is extremely vague, leading to much misunderstanding and litigation, with uncertain outcomes in the courts. While some homeowners have prevailed against their city government or HOA, others haven’t been so successful and have had to alter or remove their systems.

These issues make it all the more important to work with an experienced professional who knows what will and won’t get the official blessing, and can build a system that works for you and passes official muster.

Finding the Right Expert

A solar energy system represents one of the biggest, and most long-lasting, investments you’re likely to make in your home. Don’t rush the planning and decision process.

Spend some time talking to prospective contractors and asking lots of questions. In addition to such obvious issues as checking references and the like, find out how long the company’s been in business (a critical issue in gauging the value of their warranty), where they stand with the Better Business Bureau, and who will be working on your job.

When you’re getting bids, pay attention to such issues as the specific products being used in your installation. Says Neagle, “It’s not so much about the panels themselves as about the pieces and parts that put them together. Is the rack on my roof going to be made of aluminum and stainless steel, which will last the life of the panel, or is it going to be made of pre-galvanized steel, which probably won’t?” Ask questions, and if you’re not satisfied with the answers, look elsewhere.

Ask lots of questions about the contractor’s experience dealing with local authorities and getting projects authorized. And get a clear sense of what the bid includes — for example, some bids incorporate rebates and incentives, and some don’t, which definitely affects the bottom line.

We’re happy to help you find the perfect contractor for your job, one who can deliver the results you want and keep your neighbors and the local authorities happy. When you’re ready to get serious and don’t know where to start, give us a call.

UPDATE: CalFinder has just added to it’s solar library information regarding planning solar in your home Don’t forget if you have any more questions you can find a CalFinder local solar contractor.

Posted on July 3rd in Going Solar by Dean.