Now SAVE UP TO 70% on a solar energy system!! 

Active Energies provides complete, full-service, turnkey solar solutions with all aspects of system design, installation, project management, permitting, rebates assistance and warranty management included. Active Energies is committed to serving you and will be there every step of the way to help ensure expert service and answer all of your questions.

How Grid-Tied Solar Works

A solar cell is made of a semiconductor material, usually silicon.  This material is similar to that used in the inside of your computer.  When the sun hits the solar cell, energy from the sun is absorbed by the silicon.  This energy causes electrons within the silicon to become excited.  Once excited, the electrons begin moving around, or “flowing.”  The flow of electrons creates current.  This current combines with the cell’s built in magnetic field to create DC power.  Many solar cells are contained within one solar panel.  Metal contacts running between the cell capture this power, which can be transported through a wire.  Learn more about how solar cells work

For a grid-tied system, a wire carries the power to an inverter.  The inverter changes the DC power made by the panels into AC power, which is used in our homes and electrical grid.  Why can’t I use DC power?

From the inverter, the power goes straight to the loads in your home, decreasing the amount of energy you are using from the utility company.  If your home is running efficiently, you may produce more power than your home is consuming. 

 
Source: DOE, EERE - "How Small Solar Electric Systems Work"

Net-Metering

Whenever your solar is producing more energy than you are consuming, your meter will spin backwards, and the power company will be paying YOU!  Colorado’s Amendment 37, passed by the voters in November 2004, requires the state’s major utilities to develop and implement renewable energy measures.  As one of these measures, your utility will net the energy you produce versus the energy you use from the electrical grd.  Your bill will be lower, thanks to all of the energy you’re producing for yourself, and any excess you produce at the end of the calendar year will be paid to you at the average hourly incremental cost for that year.  As electricity rates increase, so do your savings!!  Learn more about the yearly savings.

Commercial benefits of net-metering can be huge!  Due to the unique price structure for commercial electricity billing, net-metering can pay off even faster.  Tell me more about commercial net-metering.

To Battery or Not to Battery…

Some customers desire battery backup on a PV system.  In a battery backup system, the solar energy fills up batteries to be used during an outage, and then sells back to the grid in the same fashion described above, as if the batteries were not even there.  If a power outage occurs, the power within the batteries is used to power the home.  The design and battery size dictates how long your home could run during a power outage.  The design and installation of a battery-backup system is more involved, and the extra equipment is fairly costly.  In certain instances, battery backup systems are a good choice.  However, the extra cost, maintenance, and battery storage room do not make this the most popular option for a typical application.  Contact us to discuss whether battery backup may be the best option for you.

Incentives

There are many incentives available for solar system installations.  Learn about them on our Solar Incentives FAQ page.   Below are some of the incentive basics:

The Federal government offers a 30% tax credit for solar installations, which is capped at $2000 for residential and is uncapped for commercial.  Xcel Energy provides a $2 per watt rebate and a $2.50 per watt payment for Renewable Energy Credit (REC), totaling $4.50 per watt of installed solar systems.  Many of the other Colorado utility companies offer rebate programs including Holy Cross Energy which provides $2 per watt.  Active Energies will help you receive and maximize all eligible rebate and tax incentives. 

Not only will you have to pay less for energy, be paid for the excess energy your system creates,  and cash in on federal and utility rebates, but your building will increase in value too!  The Appraisal Journal says for every dollar in yearly energy savings increases the value of your building by $20.  That’s around a $12,500 increase in your buildings value for a 5KwH system in the first year alone!

Commercial Customers have the added benefits of an uncapped 30% Federal Tax Credit on Solar Installations, 5 year MARCS Depreciation of Energy Efficient equipment and eligibility of a green marketing campaign.  Let Active Energies help your business cash in on being green.

PV systems are designed to last past 30 years.  Per the Built Green® checklist, "Solar electric systems are extremely durable, supplying as much as 75% of their rated power output after 50yrs of service."  All installations are completed by Master Electricians licensed in the state of Colorado and NABCEP Certified. 

Contact Us for a FREE site visit including a customized quote.