My house does not face true south - is it an
appropriate site for solar energy?
A solar array must generally face
south for optimum performance, but can face SE or SW by
as much as 30 degrees without a significant reduction in
output (~3%). An east or west facing array,
however, will produce approximately 25% less energy than
one facing south. An array facing south is known
as having an azimuth angle of 180 degrees.
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My house is on a wooded lot and my roof is shaded –
will this effect the system’s output?
Unfortunately, solar panels must
receive direct, unshaded sunlight for maximum
performance. Shading on an array caused by trees,
other buildings, or cloud cover will reduce a system’s
output significantly. In general, an array should
have no shading between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00
p.m. each day. During the site analysis, Sunnyside
will evaluate the quality of the site regarding its
solar potential.
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Will the angle of my roof affect the efficiency of my
system?
The angle of your array, known as
the tilt angle, can be set at a wide range of angles
with little impact on performance. Systems
installed at an angle within 15 degrees of the site’s
latitude will all have a similar energy yields. In
the Baltimore area, for instance, which is at 39 degrees
latitude, systems angled between 24 and 54 degrees will
all have similar results. On flat roofs, a
mounting system will be utilized to set the angle of the
array at the optimum angle.
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Will I know how much electricity I can expect my
system to produce prior to installation?
Yes, while sunlight varies from
day-to-day due to cloud cover, over the course of a year
the amount of sun that a given area receives is
consistent and predictable. Solar insolation
charts have been developed by the National Renewable
Energy Lab that show how much solar radiation falls on a
given area, by month, for hundreds of locations across
the U.S.
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Don’t you have to live in warm, sunny climates like
Phoenix or San Diego for solar energy to be feasible?
While southern areas with clear
skies do receive the most solar radiation, the Baltimore
region receives over 70% of the solar energy that
Phoenix receives, over 80% that San Diego receives, and
almost 90% of the energy that Miami receives.
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Will I get more electricity produced on a hot, summer
day than a cold, winter one?
Photovoltaic panels produce energy
based on the intensity of the sunlight, not the
temperature of the air. A PV system will work very
efficiently in direct sun on a winter day. Winter
yields are less than summer yields, however, because the
days are shorter and the panels are exposed to less
hours of direct sun per day in winter.
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How much maintenance is required on a system and how
long will the system last?
There is very little maintenance
required on a PV system. The panels contain no
moving parts and do not require any regular maintenance.
They will produce electricity for over 30 years.
Inverters will last up to 20 years and also do not
require any maintenance.
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Will my Homeowner’s Association allow me to install
solar panels on my roof?
With the exception of Historic
Districts, Maryland law prohibits restrictive covenants
that impose limitations on the installation of solar
panels. See
Maryland Code – Real Property,
Section 2-119 for more
details. In neighborhoods with Homeowner’s
Associations, buyers of solar energy systems should
still contact their HOA to let them know of their plans.
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How do I know if my utility is willing to allow me to
tie my system into their power grid and will they pay me
for excess power that I generate?
Under Maryland net-metering laws,
utilities must allow solar PV system owners to tie in
their systems to the grid. They also must pay the
same price for electricity they buy back as they charge
when they sell it. You should contact your utility
prior to installation, as it may be necessary for them
to install a new meter that is capable of running in
reverse and tracking the power you sell back to them.
Typically, utilities will replace your meter at no
charge, if it is necessary at all.
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Are there standards in place to ensure the systems
are installed safely?
Yes, all Sunnyside Solar Energy
systems are installed according to National Electric
Code, Article 690 for Photovoltaic Power Systems.
In addition, all electrical work is performed by a
licensed electrician with a permit issued by local
(County) jurisdictions. The mounting systems that
secure the panels are installed according to Uniform
Building Code standards and installations follow any
applicable local (County) building codes and permitting.
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How much energy is used in the manufacture of a
photovoltaic system? Do they have a positive
energy balance, or do they take more energy to
manufacture than they will provide over their life span?
Photovoltaic installations have a
positive energy balance. The energy used in the
manufacture of a solar installation is paid back after
approximately three to five years, depending on the
quality, design, and manufacturer of the components as
well as the site location and orientation.
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I am pretty handy - can I install the panels myself?
PV installations require that an
electrical permit be obtained, which must be done by a
licensed electrician. (top)
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