Q: How does solar power work in a house?

A: Solar panels exploit material properties of special impure silicon. Very loosely speaking, when sunlight strikes the blue silicon layer of a solar panel, it knocks electrons loose. More electrons rush in to fill the gaps. The process repeats as long as the sun hits the panels, the movement of the loose electrons creating an electrical current. This current is collected from the panel surface by a network of wires and routed into an inverter that changes the electricity from direct current (DC, like in batteries) to alternating current (AC, like in most houses).

The electrical wires then connect to your house's service panel through your utility company electrical meter. When the sun is on the panels, the electricity flows into your house, turning the meter backward. When there is no sun on the panels, electricity is pulled from the power grid, running the meter forward. At the end of the month, Xcel Energy give you a credit for the electricity that you generated and only charges you for the amount you have used above and beyond what your panels produced.

Learn more about solar power here.

Q: Don't I need batteries?

A: No. Solar Panels used to be used mostly by people who didn’t have access to the electricity grid. These systems needed a shed full of batteries to store electricity for use when there was no sun on the panels. Batteries are expensive, require maintenance, can crash inconveniently, and wear out long before the panels do.

1-Step Solar's grid-tie systems use the electrical grid as if it was an enormous battery: putting electricity in when the sun is on the panels, taking it back out when the sun is off the panels. Your existing electric meter keeps track of the net difference since your panels run the meter backward when they are outputting electricity into the grid and your house turns the meter forward when it draws from the grid.

Q: So, will I still have an electricity bill?

A: Yes. At a minimum, you will continue to pay the utility company the connection fee that you pay now, which for Xcel is $6.25 per month. If you use more electricity than you produce, you will also pay the utility company for the difference.

Q: Why would I want solar power?

A: Installing solar power raises your property value, effectively paying for itself almost instantly. Putting in a solar panel array protects against future electricity rate hikes because you generate electricity for free for the life of the system. Often overlooked is the fact that by owning a solar power system you are leveraging for retirement by not needing to put aside a cash endowment to pay future electric bills.

When you install a solar power system, you also contribute to the solution to global warming. Solar power reduces polluting emissions and your carbon footprint because the electric company no longer has to burn the fossil fuel required to produce power for you.

Improve your financial bottom line, plan for retirement, clean the air, reduce global warming, get the utility company's hand out of your pocket...why wouldn't you want solar power?

Q: If it's so great, why don't more people use solar power?

A: Lately, federal and state governments and citizens have been effective at convincing power companies to allow citizens to put electricity into the power grid. They are also mandating that power companies get a larger percentage of their electricity from renewable sources, leading to substantial incentive programs encouraging citizens to put solar panels up. Because of this, solar power is becoming much more popular.

Recently, the Economic Recovery Bill, aka, the Stimulus Package, raised the tax credit to 30% of the total system cost. Combined with rebates and renewable energy credits offered by Xcel, approximately 80% of the system cost is now covered for many customers in Colorado, making solar electricity much more affordable than it has been in the past.

With 1-Step Solar you don't have to worry about how all of this works. We do the work for you, including design, installation, permitting and obtaining the rebates. All you do is place the order and put down a deposit on the system cost minus the Xcel rebates. From there we take care of the rest.

Q: How long do solar panels last?

A: The panels we sell are warranted for 80% power output for 20 years, however, the expected lifespan of the panels is 35-40 years. There are no moving parts, so there's nothing to wear out.

Q: Do solar panels break?

A: Solar panels are quite robust, but if they receive a good hard blow they'll crack. You'll need to ensure that your home-owners insurance covers the system, just like you do for nice furnishings, big picture windows, a swimming pool, or any other investment you make in your home.

Q: What size unit do I need?

A: Look at your electricity bills for the past year. Basically, you need to know how much power you use in order to decide how much you need to generate. You may decide to install a system large enough to completely replace your current usage, or just make a dent in it. We can help you figure that out.

Q: How can I get away with a smaller, less expensive unit?

A: Getting more efficient is always a good idea--it's generally cheaper to reduce your use than to upsize your solar panel array.

This doesn't have to involve a painful sacrifice: change to efficient lightbulbs and turn them off when you don't need them. When it's time to replace your refrigerator, washing machine, computer monitor or other major appliance, choose energy efficient models, even if they cost a little more up front. Insulating your home and installing efficient windows and doors cuts heating and cooling costs way down--this is where most household energy use goes.

If you use electricity to make any kind of heat, you should consider exchanging these appliances for gas or solar versions right away. Electric water heaters, stoves and space heating are incredibly inefficient and expensive to operate. And French Presses make better coffee than electric coffeemakers, anyway!

You don't have to completely replace your grid power all at once, either--partial replacement yields the same benefits as complete replacement, just in a smaller dose.

Q: How much maintenance is involved?

A: Solar panels are virtually maintenance free. They just sit on your roof and generate electricity. If the panels become soiled rinsing them off will increase their electricity output, but other than that there is very little that needs to be done.

Q: Can't I build a system myself?

A: Sure you can do it yourself, but do you really want to?

Like any large home improvement project, it's a lot of work, and not always cheaper to do it yourself. You have to design a system with the proper panel output that is matched by the right inverter, circuit protection and wiring. There are regulations to meet, permits to draw and utility company applications to submit. Then you have to either front all the money or get a home-equity loan or mortgage, order the equipment and supplies, assemble and test your system, hire a licensed electrician to do the install and wait until your system is up and running before you can request any rebate that applies.

Q: Why should I buy from 1 Step Solar?

A: Our expertise will get you making power right away. We design and install the system for you. We handle all the paperwork and bureaucracy and we float the Xcel rebates, which dramatically reduces your up front investment.  

We take pride in every system we install and take the time to attend to all of the small details that make an installation last for decades instead of years.

We are a member of the Colorado Solar Energy Industry Association and will gladly provide references upon request.

Q: What if I sell my home?

A: Technically, you could take the system with you--it's yours. But the system adds value to the house, the new owners gain the benefits of lower utility costs and you benefit from their reduced emissions.

According to The Appraisal Journal, every dollar in annual energy savings translates into an added $20 in home value. We recommend getting a green certified realtor to get the maximum value from your system when you sell.  

Q: But is the power from solar panels as good?

A: With today's inverter technology, the power coming off your panels is higher quality than the power coming out of the grid--good news for your sensitive electronics! If the power was inconsistent and "dirty", the utility company wouldn't allow it to be put it into the grid. Ensuring that the system design will generate "clean" power is one of the reasons there are permits required to install a solar array and connect it to the grid.