Solar as an Investment
Alternative Energy Solutions are mandated by the Federal Government to replace at least 20% of residential power consumption by 2020. The installation of Solar Power for homeowners is a way of reducing the consumption of carbon fuel consumption and improving the atmosphere . The significance is multiplied as a pure investment vehicle for those that are searching for a solid return over the next decade and beyond . There are vast amounts of money coming from Hedge Funds to finance leasing of Solar systems for homeowners in key markets across North America . Hedge Fund Managers are looking for substantial returns and they are virtually guaranteed to get them from homeowners that may not have access to the capital to add Solar to their home. At Total we are going to help our customers get the return that would otherwise be enjoyed by Hedge Funds and the like.
Total Solar System design
There are several key components to consider when investing in Solar from a practical point of view. Solar is most effective and has the greatest output when facing South or West. We will determine if a roof mount system or ground mount is your best solution on our initial telephone conference or site visit. Once we have identified the best location the next consideration is output per square foot. You may not be able to replace all your energy consumption with the available roof or un-shaded ground space. We will then design a system ( often customized ) that will give maximum output.
Long term Performance
Total has remodeled thousands of homes over the last 20 years and we have investigated various Solar systems during recent years. Many of our past customers would like Total to be their Solar Integrator; we believe in Solar but have had serious concerns about long term performance and service.
Most, if not all Solar Integration Companies have little or no experience in the roofing industry. PV Solar ;which has the greatest watts per square foot output and is ideally roof mounted on a frame that sits a few inches off of the roof deck and is the most commonly installed system. We have received a number of calls from customers in recent years that have installed Solar panels and are experiencing roofing problems such as leaks ( which in some cases were caused by the poor installation of the Solar frames ). As a purely practical consideration it is extremely unlikely that an asphalt roof will not deteriorate over time and certainly the life of the Solar panels should far exceed the life of most roofs. If your roof leaks in time it is NOT the responsibility of your Solar Integration company; and to repair or replace the roof the Solar system will have to be removed and reinstalled. Many of the smaller companies that were installing Solar have failed, this is a terrible dilemma for a homeowner.
Solar System
Total is now offering a comprehensive solution that will alleviate the risk of roofing problems that are in any way caused or encumbered by the installation of Solar. We guarantee both the system and the roof; we will be completely responsible for the performance of any roof area that is affected or covered by our Solar system. This is a PV system and will create the same level of power output as other frame mounted systems. This system qualifies for Federal tax credits and combined with the SREC program homeowners will generate a fantastic return on investment. This is the product and service that our customers would expect from Total and we are pleased to have finally found a Solar product that we can stand behind.
