FAQs
Solar Electric
What type of roofs can solar panels be installed on?
Solar panels can be installed on any roofing material. At the on-site consultation, we can explain exactly the installation process for your roof.
How long will a home solar power system last?
Most home solar power systems are predicted to last between 25-35 years. Most manufacturers guarantee that after 25 years your solar panels will output about 80% of the electricity they did in their first year of installation.
Will a home solar power system increase my property taxes?
No - property taxes are unaffected. Even though your property's value will increase, there is legislation that prevents your property taxes from increasing. In California, that specific legislation is Section 73 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code. This code provides property tax exclusion on most types of solar power systems, including home solar power systems
How does solar system connect to my house?
It is wired into your existing electrical panel via a breaker.
What is PV?
"PV" is an acronym which stands for "photovoltaic," the production of electricity from light. The photovoltaic effect is an aspect of the photoelectric effect. It is defined as the conversion of electromagnetic radiation to electrical voltage by a specific material.
How do photovoltaics work?
To describe it at the simplest and most practical level, you shine light on a solar cell and you get electricity.
On a slightly more sophisticated level, photons of a high energy are absorbed by semiconductor material creating electron-electron hole pairs which come under the influence of an electric field and are conducted through an external circuit.
What is an Inverter?
An inverter is an electric device which converts direct current [DC] to alternating current [AC]. Solar cells produce a direct current. Most of the electrical devices we commonly use expect a standard AC power supply. An inverter takes the DC from the solar cells and creates a usable form of AC. In addition, an Inverter may also be connected to the electric grid and/or a battery backup system
High-Efficiency Heating and Cooling
What is SEER?
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), is most commonly used to measure the efficiency of a central air conditioner. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the system. SEER measures how efficiently a cooling system will operate over an entire season.
• In technical terms, SEER is a measure of equipment the total cooling of a central air conditioner or heat pump (in Btu) during the normal cooling season as compared to the total electric energy input (in watt-hours) consumed during the same period
How do I know if I need a new heating and cooling (HVAC) system?
If your HVAC is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, you should have it looked at by a professional HVAC contractor. If it is not performing efficiently or needs upgrading, consider replacing it with a unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. Installed correctly, these high-efficiency heating and cooling units can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs. Before you invest in a new HVAC system, make sure that you have addressed the big air leaks in your house and the duct system. Sometimes, these are the real sources of problems rather than your HVAC equipment. Visit ENERGY STAR Heating and Cooling for more information.
How much will I save by upgrading my heating and cooling (HVAC) system?
Depending on the performance level of your system now and the performance level of the upgraded system (SEER level) you could save anywhere from 30% off your electric bill on up!
Tubular Skylight
What is a Tubular Skylight?
A Tubular skylight is a product that transfers natural sunlight into useable light that lightens up dark rooms. The technology used to accomplish this is a super reflective light shaft and precise engineered diffusers.
Why use a tubular skylight?
A Tubular skylight is a product that transfers natural sunlight into useable light that lightens up dark rooms. The technology used to accomplish this is a super reflective light shaft and precise engineered diffusers.
Will the tubular skylight work on cloudy days?
Tubular skylights reflective system transfers light down to the room with minimal light loss on cloudy days. The engineered diffuser and state of the art optic technology incorporated into the light pipe allows light coming from any direction to be transferred down the tube, allowing the best light output possible.
Are tubular skylights energy efficient? Do they allow heat in or out of my home?
Tubular skylights are extremely efficient; with virtually no heat gain or loss, they are also Energy Star rated and qualify for both state and federal tax credits.
How does a Tankless Water Heater work?
Rinnai tankless water heaters are placed in-line like a conventional tank-style heater. When opening a hot water tap, or starting the dishwasher, the Rinnai tankless water heater recognizes the need for hot water and starts the heating process. The temperature of the incoming water is used to calculate how much heat the burners must produce to deliver water at the desired temperature. This instant calculation maximizes the burners' efficiency. When the demand for hot water ceases the unit shuts down and uses no energy, waiting until more hot water is needed
How much will I save when utilizing a Tankless water heater?
The estimated annual energy cost when utilizing a tankless water heater is $223 in comparison to $281 when utilizing a 40 gallon gas tank water heater and $492 with an electric tank water heater.
How long will a tankless water heater last?
Tankless water heaters have a typical life of up to 20 years, when installed in residential applications. This can be twice as long as a tank style unit.
How much hot water will my tankless water heater provide?
Your Solargy Comfort customer specialist will help you size you tankless water heater starting form your worst case scenario in hot water usage for maximum efficiency. Our tankless water heaters range from 5.3 gallons per minute (GPM) up to 9.4 GPM.
Water Purification
What is hard water?
Hard water simply means that the water contains minerals the harder the water the higher the mineral content. The most common minerals in water are Calcium, Magnesium, and Iron. Hard water problems include scale and deposit buildup
What is soft water?
Soft water simply means the absence of minerals in water. The benefit of soft water is that a homeowner or business will greatly reduce the amount of build up found on anything water comes in contact with.
What is reverse Osmosis?
Reverse osmosis is membrane filtration treatment process. However there are key differences between reverse osmosis and filtration. The predominant removal mechanism in membrane filtration is straining, or size exclusion, so the process can theoretically achieve perfect exclusion of particles regardless of operational parameters such as influent pressure and concentration This is very technical so to put it in terms easier to understand R.O water is usually placed under the kitchen sink and the treated water comes out of a spout close to the tap water faucet. You can also look at it this way 80% of all bottled water is reverse osmosis water. This means it meats the FDA guidelines of good drinking water free of minerals and contaminates.
Indoor Air Quality
What is Indoor Air Quality?
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the effect, good or bad, of the contents of the air inside a structure, on its occupants. Usually, temperature (too hot or too cold), humidity (too dry or too damp), and air velocity (draftiness or motionlessness) are factors taken into account in investigating air quality situations.
What types of pollutants are there in the air?
Air quality is affected by the presence of various types of contaminants in the air. Some are in the form of gases (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide), volatile organic compounds (formaldehyde, solvents, perfumes and fragrances, etc.), and semi-volatile organic compounds (pesticides). Other pollutants are in the form of particles. These include bioaerosols (mold spores, pollen, viruses, bacteria, insect parts, animal dander, etc.); soot; particles from buildings, furnishings and occupants such as fiberglass, gypsum powder, paper dust, lint from clothing, carpet fibers, etc.; dirt (sandy and earthy material), etc.
How can I tell that indoor air is contaminated?
Sniff the air. The nose is the best odor and gas detector, and a good particle detector as well, especially when first entering a contaminated environment. Unfortunately, in as little as 15 minutes, it adapts to the environment and stops detecting contaminants. Chronic respiratory distress, headaches, and fatigue may also be signs of contaminated air.