Solar energy can dramatically reduce your utility bills, guarantee you a fixed energy rate, produce a stream of income and ease your burden on the environment.

The Property  

But solar isn’t right for all properties. A core requirement is a span of open space, rooftop or land, that is free of shade for at least five hours a day. Southern facing rooftops or ground areas are the easiest to utilize, but ECAE can achieve creative solutions for capturing sunlight from other directions as well.

A roof needs to be strong enough to support the weight of solar panels and the surface should be relatively new. Ground mounted systems can be installed on sunny southern facing properties with consideration to your municipality’s zoning regulations. Solar thermal units typically face south, but can also be placed in an east-west format.

Cost  

With respect to system size, complexity and equipment, the average cost of a residential Solar Electric installation is $25k to $60k. However, there are substantial state and federal incentives to offset the cost of a project. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE, www.dsireusa.org) is a great resource for assessing the most up-to-date information about the assistance you could receive for your project. If you become an ECAE customer, we will secure all the incentives and rebates for you as a courtesy.