This really depends on where you live, how much your electric bill is, the size of the system, incentives, roof replacement, tree removal, etc. But going solar can be a lot more affordable than you think. You can get a loan that’s $0-down and low-interest that is designed to be lower than your monthly electric bill. So you do not need to purchase the whole solar system upfront. The Solarize Mendon Upton program is offering discounted rates to those towns, making it even more affordable. We are happy to give you a free, no obligation quote so you would have an idea of how much it would cost for your home.

For most systems, solar owners break even after only 5-7 years, and you will continue to save money on your electric bill for years after that. With government incentives and solar credits the energy you produce from your home will keep money in your pocket. At ACE Solar, our goal is to design a system specific to your energy use, so that your monthly electric bill is as close to $0 as possible. Some months you can even get credits on your electric bill because you produced more energy than you used!

For every solar array installed, you are helping to keep harmful pollutants out of the atmosphere and water. Whereas fossil fuels cause environmental degradation and require large amounts of water and energy just to acquire, solar is carbon free and relies on the unlimited power of the sun. For every home that converts to solar energy, about 16,000 pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of our atmosphere per year, or roughly 24 trees. Over the course of the system’s lifetime this is over 400,000 pounds of carbon dioxide or 600 trees. Talk about reducing your carbon footprint!

Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels work by absorbing the sun’s energy throughout the day and converting it to Direct Current (DC) electricity. When a photon, or light particle, strikes the surface of your solar panels, they will provide electrons within the solar cell material with enough energy to begin moving, thus creating the current. However, most homes and businesses run on Alternating Current (AC) electricity, so this DC current is passed through an inverter that converts DC to AC before being distributed to your home.

The amount of energy generated from solar panels does rely on the amount of sunlight they receive. This means your panels will produce electricity on cloudy days but it will be less than when it is sunny. They will not produce electricity at night. However, oftentimes solar can produce more energy during the day than you use and thanks to net-metering you will get compensated for that on your electric bill. Some solar customers eliminate their bill entirely and can even receive credits some months on their bill instead of charges.

If your solar panels are covered in snow, they are unable to convert sunlight into electricity. However, since most solar panels are installed at an angle, the snow tends to slide right off. Additionally, solar panels absorb more energy than surrounding surfaces making them warmer, which allows snow to melt and even clean debris off the panels for you.

There are several different options when it comes to financing solar. The most financially advantageous way is to own your system by either buying it outright or getting a solar loan. There are low-interest solar loans offered in Massachusetts that are $0-down so you start saving money from day one. You can always look into leasing solar through either a solar lease or solar PPA, however, we strongly recommend you own the system to qualify for all the benefits going solar has to offer such as the tax credits, increased home value, significantly lowered electric bills etc.

Fixing your home with solar is a great way to increase its value. When your home is appraised, it is noted that there is no added price for an electric bill associated with living there. For many homeowners, this is a great benefit! If you are leasing your system then you can transfer the lease agreement to the next owners or purchase the system from the company and include it in the sale of your home.

The whole process, from our first contact to project completion, will usually take between 8-10 weeks. We pride ourselves on coming in on time and on budget. From the initial contact and proposal, we will then apply on your behalf for any incentives you may qualify for and will not begin construction until they have been approved. On install day, our professional team will get the job done in only one or two days, depending on the complexity of the build.

If your roof faces South, East, or West with minimal shade it could be an ideal roof for solar. Contact ACE Solar to receive a free, personalized quote to find out how much solar could save you even without the perfect rooftop.

Solar will actually protect the longevity of the roof beneath it. However, if you need a new roof or repairs it is advised to do so before going solar so the panels do not have to be removed and reinstalled for roof work.

For residential projects, there is very little maintenance required. Rain helps keep your arrays clean from dust, debris or pollen. If there are any issues that should arise, give us a call and if troubleshooting over the phone does not resolve the issue, we are happy to schedule an appointment to fix it.

The typical lifetime of a solar system is about 25 years. However, they often will last longer than this, though efficiency may decrease. We offer panels that are warrantied for up to 25 years. We also offer a 20-year workmanship warranty and we are available for the lifetime of your solar array to help when you need us.

Check out the page Incentives for PV and Battery Storage for more information on the incentives available for Solar PV and Solar Battery Storage.