houseThe benefits of a solar power system last a lifetime. From significantly adding to your property value, national financial incentives and ultimately making a global impact.

Here are some easy ways to estimate the cost of a solar photovoltaic or solar thermal system and to help you determine if solar quest systems are the right for you.

Step 1: Estimate your buildings electricity needs

First step is to determine how much electricity you use. Determine how many kilowatt hours (kWh) you use per day, per month, per year. You can do this by referring to your utility bill.

The utility bill will also display your costs and most likely include a graph that shows your monthly energy use/cost throughout the year. This will assist you in estimating when your highest energy use is and at what time of year.

Step 2: Anticipate future fluctuations

Since 1999, the average retail and commercial electricity rates have increased roughly by 30%. The increasing trend will most likely continue. As the cost coal and hydropower used to generate electricity continue to rise.

Thus electricity needs and present and future cost in relation to one another.

Step 3: Determine the amount of sun you get

All factors that impact a PV system’s performance such as the temperature effect on the photovoltaic cells, the amount of sun peak hours in various regions, and the efficiency of inverter to convert solar derived energy from DC to AC. Let our Solar Quest Expert Professionals determine the best size for your solar photovoltaic system. Contact us at info@solarquest.com for my details.

Step 4: Size your system

On average, solar photovoltaic systems sized between 1 to 5 kilowatts are usually sufficient to meet the electricity needs of most homes. One advantage of grid-tied systems is that you can use solar PV to supplement or offset some of your electricity needs; therefore you can size your system to match your budget and always add to the system later if needed. Solar Quest prides itself on matching the right system for each individual client. Our experts focus on the needs of the client to insure the highest quality system is in place for their electricity needs for today and the future.

Step 5: Know your tax credits and rebates

Allow Solar Quest to help you make the most of your money as we help you navigate your federal, state and local jurisdictions solar rebates, tax credits and other types of incentives to homeowners for installing residential photovoltaic and solar domestic water systems.

Step 6: Run the numbers

Although the cost for a solar PV system will depend on the size of the system you intend to install, your electricity rate, the amount of kilowatt hours you expect to generate, and the state/local rebates/tax credits that may be available, the formulas for calculating the returns are pretty much the same.

For the most accurate assessment, please contact Solar Quest today for a free quote at info@solarquest.com