Our System Design Process

We start by reviewing your electric bills for the past 12 months to determine how much electricity you use per year.  At the same time, we snip a Google Earth picture of of your home and overlay a scaled graphic sketch to see how many solar panels we can install.  Using that information we size your system to produce up to 120% of your current annual electrical usage. Once we know what size system you need and want, we calculate the price and present you in an easy to understand proposal that tells you exactly what you get with the system and what you will pay for it.  All designs are reviewed and approved by a NABCEP certified energy professional.

How Much will it Cost

A typical system capable of generating 1,000 kWh of electricity per month consists of about 30 x 330 watt solar panels, mounted on the roof or a ground mount, depending on the system's orientation to the sun, the amount of shading from surrounding obstructions, and anticipated snow days.  We don't even mind telling you, right here and right now, that a system that size will cost around $28,000 of which you will pay about half after third party incentives and tax credits are applied. Low interest financing is available to help with the rest.

Our Installation Process

Once you decide to install your own photovoltaic power plant on your roof or elswhere on your property, we handle the rest. We line up the financing, the building permits, the HOA approvals, any rebates or incentives from third parties such as your electric utility, and take care of any other matters needed to get the job done.  Next we have the package of system components and materials delivered to your jobsite and schedule our installation crews to begin the install on a mutually agreeable date. We can usually begin installation within 30 days from the date you sign an Installation Agreement.  A 30 panel system, as described above, takes about a week to install.  The local building inspectors and the utility company may take another week to inspect the system and approve it to be turned on.  After that you will be producing your own electricity.

Follow up System Support

Once you are up and running you, and we, will have the ability to monitor your system performance through an internet based portal that reports how much electricity your system, and each solar panel in it, is producing at any given moment and for any given period of time. If there is a problem, we can identify and correct it immediately.  Glenwood Clean Energy will be your primary point of contact for all issues that may need to be addressed.  Although the component manufacturers have their own warranties, you don't have to deal with them directly if you don't want to.  We handled it.   As a practical matter, problems are rare and easy to fix. The most common issue is re-establishin the internet communication link between your system and the internet.  That is usually fixed by resetting the monitor, just like you reset your computer, by tuning it off and back on again. Otherwise, the worst case scenario is that one of our installation crew might have to swap out a panel, inverter or optimizer.  Based on industry statistical information, the mean time between failure of those components is more than 100 years. And even if it happens, the fix is easy.

Helping you Pay

Most people think PV systems cost a bunch of money up front. Ok, they are right . . . sort of. Unlike buying electricity from the local utility company, producing your own means buying and installing a system that costs a significant amount of money.  But there is a lot of help available.  Local utilities, such as Holy Cross Energy, provide cash incentives to help pay for PV systems because it is the cheapest way they can supply you with electricity. Non-profit organizations such as the Community Organization for Resource Efficiency ("CORE") manage grant money from various sources to further the public interest in reducing our dependance on fossil fuels. The United States federal government provides a 30% federal income tax credit to help offset the remaining balance.  Typically, you, the homeowner, will only have to pay about half the cost of the system. Did I mention that low interest loans are available to help you do that. Oh that's right, I did. But no harm in saying it again.

Why Bother

Because forward thinking people have recognized the urgent need to install the production capacity of solar, and other renewable energy technologies, before we run out of oil and gas.  Once we hear what sounds like a straw sucking on an empty drink, it will be too late to begin the transition. And even though it might me quaint if New York, Boston, and Miami resembled Venice, the disuptions caused by climate change will be really inconvenient and expensive. Just look at what it costs to clean up after a couple of hurricanes.  We do that every year. And you pay for it with your taxes. Going solar is a much better, and less expensive, alternative in both the short and the long run.  

High Performance

We use only high quality components from manufacturers such as Solaria, Solar World, SolarEdge, Enphase, and Iron Ridge so you can be assured your system will produce what we promise it will for years to come.

Good Looks

 We pay as much attention to aesthetics as we do to performance.