Frequently Asked Questions

As solar tech has gotten cheaper, it has expanded rapidly across neighborhoods and business districts throughout America, and that means more and more people have started coming to us with pretty good questions as they’ve started recognizing there are realistic opportunities for solar panel installation in Columbia, MO. Pretty wild, considering that just a few years ago widespread consumer solar use seemed like something of a pipe dream.
 
But we know you might not have had time yet to read up on what’s happening today in solar energy, so we’ve gathered here a list of some of the questions we get asked most commonly, so you can get a sense of some of the reasons people are talking so much about making the transition to solar.
 
1. Am I a good candidate for solar?
 
Good question. We’ve just got a few questions for you:
 
-How’s the sun exposure on your roof?
 
-What about the roof condition and composition itself?
 
-What are your budgeting priorities?
 
You might be able to answer some of these questions just by taking a quick survey of your property and building, but we’d be more than happy to walk you through the checklist as well. The bottom line is: there’s a decent chance we can find a solar setup that works for your specific circumstances, so give us a call and find out!
 
2. Ok, but what about costs?
 
Costs range primarily based on the size of your system, but there’s one unwavering trend that’s made our customers pretty delighted over the years, which is that module costs have been consistently dropping over the past two decades due to ever-increasing demand for accessible (affordable) solar. There’s a ton of financial incentives and rebates available to homeowners and business owners consider making the switch to Missouri solar, and we’ve helped customers navigate them all, so give us a call and tell us about your energy needs to find out how you can maximize your savings!
 
3. Well, what are some of those incentives?
 
The big one is a 30% Federal Tax Credit—a recent boon to energy pioneers, because all you need to do is purchase and install solar and you automatically qualify. Currently the tax credit is slated through 2020, but the credit rate will be reducing each year so the sooner you make the transition, the more savings available to you in this department.
 
But if you ask a local recipient of our top-tier Missouri solar panel installation, they’ll likely tell you about the Duke or Empire Electric rebate they got. Some smart folks have been taking advantage of offers to give homeowners up to $6,000 to help offset the installation costs.
 
We’ve got all the info you’ll need to find the best deal for you, and we’ve had plenty of experience navigating the channels of tax credits and energy rebates over our years as your trusted Columbia solar installation company—experience that we want to use to help you save money.
 
4. What about when it’s not sunny out?
 
A lot of people don’t realize that photovoltaic panels still harvest energy even in partially blocked or reflected light (just not quite as efficiently). For many solar users, the energy stored during times of high sunlight is enough to offset those times when your panels aren’t at full capacity, like at nighttime. Honestly, as long as your house isn’t surrounded by gigantic trees and you’ve got area facing South, West, or East, your panels are going to perform great.
 
5. What type of roof is best for a solar array?
 
A couple things: a composite roof with a gentler slope. Solar works pretty well on just about any roof composition other than clay tile and slate roofs. Other than that, we’re just looking for space that isn’t obstructed and with a good facing.
 
As far as size goes, each kilowatt requires about 100 sq. feet for installation, meaning most homeowners have space for a system around 3-6 kW!
 
We’ve got plenty of experience working with a range of roofing styles—one of the joys of being your go-to resource for panel installations in Solar MO!

You've got questions, we've got answers.
Here's answers to a few of the most common ones.

6. How new does my roof need to be?
 
Typically, you’ll want to install solar panels on roofs that are less than 15 years old, mostly because you’re investing in a piece of tech with some serious longevity (at least 20 years), and you don’t want your roof wearing out before your solar array’s time is up!
 
7. Is roof installation the only option?
 
Nope! Depending on your solar needs and your property layout, you might be interested in a ground-mounted system (pretty common for those who have roofs oriented sub optimally for solar exposure)—all part of our goal to spread solar energy far and wide!
 
8. How long will my solar panel be in operation?
 
A properly installed system provided by an experienced team of Columbia solar installers will last you from 30-40 years. There are still plenty of solar arrays from back in the day (we’re talking 70’s, here) that are still functioning, and with the way that technology has advanced since then, the longevity of these state-of-the-art systems is only looking up from here.
 
9. Is there any maintenance I need to do after the system is up and running?
 
We install an incredibly low-maintenance model of solar panel, and there’s very little you’ll have to do aside from rinsing the panels down whenever they get dirty to maximize your energy intake!
 
10. Ok, just remind me one more time: what all am I getting out of this?

  1. Cheaper utility bills. Some of you are even going to be selling energy back to the utilities company. Feels good.
  2. Take advantage of incentives that are just waiting for you. Federal and state agencies are looking to give money to solar investors. I’d take the money.
  3. Increased property value. Just like that.
  4. Energy independence. Take that, unexpected rate hikes!
  5. Save the planet. Enough said.
 
We’re sure you’ve got more questions, and you can bet we’ve got more answers. So give us a call at 573-234-4524, and we’ll give you all the info you need to make an informed investment in energy futures with the trusted Columbia Missouri solar installers at Sun Solution Solar.