Solar 101: Your Solar Questions, Answered

There is not a clear-cut answer to this question without first gathering your electric usage and information from the installation site. The reason being, there are many variables to consider when installing a solar system, including how much electricity you use and need to produce, the type of installation, shading, and more. Click to learn more about the factors that influence the price of a solar system.

In most cases, an average monthly electric bill of $160 will need a 10 kW solar system. This will cost roughly $30,600 before incentives and $21,420 after the incentives are used. A $680 average monthly electric bill will need a 50 kW solar system. A 50 kW will cost roughly $112,500 before incentives and $50,952 after all the incentives are used.

Contact us to get a free solar quote with exact numbers for a system that best fits your needs.

As a rule of thumb, most commercial and agricultural systems can be installed in 1-2 weeks. Many residential systems are installed in 1-2 days. However, before the installation can start, there is usually a 2- to 4-month period when paperwork and permits are completed. Don’t worry, all of this will be completed by Paradise Energy.

There is a 26% federal tax credit available through the end of 2020. Additionally, businesses and farmers can take advantage of 100% bonus depreciation in the first year the solar system is placed into service.

In addition, your state may have other incentives available. Visit your state page for more information:

• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey
• Delaware
• Maryland
• Ohio
• New York
• Virginia

Most likely. However, if you have a lot of shading on your roof because of trees or other factors, solar might not be right for you. The best way to know is to contact us to schedule a free site assessment, and we can let you know if your house is suitable for solar.

If your solar panels produce more electricity than you need, the excess electricity will be sent back into the grid and you will receive credit through a process called Net Metering or other similar programs. That credit will be used when your system isn’t producing electricity like at nighttime.

There are no moving parts in a solar system, so maintenance is typically very minimal. However, if an issue does arise, it is likely covered under our Triple Ten Guarantee or the manufacturer’s warranty.

Your savings will depend on the size of your system and how much electricity you’re using. We typically design and build your solar system to cover 100% of your monthly electric bill.

The solar panels that we use currently come with a 25 to 30 year linear performance warranty. However, just because the panels are no longer under warranty does not mean they will stop working. Solar panels slowly degrade over time. Most panels are guaranteed to produce 85% of the year one output in year 25. If the panels keep degrading at this rate over the next 25 years they will be producing 70% of their initial output in 50 years. All that to say, solar panels will last a long time. Learn more about the panel we use here »

No. Solar panels can be installed using a roof mount, ground mount, or carport.

Solar can be installed on most roof types. Paradise Energy installs solar on metal (standing seam and ribbed), shingles, and rubber roofs.

It depends on how much electricity you use. We analyze your recent electric bills to assess the amount of electricity you need to cover, and then we’ll design a system that fits that level of usage taking into account shading, orientation, and other factors.

Most newer buildings are constructed to support the extra weight of solar panels. If there are any questions as to whether your roof can support solar panels, we will have a third-party engineer do a structural analysis to determine if extra support is needed.

There are several factors that impact the amount of space needed for your solar system. Some of those factors include, how much electricity the system needs to produce (this impacts the amount of panels needed), the type and size of the panels that are chosen, and the available space.

For rule of thumb, a 10 kW system to cover a $160 monthly electric bill would use about 650 sq ft for a roof mount and 0.014 acres for a ground mount. A 50 kW system would offset a $680 monthly electric bill and would use about 3,250 sq. ft for a roof mount and 0.069 acres for a ground mount.

These options include: loans, leases, or Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). Determining which of these is best for you will depend on your availability of capital, your tax situation, and your personal preference.

For more information about each option, visit our financing page.

Yes, your solar system will still produce electricity on a cloudy day. However, the production will be less than a sunny day.

Nothing. Let the snow naturally melt from your panels. Our Triple Ten performance guarantee takes into account rain, snow, clouds, and sunshine.