Frequently Asked Questions

Most homeowners save 40-60% compared to professional installation, typically $12,000-$18,000 on an average residential system. Here's the breakdown:

Professional Installation: $2.50-$3.50 per watt ($20,000-$28,000 for 8kW)

DIY with Our Services: $1.30-$2.20 per watt ($10,400-$17,600 for 8kW)

Savings: $9,600-$10,400+ (40-60%)

The savings come from eliminating installation labor markup (typically $1.00-$1.50/watt) while still getting professional design and engineering.

Additional benefit: Better ROI. Professional systems typically pay back in 8-10 years, while DIY systems pay back in 4-6 years.

If you're reasonably handy and comfortable with electrical work (or willing to hire an electrician for final connections), yes! Most DIY solar installers successfully complete their projects by:

What makes it feasible:

Skills needed:

What we provide:

Important: You don't have to do everything yourself. Many DIY'ers hire contractors for specific tasks (roof mounting, electrical connections) while doing the rest themselves - still saving 30-40%.

Timeline breakdown:

Total: 6-12 weeks from design request to system activation

The actual installation work is typically 2-4 days for a residential system (spread over weekends). Commercial or complex systems may take longer.

Great question! Here's the comparison:

Complete DIY (No Professional Help):

DIY with Our Services:

Bottom line: You get professional quality at DIY prices. Worth the investment for peace of mind and proper system performance.

Yes! Solar works in all 50 states - even Alaska. Here's why:

We've designed systems in:

What matters more than climate:

1. Electricity rates (higher rates = better ROI)

2. Available incentives

3. Roof orientation and shading

4. Available roof space

We offer four core services, available individually or as packages:

1. Solar System Design

2. Permitting Plansets

3. Equipment Sourcing

4. Technical Consulting

Standard turnaround: 5-7 business days

Timeline:

Expedited service available: 2-3 business days (additional fee)

Complex projects: May take 7-10 days

What you receive:

Yes! We have licensed Professional Engineers (PE) in all 50 states.

When PE stamps are required:

When PE stamps typically aren't required:

We provide:

Important: Even if not legally required, PE-stamped drawings:

Our 98% first-time approval rate means this rarely happens, but if it does:

We provide FREE revisions until your permit is approved.

Our guarantee:

Why our approval rate is so high:

Common rejection reasons (and how we prevent them):

Bottom line: If it gets rejected, we fix it. You're covered.

Yes! We can source all equipment for your system.

Savings: 15-30% below retail pricing

How it works:

1. We design your system with specific equipment

2. We get quotes from distributors (tier-1 manufacturers)

3. You approve pricing

4. We coordinate ordering and shipping

5. Equipment ships directly to you

What we source:

Example savings (8kW system):

Benefits:

Essential information:

Very helpful (but not required):

We can determine from satellite/tools:

You provide this via:

Absolutely! We design all types of battery storage systems:

Battery systems we design:

What we provide:

Design considerations:

Typical costs:

Yes! We design commercial solar systems of all sizes.

Commercial capabilities:

Commercial design includes:

Additional commercial considerations:

Pricing: Custom quotes based on complexity

Here's the typical flow:

Step 1: Design & Documentation (5-7 days)

Step 2: Permit Submission (you or us)

Step 3: Plan Review (1-4 weeks)

Step 4: Permit Approval

Step 5: Installation (1-5 days)

Step 6: Inspection (1-2 weeks)

Step 7: Utility Interconnection (1-4 weeks)

Total time: 4-10 weeks from permit submission to PTO

Solar installations must comply with several codes:

National Electrical Code (NEC):

International Building Code (IBC) / International Residential Code (IRC):

Local Codes:

Utility Requirements:

We ensure compliance with:

You don't need to know these codes - that's what we're for!

Depends on your jurisdiction:

Property owner can pull permit:

Contractor license required:

We advise you on:

If contractor required:

Permit submission typically requires:

We only recommend tier-1 manufacturers with proven track records:

Solar Panels:

Inverters - String:

Inverters - Micro:

Batteries:

Mounting:

Why these brands?

Costs vary by system size, equipment, and location, but here are typical ranges:

Small System (5kW):

Medium System (8kW):

Large System (12kW):

Add Battery Storage:

Compare to Professional Installation:

Yes! Several financing options exist:

1. Cash Purchase (Best ROI)

2. Home Equity Loan/HELOC

3. Personal Loan

4. Cash-Out Refinance

5. Credit Union Green Energy Loans

We don't offer financing directly, but we provide:

Federal Tax Credit:

State/Local Incentives:

Solar systems are very long-lived:

Solar Panels:

Inverters:

Mounting/Racking:

Batteries:

Other Components:

Maintenance:

Return on Investment:

Difficulty depends on system size and your skills:

Easier DIY Projects:

More Challenging:

Skills assessment:

What you can outsource:

Time investment:

Our support:

Community resources:

Depends on your electrical knowledge and local requirements:

When electrician is recommended:

What electrician typically does:

What you can typically do yourself:

Electrician cost:

Still saves money:

Local requirements:

Our recommendation:

Most are common tools, some are solar-specific:

Basic Tools (you probably have):

Solar-Specific Tools:

Roof Work Tools:

Electrical Tools:

Nice to Have:

Safety Equipment (Essential):

Total tool cost if buying everything: $500-$1,500

We provide:

Depends on your goals and situation:

Good reasons to add batteries:

Reasons to skip batteries (for now):

Financial consideration:

Our recommendation:

We design both:

Depends on what you want to power and for how long:

Essential Loads Only (8-12 hours):

Partial Home Backup (12-24 hours):

Whole Home Backup (24+ hours):

Battery Systems:

Solar recharging:

We help you:

Comprehensive support throughout your project:

Design Phase:

Permitting Phase:

Installation Phase:

Commissioning:

Post-Installation:

Support channels:

NOT included:

Available for additional fee:

Here's how issues are handled:

Design/Engineering Issues (our responsibility):

Equipment Defects:

Installation Errors (your responsibility):

Permit/Code Issues:

Performance Issues:

Safety Concerns:

Our commitment:

Your responsibility:

Yes, several guarantees:

98% First-Time Permit Approval Guarantee:

Design Accuracy:

Code Compliance:

Response Time:

Professional Engineering:

What we don't guarantee:

If you're not satisfied: