A: Everything transfers! You can save money on your electric bill and get paid by your utility company while you have the solar, then you’ll be able to hand everything off to the next homeowner for them to enjoy.

This usually translates to selling your home quicker to any buyer who understands how solar works, as they too would rather pay for a power bill that never goes up and they get to own.

A: If the home qualifies, the upfront cost is $0. Getting solar for your home isn’t free. However, we use a combination of state, federal, and private programs to help you reduce your utility bill and replace it with a low-cost solar payment. (Incentives do not apply to lease products.)

The best part about these programs, and the reason you see more solar on homes today, is any home with good sun exposure will generate enough income to not only pay for its own cost but also put money in your pocket. Why pay more to rent power when you can own it for less?

A: The solar panels used in New England are engineered for the elements, and are quite sturdy. However, snow buildup can affect production, but most homeowners just let them clear off naturally like you would a roof.

In some cases, depending on the roof pitch, solar panels allow the snow to slide right off them due to their glass-like material. Meaning, that you won’t see as much snow buildup on your roof as before.

A: Although solar has been found to increase property values, Rhode Island and Massachusetts both offer property tax exemptions for the value added. As a result, homeowners who go solar will not see their property taxes increase.

Not only do they offer a property tax exemption, but they also offer a sales tax exemption too.

A: Homes that will see the most savings are the ones that have south facing roofs and are not too shaded by trees.

Also, your solar system size is based on how much energy your household uses, so too little usage can disqualify a home as well.

The best way to find out if your home qualifies is to schedule a free savings assessment here.

A: Even with solar panels, you will still receive an electric bill. However, the amount you owe can be significantly reduced. It all depends on which solar program best fits your needs and how much electricity your roof can produce compared to your home’s consumption. Most U.S. installations are still grid-tied, allowing customers to draw power from the grid when their system does not produce enough electricity. In months where we generate 100% or more of your power, you could potentially eliminate the “electricity” portion of your electric bill. However, even in a perfect solar offset situation, you will still have an electricity bill due to mandatory utility company fees.

Luckily, by lowering your energy usage, investing in battery storage, and enrolling in net metering, you could pay a much smaller energy bill with solar panels than without them.

A: For Photovoltaic Solar panels, (or PV Panels) that you see around New England, little to no maintenance is required. This type of solar panel is commonly known as “passive solar” as it has no moving parts. Because of this, you will see fields of thousands of panels, or commercial installations on large businesses/malls/carports that rarely have workers around.

Rooftop Power takes this a step further by using new technology called microinverters, to ensure not just the panels but the inverters as well are maintenance free, and they come with a 25 year warranty.

A: We do! Rooftop Power is a full turnkey company, we take pride in installing the residential and commercial systems ourselves. Working with just one company will ensure that your work is backed up with strong warranties, and the paperwork process has less opportunity for delay.

Installation typically takes 1-2 days to complete, and you can expect the crew to be there all day. Once the panels are installed we educate you on how to power and shut down your system for future steps.

A: If your roof gets a lot of sunlight, there’s a good chance you will qualify. We provide a free site assessment to determine exactly how much sunlight you get. After a follow-up consultation, we’ll explain why your home is or is not ideal.

Of course, there are other factors such as roof age to take into account, but most can be addressed easily. The best way to find out if your home qualifies is to schedule a free consultation here.

A: The solar process takes about a month to complete after we install your system. The good news is you will begin to earn credit, which reduces your bill, immediately after turn on and should see an impact on the very next billing cycle.