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Jul 24 2018
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The Essentials of Passive Solar Home Design

By Solar Panel Installation Process No Comments


In the process of designing a home, there are a number of strategies that can be implemented to minimize the amount of energy required to meet the demands of those living in the residence.

The passive solar home design embraces this concept and focuses on facilitating the reduction of heating and cooling loads for a household so that the residents of a home can consume less solar energy for these purposes. Any energy usage that can’t be slimmed down can then be powered by solar energy.

If you are looking to purchase, design, or renovate a home, understanding passive solar home design will allow you to optimize your residence so that you can minimize your energy consumption and maximize your savings.

What is Passive Solar Home Design?

The purpose of installing a solar panel system at your home is to enable the generation of renewable and clean energy. If you are already going down this path, it makes a lot of sense to plan the design of your home to complement your solar panel system to further help with these goals.

When planning and designing your passive solar home, you have to take into account the climate, location of your home, and materials being used in its construction. These factors all influence the way in which solar heat interacts with your home.

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Passive homes design for different positioning of the sun in summer and winter (source)

Passive solar heating is the main tenet of this form of home design and has to do with the way your home absorbs heat. The goal for this is to offset your heating and cooling requirements for when you want to use your AC. Here are some of the best ways to do this.

Home Location

The first part of designing a passive solar home is to select the best location for its construction. The only thing that you really need to worry about here is the amount of exposure that the southern side of your home will have to the sun. It should be fully exposed to the sun’s rays to ensure that you are maximizing your homes passive solar heating.

Installation of Windows

Passive solar heating works by allowing light to shine through properly oriented windows. Your windows should face within 30 degrees of true south, which is different from magnetic south (South on a compass) in that it is based only on the position of the sun rather than the magnetic poles.

They should be uncovered between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the seasons where you are heating your home and covered during the months when you are planning to cool your home down.

Thermal Mass Materials

Objects and materials are placed behind these windows to absorb and retain the incoming heat. The materials used in these surfaces and objects are referred to as thermal mass materials due to their ability to effectively absorb and retain heat.

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Some of the best thermal mass materials to use in designing your passive solar home are concrete, brick, stone, and tile. Thermal mass materials are added inside of your home so that they can make your home cooler during the hot seasons by absorbing heat from inside your home while keeping your home warmer during the cold seasons by absorbing heat from the sun’s rays.

Heat Distribution

When planning your passive solar home, you also need to focus on how the heat will be distributed throughout your house. Once the inside of your home starts to heat up from the sun, the heat will disperse to different areas from its source through either conduction, convection, or radiation.

Conduction is when heat moves through something when they are physically touching, convection occurs through air and liquids, and the radiation comes from the sunlight or other sources of heat like fires.

Keep all of this in mind when planning how you want heat distributed throughout your home, and make sure to properly insulate your house so that the air does not escape through unwanted areas. Also, the Department of Energy has some great resources for effective heat distribution methods.

Several Ways to Implement a Passive Energy Home

These general guidelines will allow you to gain a solid understanding of how to move forward with your passive solar home. When working with the experts, make sure to communicate your ideas for materials, positioning of objects and surfaces, and how you want the heat distributed.

Passive solar home design is a great way to complement your solar panel system so that you can realize the full value of clean and renewable energy systems. If you are ready to learn more, you can speak with one of our energy advisors about all of the details!

Jul 21 2018
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5 Common Ways to Finance Solar and Storage Systems

By Buy Solar Panels No Comments

Acquiring solar panels and a solar storage system for your home, and transferring to solar power can be expensive – it can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. Going solar is a good investment and it does pay off in the long run, but the first purchase of a solar system can be quite costly.

Many people are not able to make that purchase upfront and in cash, which can deter them from buying it in the first place.

To help you make that first, serious step towards going solar, making a great investment for your future, and increasing the value of your home, we have researched some of the best financing options for your solar and storage systems purchase.

The 5 traditional ways to finance solar can be broken up into two categories: Loans (you own it) and Leases (third-party ownership).

If you prefer not to spend the upfront money to install your solar panel system, solar loans are an excellent option for you. They allow you to finance the entire cost of your system.

Better yet, with a loan, you’ll own your system and you’ll be entitled to all the rebates, tax credits and, other incentives. These benefits allow you to maximize the return on your investment in solar.

There are two types of solar loans: secured and unsecured. With both types, there are zero down options, so you won’t have to put any money down. Regardless of which type you use, your monthly loan payments are likely to be less than your current electric bill so you’ll start saving money right away, without incurring any upfront costs, and, over time, as electricity prices continue to rise, your savings will continue to grow.

Solar Loan Basics1. Home Equity Loan

Home equity loans or home equity lines of credit are the most common form of secured loans. With this type of loan, you borrow against the equity in your home. Your home serves as collateral. These loans have favorable terms and the lowest interest rates, from 3.5-5.5 percent. Additionally, the interest on the loan is tax-deductible.

But – if for some reason you were to default on a loan, the bank has the option to foreclose on your home.

2. FHA, Title 1 Loan

FHA, Title 1 loans are a very similar type of secured loan, guaranteed by the government, where your home also serves as collateral. Similarly to the home equity loan, the terms are also favorable, with low-interest rates ranging from 5 to 7.5 percent. If you default on the loan in this case, the lender will have a lien against your home, so that the loan will be paid when or if you sell your house.

3. Unsecured Loans

These loans do not require any collateral, which makes them riskier for the lender and that risk is reflected in the higher interest rate. Unsecured loans are similar to other personal loans. Interests on these loans are not tax deductible, and if you were to default on an unsecured loan, your credit score would be impacted.

4. & 5. “They Own It” – Solar Leases or PPAs

Solar leases and power purchase agreements, also known as PPAs, allow you to take advantage of the financial and environmental benefits of solar without owning your solar panel system. Both options are similar to renting. You can think of it as a car lease.

With a solar lease, you pay a monthly fee for the system and get to use all the electricity the solar panels produce – for free. With a PPA you agree to purchase the electricity the system generates at prices that are lower than what you would pay your utility.

Solar PPA BasicsMost leases and PPAs have zero-down options so you won’t pay anything upfront. Your monthly payments for a lease or a PPA are usually less than your current electric bill, so you begin saving right away. A solar lease or a PPA will help you to save 10 to 50 percent over your utilities and electricity bills without making any upfront investment.

Although solar panel systems require little to no maintenance, if something were to happen, the lease or the PPA company would be responsible for any repairs, since it is the owner of the system.

Securing a lease takes less time and effort than securing a loan. Generally, you sign a 20-year contract with the leasing company, and they will install the panels at your home. You usually will need to have a credit score of more than 700 to qualify for a solar lease or a PPA.

What Is the Best Option for You?

Since the leasing company owns the solar panel system, many of its financial benefits, things like rebates, tax credits and incentives would go to them. So if you’re looking to maximize your investment in solar, the better choice would be a solar loan.

Leases and PPAs, on the other hand, are a great option if you’re looking for a simple solution. They are also a good option if your taxes are less than the tax credit you would receive.

In the end, once you understand your financing options, you need to choose the one that’s best for you, and that best fits your needs and goals.