Solar Installations
Does installing a solar energy system make sense in a cold-climate like Pennsylvania?
Yes, because Pennsylvania has enough clear or even partly cloudy days throughout the year, where solar radiation is plentiful. As a matter of fact, Pennsylvania has greater solar capacity than Germany where solar installations are the most abundant and fastest growing in the world.
Is a solar electric system affordable in Pennsylvania?
Yes, progressive state and federal incentive programs, renewable energy certificates, increasing utility rates, strong net-metering support, and ample year-round solar radiance help provide PA homeowners plenty of opportunities to ‘plug into’ affordable renewable energy.
There is an extreme abundance of solar energy reaching the earth’s surface each day.
More energy is received per hour from the sun than we consume on earth in an entire year.
However, to effectively use this solar energy it must be collected, sometimes stored, and converted into a suitable energy form for effective use in particular applications. For residential use, there are two types of solar energy systems in wide use today: Solar PV (Electric) and Solar Thermal (Hot Water) Systems.
Solar PV (Electric)
When most people think of solar energy systems, they visualize a solar electric system with photovoltaic (PV) panels typically placed on a roof. 
A PV Solar System in concept is a simple way to initially convert the solar energy into electrical energy within the solar panel, then condition the energy, and either store it or consume it as electricity. A solar panel consists of semiconductor devices or photovoltaic (PV) cells that can release electrons when bombarded with photons (fundamental units of light radiation); this phenomenon, known as the photovoltaic (PV) effect, is used as the means of generating the electricity in the PV system. The source of energy is direct current, DC, and for most residential uses must be converted to alternating current, AC, and conditioned before either being consumed in the home or allowed to be sent to the electric utility’s grid. The DC energy also can be stored in batteries for future use, but this is not usually done or needed for ‘grid-tied’ residential systems.
How does a grid-tied solar electric (PV) system work?
A grid-tied, or ‘net-metered’, PV system is connected to the utility grid through a special digital meter that records:
- The amount of the system’s generated energy that is sent to the grid.
- The amount of received/consumed energy from the grid.
The meter will ‘spin backward’ whenever the PV system produces more AC power than the house needs. Thus the utility grid serves as storage, eliminating the general need for batteries.
Benefits of Solar Electric (PV) Systems:
- Helps save you money – Supplement or potentially eliminate monthly electricity costs
- Helps protect you against electricity rate hikes – Offset energy prices and unpredictable rate hikes by generating your own free power for decades
- Helps protect our environment – Reduce your consumption of and dependence on fossil fuels
- Helps increase the value of your home – Can increase your home’s value by $20,000 for every $1,000 in reduced annual energy costs
Renu Building & Energy Solutions proudly offers a full product line from the following quality manufacturers:
Inverters
SMA |
Fronius |
Enphase Energy |
PV Panels
Evergreen Solar |
Sharp |
Mitsubishi Electric |
REC Solar |
Sanyo |
Schott Solar |
Mage Solar |
Rack Systems
Unirac |
On Energy |
DPW Solar |
Solar Thermal (Hot Water)
Typically, when many people think of solar energy systems, they immediately are captivated by the high-tech aspects of solar electric (PV) systems. However, solar hot water systems have several advantages over solar electric. They are simply more efficient, require much less collector area on a roof, and are less expensive. For areas such as Pennsylvania, there is a need for systems with freeze protection. In these cold-climate areas, closed-loop systems should be used with an antifreeze solution. The antifreeze carries the heat through piping from the solar collectors to an inside heat exchanger, which then transfers the heat to the domestic hot water for potable use in your home.
How the Solar Hot Water System Works
Renu Building & Energy Solutions is the region’s exclusive authorized Velux solar hot water dealer/installer.
With over 65 years of experience, Velux is a global leader in daylighting and solar energy technologies and is Europe’s largest manufacturer of flat-plate solar collectors. Our team of Certified Velux 5-Star Solar Specialists will help deliver reliable, aesthetically pleasing installations worthy of the Velux brand. The roof-integrated, closed-loop antifreeze system from Velux will start saving money for you and your family immediately as it is the most energy-efficient SRCC (Solar Rating and Certification Corporation) Certified and Energy Star Qualified solar hot water system on the market today.
Benefits of Velux Solar Hot Water Systems:
- Save 60-80% on your water heating bills
- Since the sun’s energy is free, you’re more protected from future fuel shortages and price hikes
- Independently tested and certified by the SRCC, thus qualifying for both PA ($2000 rebate) and federal (30% tax credit) incentives
- Anticipated payback is within a period of 3 to 8 years
- Between superior energy-efficiency and available incentives, this system offers a faster return on your investment than any other solar energy systems on the market
- As the only roof-integrated solar hot water system on the market, it offers your home a superior aesthetic appearance
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