FAQ

Look below for some answers to frequently asked questions. Can’t find what you are looking for? Drop us a line. We’ll answer your question today.
GENERAL

1. What does Hill Country Ecopower do exactly?
2. What information do you need to figure out my energy usage?
3. What happens to excess electricity that I produce?
4. What does the term net zero or net zero energy mean?

Photovoltaic (PV)

1. Can I install solar panels on my house and still be tied to my utility?
2. What is an off grid system?
3. How long can I expect my solar system to last?
4. Will hail break my panels?
5. What factors does HCE consider if I want a solar panel system?
6. What will it cost for me to go solar?
7. Does Hail damage Solar Panels?
8. Do animals damage Solar Panels?
9. What are the maintenance requirements?
10. Is a Solar PV system dangerous?
11. Can my Home Owners Association (HOA) prevent me from installing solar?
12. Will I be paid for excess electricity I produce and send to the grid?
13. How long does installation take?
14. What system monitoring options are available?
15. Will my system be obsolete in a few years? Should I wait for better technology?
16. DIY Solar Panel Systems are on the Internet, should I build my own?
17. How much money will I save?

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1. What incentives are there for installing a renewable energy system on my house?
2. What incentives are there for installing a renewable energy system on my business?
3. What about the Federal tax credit?
4. How does a renewable energy system affect my property tax?
5. How does a renewable energy system affect my home’s resale value?

WIND

1. How do I determine my average wind speed?
2. Which is a better value, a wind turbine or a solar array?

Geothermal

1. How do geothermal systems work?

1. What does Hill Country Ecopower do exactly?

   We assess the energy usage of your house and install pv systems, solar hot water systems, wind turbines, and geothermal heat pumps. Our goal is to install the products that best fit your particular needs. We also partner with zero energy builders to provide green renovations.

2. What information do you need to figure out my energy usage?

   The first place to start is with your electric bills. We would like to look at your kilowatt-hour (kwh) usage for up to a years worth of your old electric bills if you have them. Most utilities have some online history of your bills available.

3. What happens to excess electricity that I produce?

   Any excess electricity that you produce is sent back to the utility. Your electric meter acts like a balance amount in a checkbook. When you pull electricity from the grid, your balance increases When you send excess electricity back, your balance decreases. This is known as net metering.

4. What does the term net zero or net zero energy mean?

   When we refer to a building that is net zero, we are usually referring to a building that produces as much energy as it uses. So a building that generates 15,000 kwh/year of electricity would use no more than that same amount over the course of a year. When sizing a renewable energy system, net zero usually defines the biggest system size that will maximize your return on investment.

1. Can I install solar panels on my house and still be tied to my utility?

   Yes. This is referred to as a grid-tied system and is the typical arrangement for most solar customers.

2. What is an off grid system?

   An off grid system is one in where you are not tied at all to your utility. In this case, you will need a battery bank to provide electricity whenever the sun is not shining. Off grid systems are much more costly than grid tied systems.

3. How long can I expect my solar system to last?

   All of the pv panels that we carry have a 25 year performance warranty and they are designed to last for over 40 years!

4. Will hail break my panels?

   All of the pv panels that we carry have to pass simulated hail tests. Usually hail has to be softball size before it starts damaging panels. In this case, you can file a claim with your homeowners insurance.

5. What factors does HCE consider if I want a solar panel system?

   The size of your particular renewable energy system depends on:
   1. the available area you have to install panels,
   2. the orientation and shading of your roof,
   3. the amount of energy you currently use,
   4. your energy offset goals, and
   5. your budget (including available financial incentives)When we conduct our initial Free Green Energy Assessment we will explore each of these items to make sure that we can provide an optimal solution for you. The first step is to determine how much usable roof space you have. This will yield a maximum possible system size that you can expect. Next, we’ll look at your energy usage history (save those old electric bills!) and discuss your energy offset goals and budget.Are you looking to offset 20% of your electric bill?
   You’ll probably need a small grid-tied solar system.

   Do you want complete independence from your utility?
   You’ll need a large solar system and a battery bank.

   Most people fall somewhere in between, but whatever your goals, we’ll look at them within the constraints of your layout and budget to determine which system will be right for you.

6. What will it cost for me to go solar?

   Many factors can come into play, such as your energy usage, roof orientation, and shading. Several states and cities also have rebates, which can dramatically affect the install price. Recently, Congress extended the Federal Tax Credit, which takes an additional 30% off the net system price (after rebates). The best way to get an accurate cost is to schedule a Free Green Energy Assessment.

7. Does Hail damage Solar Panels?

   All of our panels carry the UL1703 certification which requires simulated hail testing. Panels can resist hail damage because the glass used in solar panels is high strength tempered glass similar to that of a car window. If it were to hail hard enough to where it breaks automotive glass, then your panels might be at risk of damage. Fortunately, this kind of storm doesn’t happen very often. If you add a purchased solar array to your homeowner’s insurance policy, hail damage should be covered.

8. Do animals damage Solar Panels?

   We make sure that your installation area is free from overhanging tree branches to avoid nesting birds, since bird dropping can damage solar collector surfaces and reduce the solar panel’s efficiency dramatically. Other animals such as squirrels are known to sometimes chew through wiring. We take great care to secure our wiring to keep it inaccessible.

9. What are the maintenance requirements?

   Some routine maintenance that is required to keep your system running at optimum efficiency. Most estimates are between 8 and 16 hours per year. This mostly involves cleaning the panels if they become highly soiled.

10. Is a Solar PV system dangerous?

    Solar cells are mostly silicon, the primary component of sand. There is no exhaust and no toxic materials to leak out of the system. However, any electrical device can be dangerous if it is not installed or operated in a proper manner. That is why it is important to have an experienced electrical contractor install your PV array. We install systems that will be safe for you and your family.

11. Can my Home Owners Association (HOA) prevent me from installing solar?

    Traditionally, HOAs have had free reign at preventing solar array installations within their jurisdiction. However, recent 2011 legislation has made it easier for homeowners to gain approval.

12. Will I be paid for excess electricity I produce and send to the grid?

    Yes. If a solar energy system produces more power at any given moment than the property consumes, the extra power will flow into the electric grid. Your meter will turn backward and you will gain full retail credit against energy that you have already consumed. Note though that excess generation during a billing cycle is purchased by utilities at the avoided cost, not the retail cost.

13. How long does an installation take?

    Installing solar panels on a residence does not take long at all. While planning, purchasing, and much of the lead-up work can take a few weeks, the actual installation is usually done in just a few days, with much of the work being done outside so you can expect little disturbance.

14. What system monitoring options are available?

    There are several options for monitoring system output, depending on what type of inverter you have installed.Most centralized inverter systems have a built in display that shows solar output production, including instantaneous AC output, cumulative daily kWh and cumulative lifetime solar production. Most people find the built-in inverter display adequate for determining system performance. You may also choose a remote inverter monitor. A wired or wireless remote interior monitor display shows solar electric production in a convenient location inside your home. Additionally, this data can we sent to a server and provide web based monitoring capability.Micro-inverters come standard with a web based monitoring solution.

15. Will my system be obsolete in a few years? Should I wait for better technology?

    No, now is really the best time to invest in a solar system with the combination of technology and cost. The benefit of turning sunlight into electricity will not change for as long as we still use electricity to power our homes and businesses.The other key component in evaluating the right time to install solar is government incentives. Federal and local incentives are available right now; however, these programs are designed to reward early adopters of solar power, so the rebate amount per project continues to drop as the allotted funds are consumed.

16. DIY Solar Panel Systems are on the Internet, should I build my own?

    Constructing solar panels may be a fun and interesting project, but it is critical to recognize what you are dealing with. Homemade panels are usually meant for smaller applications such as lightings for a shed, powering little electronics and so on. If your dream is to build high wattage/current solar panels to supply electricity for your house or a bigger application, this is not recommended.First, homemade solar panels are not as durable as manufactured panels and don’t come with the 25 year performance guarantee that our panels provide. Second, homemade solar panels do not have the appropriate third party certifications to qualify for any form of tax rebates. Without these certifications, installing these panels may put you in non-compliance with electrical and building codes. Third, there might be fire hazard risks. You must by no means put high-powered, homemade panels supported by materials made of wood and/or plastic over your residence or flammable material.

17. How much money will I save?

    Check here to explore a comprehensive list of benefits from installing a renewable energy system in your home.

1. What incentives are there for installing a renewable energy system on my house?

   The federal government will reimburse 30% of the cost for a pv system, solar hot water system, wind system, and geothermal heat pump.

   Additionally, Austin Energy provides great incentives if they are your local utility. For pv systems, they currently provide $3.75/watt. This alone covers over 50% of the cost of a typical grid tied system.

   Please contact us to discuss a comprehensive list of rebates and financial incentives.

2. What incentives are there for installing a renewable energy system on my business?

   Businesses too have federal tax benefits. A summary of these benefits can be found here.

   For commercial clients installing pv, Austin Energy does also provide the $3.75/watt rebate.

   Please contact us to discuss a comprehensive list of rebates and financial incentives.

1. What about the Federal tax credit?

   The Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit was recently extended until 2016. It offers an additional 30% off the net price of your system after rebates.

2. How does a renewable energy system affect my property tax?

   The state of Texas allows exemptions for solar and wind renewable energy systems.

3. How does a renewable energy system affect my home’s resale value?

   According to this technical paper, every dollar in reduced operating costs for the home results in an additional $20 in resale value.

1. How do I determine my average wind speed?

   General wind speed data can be found on the wind map links that arehere. This provides a general idea of wind speed, but local conditions can have large effects on your actual average wind speed. Actual, local data is best and can be directly measured at your site with an anemometer. Ideally, collecting several months of data will allow you to quantify your wind resource. Contact us for more details on how to do this.

2. Which is a better value, a wind turbine or a solar array?

   This depends on the average wind speed at your site. It also will depend on the incentives that are available for both wind and solar. Data, excluding incentives, can be found here.

1. How do geothermal systems work?

   A geothermal heat pump is a mechanical device used for heating and cooling that operates on the principle that heat can be pumped from a cooler temperature to a warmer temperature. You have heat pumps in your home already in your refrigerator and air conditioner.Air source heat pumps use the outside air as a medium for energy transfer. If you have a condensing unit in your yard, then your air conditioner is an air source heat pump. The problem is that as it gets hotter outside, your air conditioner becomes less efficient. Ground source heat pumps, also known as geothermal heat pumps, use the constant temperature of the ground as a medium for heat exchange. The result is that these systems are inherently more efficient and are unaffected by the outside air temperature.In our Texas climate, air conditioning is usually the number one building energy load. Our ground source heat pump can save from 30% to 75% on your air conditioning energy bill depending on the age and condition of the system we are replacing.In order to install a ground source heat pump, vertical wells are drilled into the ground. Water piping is then laid into the wells and backfilled. When the work is complete, there will be no unsightly protrusions and there is no need for a loud and bulky outdoor condensing unit.

   The upfront cost of a geothermal heat pump is more than an air source heat pump, but the system pays for itself in energy savings and longer expected lifetime. We have partnered with ClimateMaster to provide a variety of system sizes to meet your heating and cooling requirements.