Hill Country Ecopower

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?

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?

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. How does a renewable energy system affect my property tax?
4. 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?

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   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.

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   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.

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   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.

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   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.

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   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.

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   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.

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   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!

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   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.

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   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.

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   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.

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   How does a renewable energy system affect my property tax?

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

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   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.

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   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.

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   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.