Here is why you should go through the MSC 6-Step Solar Self Assessment:
- Learn about solar on your own without being bothered by salesmen from various solar companies.
- Avoid entering your personal data on data-mining sites that are just going to sell your information as a new “lead”.
- Avoid the heartache of going through a 2- hour solar sales presentation at your house only to find out you don’t qualify for financing ( see if you qualify for a loan on your own and avoid disappointment or embarrassment of being declined financing while the sales professional is in your home.)
- Learn as we guide you with information
that will Increase you chances of avoiding permitting issues or other common solar installation problems.
STEP 1: PRE-ASSESSMENT SURVEY
Complete the MSC Pre-Assessment Survey. Step 1 will help us get started with guiding you through your own solar self-assessment. All the information you provide will be kept confidential and only used to refer you to outside serivces when you give us permission. We will keep track of all the information you submit via our step by step process. You can contact us at any time with questions.
Depending on your situation, the answer to having shade from trees affecting your roof exposure to sunlight may be YES and still have your home be a good candidate for solar.
However, significant shade on your roof by trees could make installing solar impossible unless you remove the trees. If you have significant shade, and you would like to remove a particular tree(s) that is limiting sun to your roof, you can report that you have little or no shade from trees on your roof top. We will assume you plan to remove the suspect tree(s).
From time to time, we find diseased trees that are a risk to a home, or or bothersome to the home-owners and they either need to be removed for safety reasons, or they want to remove them anyway, because they are viewed as a nuisance. We can provide referrals for tree removal companies at your request.
STEP 2: POWER CONSUMPTION
Obtain documentation & review your power consumption history. One of the easiest and useful ways to assess your power use, is to look at your power bill. The power bill history will show the invoice what you paid each month for the last 12 months and it usually will shows a usage graph. The bill also explains the changing rates. The power company charges more during high demand seasons than in low demand seasons. You can see what your paying at any point in time by looking at your bill history. The Rocky Mountain Power bill (Utah), has a graph in the upper right corner that shows your usage history. Since it can be hard to read and determine the exact power use numbers from just looking at the graph. Minnis Solar Consultants, LLC recommends calling your power company and getting the total KWT usage by month, for the past 12 months. Then calculate your monthly average or ask the customer service of your power company to tell you your monthly average for the past year. The KWT use will be represented by a number (eg.. 850 KWTS) You would get this number for each month for the most recent 12 months. Have those numbers ready, or forward an online report from your power company to us.
If you have not lived in your home for a full 12 months. Collect whatever usage history you have at the current point it time. However, do not collect more than one year if you have lived in your home more than a year, unless you want to, and feel it can be useful in assessing your power consumption. For example, if you had an unusual situation during the most recent 12 months where your use was higher than what you expect going forward. Maybe you had a renter in the home, or an extended family member living in your home who is now gone and is no longer expected to be a factor in power consumption.
If you plan to do an upgrade to your home, we will want to know about your plan. For example, if you plan to put in a heated pool or hot tub upgrade in your home, that is going to run up your power bill when being used. We would need to know this and take it into consideration when determining the size of solar system you will need.
Step #2 is to send us a copy of your power consumption electronically, or manually fill out the form below and submit it via email. Please use the same email account for any dealings with us, so that we can associate all of your data with the same email account. If you have any questions, send us an email to:
duane@minnissolarnews.com
STEP 3: TAKE A PHOTO OF YOUR MAIN POWER PANEL
Take a photo of your power panel and submit it via your associated email account. If you need help locating your power panel let us know. Watch our tutorial video about what to do & check our photo samples. Open the panel door and snap a few simple photos like this. Then, send the photos to us. We will be able to evaluate if you will need any upgrades to install a solar system, or whether your current panel will sufficiently accommodate the installation of a solar panel system.
STEP 4: TAKE A PHOTO OF YOUR ROOF STRUCTURE
Access your attic and look up at the A-Frames and Joyce/ Beams. Make sure there is enough light, and snap a few simple photos like this. For most newer construction the A-Frame beams are standard and pre-fabricated then transported to building sites. So, for the most part, a quick photo will be all we need to assess if you are most likely going to have sufficient structural integrity to obtain permitting for an installation of solar panels on your roof. Each solar panel weighs in at about 40Lbs. It needs to be determined that your roof and support the weight as needed. Submit the completed photos via your email account. Watch our video example here about how to take the photos of your roof structure from inside your attic.
WHAT IF I NEED A NEW ROOF IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
We get many questions about wanting to take advantage of the 26% tax incentive to go solar this year (2020) before the tax incentive drops to 21% in 2021. However, because our clients indicate they need a new roof within the next 2-3 years, they do not want to install solar in 2020. By the time they get a new roof installed it may be 2023 or beyond. Therefore, the current tax incentive will drop to 10%, or may be eliminated altogether. This presents a dilemma for our clients. There is some good news. Solar customers can install the new roof early any apply the tax incentives toward the cost of the new roof. Read more about how it works to apply tax incentives to help pay for a new roof. This may allow you to get your new roof early and install solar in 2020 or 2021 while the Federal tax incentive is still at 26% or 21% respectively.
STEP 5: EVALUATE YOUR FINANCING OPTIONS & DETERMINE IF GOING SOLAR IS FESABLE IN YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION
Financing is one of the biggest barriers to install solar. Many home owners love the idea of going solar, end up failing a credit check with a solar lender. This is a touchy area and it bothers us when we complete a full consultation with everything being great until we run a credit check and the customer cannot move forward because we were unable to find a lender willing to finance their project. Its very disappointing for Minnis Solar Consultants, LLC as we see the disappointment on the faces of our clients. Its also sometimes embarrassing for our clients. Therefore, we have created step 5, so you can learn about financing options on your own without us being involved unless you want to ask us questions. Our process allows you to privately get financing place before you even go further with any consultation services. This is similar to what prospective home buyers do as well. Its nice to know how you would even finance the solar installation before having salesmen coming to your home. You may even want to do this as the very first step in the process, but, we are going to leave it here as STEP 5.
For this step in the process, we recommend getting additional information about solar loans and to get prequalified for a load amount before having us come to your home or having our community partners present a solar design for your home or business. Read more about financing options HERE. Get pre-qualified for a loan or decide if you want to avoid a loan altogether. Avoid the disappointment or embarrassment of having a solar salesperson at your home for 2 hours, only to find out you don’t qualify for the loan needed. If money is not an issue, look into the savings of a “cash deal” without any loans. Learn more about the return on investment (ROI) for cash deals. Get details about the 26% Tax incentives being offered in 2020. Also, learn bout your STATE tax incentives in 2020.
Many people are concerned that it will take way too long to get any return on their investment. Our Financing Options page goes into more detail in this area. you might be surprised how fast you will eliminate your power bill and have your loan paid off in full.
STEP 6: ASSESS FOR ANY COMPLICATING CONDITIONS
If you feel your property has any complicating situations let us know. If you are thinking about installing solar panels on a garage, shop, or barn (or other out-building) let us know and take some photos. Read more about common complicating factors affecting solar installations HERE. Let us know if the out-building has its own power meter. If it does, we will want to collect the power use for that building as well. Complete the power consumption form for each building that has a power meter. If you want it powered by the solar panel system along with your main home. If we will need to trench for wiring to run power from the garage, barn, or shop to your main house we will probably need to come take a look at your situation in person. We may also need to facilitate an electrician to come bid the cost of running power lines under ground to the house.
Consider your property in terms of the trees. If you have no trees taller than your home, it wont be an issue. However, if you do have a few trees, it may not be a problem. A home surrounded by dozens of trees may make installing solar impractical. Learn more HERE.
There could be a vast number of complications, so feel free to bring them up and put us to work on looking at your specific situation.
Once you have completed all 6 steps, register for an online consultation and we we will go over all of the information you have submitted. If you have not been able to complete all the 6 steps because you did not have enough time, or it was too complicated ( or any other reason), you may still request the consultation appointment and we can collect the information for you, or guide you through the 6 steps. We are also happy to come to your home and take all of the needed photos and go over any questions you have in the traditional way. Go to the Online Consultation Registration Page.
The “MSC 6-Step Solar Self Assessment ” has been developed by Minnis Solar Consultants, LLC for the exclusive use by Minnis Solar Consultants, LLC and its website users. Use of the MSC 6-Step Self Assessment in part or full by any other entity without express written consent is strictly prohibited.
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