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More than 170,000 Terawatts of energy are hitting the earth at any time. That’s almost as much energy as the planet consumes in a year. Current solar energy technology can only capture a tiny fraction of that.
Solar energy currently accounts for 3% of the US’s total power generation. This number will likely increase as the world turns to more sustainable energy options.
Whether you run a large or small business, solar panels can help your bottom line. Before you begin installing solar panels, we recommend you call an expert. A commercial solar consultant can make the whole process easier. We’ll discuss some of the advantages of hiring them here.
What is a Solar Consultant?
Before we discuss how a solar consultant can help you, we should talk about what a solar consultant does. Solar consultants often work for an electric company. They attract new customers by discussing the benefits of solar energy. They try to present a win-win situation where you get a lower electric bill, and they get another customer.
Solar consultants know the ins and outs of solar power. This is good because having solar panels installed can be costly. They also save money as time goes by.
Please note that costs and savings differ significantly between states. Installing solar panels in Indiana, for instance, costs $11,000 on average. The average cost in Hawaii is over $14,000, and the average cost in Kentucky is $9600.
This gets even more complicated when we consider the point of breaking even. Hawaiian solar panels are costly, but you’ll break even faster than most other states. If this is starting to confuse you, you’re not alone. Expertise and experience are two of the biggest reasons to hire a commercial solar consultant.
1. Expertise
A commercial solar consultant’s job is to inform customers about solar power and its benefits. Knowing how solar panels work and how to install them is part of it.
An energy consultant won’t want to sell you something you can’t use. That’ll give them a bad reputation and could hurt business in the long run. That’s why you can trust a solar consultant to sell you solar panels. They’ll also help you find the most efficient way to use them.
Far more factors play into solar panel efficiency than most would guess. Temperature, latitude, and shadows all influence how much energy a solar panel gathers.
2. Time to Focus
Trying to figure out an electrical system without training is difficult. A solar consultant can handle all the energy calculations so that you and your staff can get back to doing what you do best.
Deciding what type of solar panels to install is another tough decision. There are three types to choose from: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. They differ in the amount of power generation and overall cost. A consultant can inspect your building and decide which is right for you.
An energy consultant can also save your business money. Hiring them means that you don’t have to hire or train an employee. Making the company energy efficient is likely to be a temporary position anyway. This way, you don’t have to dismiss anyone.
3. Electric Bill Auditing
Is your company paying too much for electricity? Chances are that you don’t know, and that’s understandable. Most companies don’t question authorities about their services or billing procedures.
Utility companies do make mistakes, and it’s often the customers who pay for it. Solar consultants are trained to find those mistakes so they can be corrected. Utility companies have a lot to deal with, and you never know where they’ll slip up. In some cases, they get the dates wrong on the bill. They have also charged for services that were recently canceled.
In a time when businesses are facing huge energy tariffs, none of them can afford to take chances. Installing solar panels allows your company to save money and help the environment.
4. Government Rewards
We live in a time when the environment is under serious threat, and failing to stop that threat will hurt us in the long run. The government has taken notice of this and set up programs to encourage sustainable business practices.
One such program is the Demand Response program, which offers monthly payments to participating companies. Taking part in this program means limiting your electricity use when the demand for electricity is high.
This makes things much easier for the power companies. Until the last few decades, power supply was regulated solely by power plants. This proved difficult due to the sheer amount of energy and consumers the average power plant had to account for.
Commercial solar panels make it easier to participate in demand response. You can still earn the money without sacrificing much power use. It’s all a matter of saving the gathered solar energy for the right time.
5. Basic Upgrades
Not every upgrade a solar consultant suggests is complex or costs that much. Sometimes, it’s a matter of changing lightbulbs or reorganizing a room.
There are two types of solar energy–passive and active. Active is the type that uses solar panels and batteries to provide power. Passive solar energy is about how you use the energy that naturally comes into the building.
Keeping shades open to let in direct sunlight and the heat it provides is passive energy. It’s about making the area as warm and well-lit as possible through natural means. The more passive energy you utilize, the less you spend on active energy.
The Integral Role of a Commercial Solar Consultant
Navigating the Solar Energy Landscape with a Commercial Solar Consultant
In the dynamic field of solar energy, a commercial solar consultant plays a pivotal role in guiding businesses through the complexities of adopting solar technology. These experts not only bring a wealth of knowledge about solar systems but also offer tailored solutions to meet specific business needs.
1. Customized Solar Solutions: Every business has unique energy requirements and structural considerations. A commercial solar consultant evaluates these factors to recommend the most appropriate type of solar panels and system configurations, ensuring optimal energy production and cost savings.
2. Navigating Incentives and Regulations: Understanding the intricate web of government incentives, tax rebates, and regulations surrounding solar energy can be daunting. Commercial solar consultants are adept at navigating these aspects, helping businesses maximize financial benefits and comply with local laws.
3. Project Management and Implementation: From initial assessment to installation and maintenance, commercial solar consultants oversee the entire project. Their expertise in project management ensures a seamless transition to solar energy with minimal disruption to business operations.
Why You Should Hire a Commercial Solar Consultant
With more and more businesses going green, now is the perfect time to hire a commercial solar consultant. These experts will help you set up solar panels so that you can save money and the environment.
We’ve discussed some of the benefits of hiring a consultant here. Solar energy is a complex field, though, so there’s more to learn than can fit in one article. You can familiarize yourself with the basics of solar energy by reading our blog.
If you own a business in Indiana and want to switch to solar, we can help. Contact us for a quote.
