Sun shines
Sunlight hits the solar panels on your rooftop and creates DC (or direct current) electricity. The solar panels absorb that energy and makes it useable. Solar energy inverters convert DC power into useable AC (alternating current) electricity.
Generate green energy
The electrical panels generate clean, affordable, sustainable energy. You’re also helping to reduce carbon emissions.
Receive utility credits
Any excess power produced by your solar panels is sent back to the electrical grid to build credits on your home’s utility account in a process called net metering.
Always have power
Even when your solar panels aren’t producing energy, your utility company will power your home with the stored credits at night or in inclement weather ─ so there is never a gap in energy usage.
Your go-to source for residential solar information
As experts in solar and roofing repair, we feel it’s our duty to educate our customers. That’s why we’ve created a resource section aimed at providing you with the information necessary to make the right decision for your next project. Haven’t quite found what you’re looking for? Give us a call and we’ll be happy to answer any questions.
What is net metering?
Several US states have laws in place that require the utility companies to track both production and consumption of power at a customer’s home. When you install a solar power system on your rooftop or property, you will have a bidirectional meter installed that tracks the energy your system may produces during the day, as well as any consumption of power from the grid that is used at night or when it’s cloudy. If your system overproduces, the excess power is sent back into the grid and builds credits on your utility account to use when your system isn’t producing as much. This crediting process is called net metering.
What happens to my utility bill?
Once you go solar, you will have two bills: your new, dramatically reduced solar energy bill, and a smaller utility bill for any energy left that you need to use from the grid. Depending on the size of your system, your utility bill could be offset by up to 99% ─ but most utility companies charge a minimal rental fee that you are still responsible for paying.
How do solar panels handle snow and hail?
Most high-quality solar panels are rated to withstand snow piles and up to one inch of hail. You can confirm this with your solar power representatives during your enrollment process to ensure you are receiving the best products the industry has to offer. With energy storage as a services, you’ll be able to control your home’s energy efficiency to further reduce your monthly electricity expenses.
What happens at night or on cloudy days?
Solar panels produce energy when the sun is shining. At night or when it’s cloudy, the system will use credits from any excess power overproduced from the system during the day. This is the primary reason that on-grid solar solutions rely on the utility grid and net metering laws to provide supplemental power when your system isn’t producing.
What happens if my power goes out?
For the safety of grid workers, your on-grid system is required to turn itself off if you lose utility power. Once the power is restored, the system will automatically turn itself back on. An off-grid power system or one with a battery pack would continue to run during the day if you lost power.
Will solar panels make my roof leak?
Our quality of products, types of flashing, and racking methods ensure that your roof will not leak as a result of installing a solar power system. Your system will also come with insurance that covers any risk associated with roof leaks in the rare instance it may be caused by the installation. MHx Solar ensures your roof will be safe with us, and that your solar panels will actually serve as a protective layer for your home.
In fact, MHx Solar is a sister company of MHx Designs, a trusted roofing contractor. So, we definitely know our way around a roof!
What's the positive environmental impact of a typical residential solar system?
An average home consumes approximately 10,000 kWh per year. Installing a solar power system that offsets the same amount of usage would result in a reduction of about 15,000 pounds of CO2 each year. This is the equivalent of carbon eliminated by 1.5 acres of pine forests. For more information, please visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency site.
Looking at the big picture, solar power is a renewable form of energy that eliminates the need for the burning of fossil fuels (which are directly responsible for the global and environmental damage). There are no emissions during the production of solar power, and it is one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy known to mankind. In addition, a solar power system is relatively maintenance free which further reduces the carbon footprint of a solar power system.
Traditional electric sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas result in the emission of polluting gasses, some of which are toxic and extremely detrimental to the environment. Fossil fuels are and continue to be the one of the largest cause of global warming. Depleting sources of fossil fuels also cause dramatic spikes in the cost of energy which can be mitigated by the implementation of clean solar power energy. For more information, please visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency site.