Your Solar-Electric System

A photovoltaic (PV) solar-electric system converts free energy from the sun into electricity. As with any home or building improvement, PV installations involve architectural plans, building permits, inspections, and other steps, all of which Built Well Solar handles for you while walking you through every step of the process.

Nuts & Bolts of a PV System
A system basically consists of solar panels, an inverter, and a meter.
• Solar panels “collect” the energy from the sun.
• Mounting system — either rooftop or ground mounted.
• Inverter changes direct current (DC) into alternating
current (AC), compatible with standard current.
• Meter, which connects the system to utility
power lines through the existing electric meter, enabling
the power to be sent to the grid and credited.

Why It's Affordable
A solar-electric system is affordable because it is paid for with dollars you already spend on your electricity bill. After a payback period of about five to seven years, you have FREE ELECTRICITY--while your neighbors continue to pay their monthly electric bills, you won't be. Essentially, there's no new expense to you---Think of it this way, you'd be paying the electric bill for those five to seven years anyway, so instead, you pay off your solar-electric system, and never pay another bill after that again. And, that doesn't take into account LIPA rate increases, which have averaged about 7% per year. In addition to that, a solar electric system adds value to your house. It will be an immediate hit with buyers.

The initial outlay for your system is considerably offset by LIPA cash rebates and financial and tax incentives. See specific information for homes, businesses, and non-profits on this website.  An experienced Built Well Solar project coordinator will provide a FREE evaluation and estimate based on the specific size and configuration needed to be the most cost effective solution for your energy installation. Factors that go into determining pricing include the pitch of the roof, the amount of shade the building gets, as well as your current and future needs for electric capacity. Your Built Well Solar project coordinator will discuss all of these aspects of the cost with you.

Net metering --The connection to the grid enables “net metering,” the measuring of the amount and source of electricity being used, determining whether it’s LIPA provided or solar provided. When the sun shines (or even on a cloudy day when some sunlight peeks through), your system generates solar electricity and the meter literally runs backwards because that power is fed back to the grid. On Long Island, the excess goes back to LIPA, and you are credited for any excess beyond your annual usage. At the end of the year, if solar power exceeds utility company usage, you actually receive a payback.Until recently, only residential solar-electric systems benefiting from net metering, but since January 2009 all types of systems are eligible. 

In Commerical and Non-Profit Settings
In schools or other educational settings, a data logger showing how much solar energy is being used and a weather station are often added to the system so students may see how it’s working.

Also, when it comes to commercial and non-profit settings,  including business, school, church and other applications, solar-electric power is often installed as a complement to other energy efficiency features, such as lighting, to reduce overall power consumption or shave peak electric demand.

In these settings, solar-generated electricity may also be used to enable uninterrupted service, powering critical equipment such as phones, security systems, and emergency lighting. Rather than net metering, full usage or battery storage applications may come into play.

Good for the Environment
Over the first year alone, a solar-electric system that provides 10,000 kilowatts of power would save 64 pounds of sulfur dioixide (SO2), 19 pounds of nitrogen oxide (NOX), and a whopping 14,300 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), since no fossil fuels are being burned. That amount of CO2 alone is equivalent to planting 48,146 sq. ft. of trees or driving a car for 17,159 miles, or 6.7 times from LA to NY.

Durable, No Maintenance
Since it has no moving parts, a quality PV system properly installed by the experienced contractors at Built Well Solar requires virtually no service or maintenance. A solar-electric system is designed to endure extreme outdoor temperatures and high winds, and is resistant to moisture and salt in the atmosphere.

Typically, a system lasts for 25 years on average, and can operate decades longer. (Solar panels as we know them today have only been around for about 25 years, and keep lasting and lasting, for example on satellites in space, so we're not sure just how long they may ultimately last. Some experts expect they may last as long as the silicon they are made from, virtually forever.)