SOME OF THE MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If at anytime you need more information or clarification please do not hesitate to contact us by emailing info@webwerk.me, calling us at 802-257-7493, or stopping by our office, located at 121 Spring Tree Rd in Brattleboro, to talk to one of our friendly and knowledgeable renewable energy experts.
Q: What will the system cost?
Cold Climate Heat Pumps
Average Vermont Home with Open Concept Areas
1.5 ton unit in living/dining/kitchen area
1.25 ton unit in work area or finished basement
.5 ton unit in main bedroom
Gross Cost $20,750
Point of Sale Rebates (ISA handles all form submissions):
Efficiency Vermont 3 x $350 $1,050
Green Mountain Power 3 x $400 $1,200
Your Cost $18,500
Mitsubishi is offering an additional $300 VISA gift card to be
mailed after installation is complete, for contracts signed before May 15.
Solar Panels: Average Vermont Home example
Financing information available here.
Q: What rebates are available?
A: For a complete list of current solar rebates please see the attached link http://www.dsireusa.org/ and click on your state for more information. You may also visit our link here: https://isasolar.com/incentives/vermont/ for a brief summary of Vermont’s rebates or https://isasolar.com/incentives/New Hampshire/ for a brief summary of New Hampshire’s rebates.
Q: Are there tax credits?
A: Yes;
For Federal corporate tax incentives go to www.dsireusa.org
For Federal residential tax incentives go to www.dsireusa.org
For details on Vermont’s investment tax credit please visit: programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/vt or for a brief summary visit our link here: https://isasolar.com/incentives/vermont/.
Please confirm with your tax advisor that these tax credits are available to you.
Q: What permits are needed?
A: In Vermont the only permits that are needed for a photovoltaic and wind system are; the CPG (Certificate of Public Good) and the electrical permit. For geothermal and solar hot water all that is needed is a state plumbers permit.
Other states have different requirements. ISA handles all permitting requirements for our installations. We research which permits are required for each individual job, complete the documents accurately and timely, submit the permit applications and follow-up as needed with support documentation and questions asked by the governing agency.
Q: Who applies for the permits?
A: ISA handles all permitting requirements for our installations. We research which permits are required for each individual job, complete the documents accurately and timely, submit the permit applications and follow-up as needed with support documentation and questions asked by the governing agency.
Q: Can my roof support solar panels?
A: Most modern roofs in the north-east are capable of supporting a solar system. However, we can only answer this question if we come to the site and perform a thorough site visit. If you have completed your research and are ready to move forward please complete out contact form at this link: https://isasolar.com/contact-new/ and someone will contact you in the near future to schedule a site visit.
Q: Should the panels be ground mounted?
A: Ground mounting of panels is often a requirement if the roof pitch and or orientation are not ideal, or if the roof area is not large enough to support the desired system size, it is also an individual choice taken by some homeowners who do not wish to have the panels attached to their roof tops. ISA does not install on slate roofs. Please visit our page at this link for the reason you may choose either mounting system: https://isasolar.com/residential-systems/solar-pv/
Q: What kinds of solar panels are there?
A: There are different panels for the two different solar systems. Photovoltaic panels are for a solar electric system and then there are solar thermal panels for the solar hot water system.
Q: Where should they come from?
A: ISA purchases all the panels we install from reputable long standing solar panel providers with strong balance sheets. We want to insure that our customers have a company to go back to if or when they need to.
Q: Who will install them?
A: ISA designs, installs and services all our renewable energy systems. We do not do any retail sales.
Q: Who will service them?
A: ISA designs, installs and services all our renewable energy systems.
Q: Residential Solar can cost upward of $20,000 a home, how will you ever pay for this?
A: ISA does not provide financing. For municipalities or non-profit organizations their may be funding opportunities through our partner, Green Lantern Capital. Our private residential and small business customers have funded their renewable projects the following ways: Home equity loans, small business loans, and/or reallocating their savings with lower rates of returns to the renewable energy investment which has a higher rate of return.
Q: Do solar panels need to face due south?
A: Although solar panels maximize harvesting the sun’s energy when facing due south, often sites with south easterly or south westerly exposure are nearly as productive. For more information about siting, or to set up an appointment for one of our sales and design staff to come evaluate your site, please contact us by emailing info@www.webwerk.tech , calling us at 802-257-7493, or you may stop by our office, located at 121 Spring Tree Rd in Brattleboro, and talk to one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff.
Q: How long does a typical installation take?
A: Once started, a typical residential system takes about a week to complete, but some systems can take more or less time, depending on the level of complication and the type of install. To find out more about how long your installation might take, please contact us by emailing info@www.webwerk.tech , calling us at 802-257-7493, or you may stop by our office, located at 121 Spring Tree Rd. in Brattleboro, to talk to one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff.
Q: What are the warranties?
A: Panels are typically warranted for 20 – 25 years and inverters are often warranted for 5 – 10 years, depending on the manufacturer and type, and the physical installation is warranted for 5 years. That being said, most of the panels and inverters made today are made using extremely high quality components, and ISA Solar only installs the highest quality materials on the market. We pride ourselves on installing materials from time tested companies that we feel will often outlast their warrantees and provide reliable service to our customers well into the foreseeable future.
Q: How long will the system last?
A: Although it is hard to know how long a typical system will last, the best way to assure a long and productive system life is to make sure you have a meticulously engineered system, using the highest quality materials on the market. Warrantees on most of today’s equipment are anywhere from 5 -25 years, and many manufacturers are so confident in their products that they offer affordable extended warranties to make sure your system continues to provide you with clean, reliable, renewable energy for decades to come.
Q: I’ve heard talk of “community solar”, can people really buy solar systems as a group?
A: Yes, absolutely, Vermont is one of the only states offering people the ability to jointly own solar systems, thus giving you the ability to fully or partly power your home with solar energy even if you don’t have a good location, or even if you rent and don’t own your own home! And best of all, you can buy as little or as much as you want.
Q: Is my system covered under my homeowners insurance?
A: Typically not, although most insurance companies would be glad to add coverage for your system for a reasonable rate.
Q: Can my system be expanded in the future if my needs change?
A: In most cases yes, absolutely, although if the system isn’t designed with this in mind, or if electric code changes warrant, there may need to be upgrades done to the electrical distribution system.
Q:If I get a solar system installed does that mean I won’t lose power ever again?
A: Unless your system is specifically designed to operate during a “grid outage” you will lose power when the grid goes down just like everyone else. Currently the only ways to avoid this are to install a battery based system that continues to operate certain critical loads when the grid is down, or to install one of the new batteryless backup power systems offered by SMA America, and installed by ISA solar. (Note that the SMA batteryless backup system only provides power during the daytime and is limited to a max continuous output 1500 watts under full sunlight conditions, for more info contact us by emailing info@www.webwerk.tech , calling us at 802-257-7493, or you may stop by our office, located at 121 Spring Tree Rd in Brattleboro, to talk to one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales staff for more details about this revolutionary new system).
