intelligen.energy
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Leadership Team
    • Consulting
    • Consultants >
      • Seth Mansur
      • Kayla Carnes
      • James Brink
      • Stephen Rogers
    • Careers
    • Why Intelligen
  • Our Services
    • Homeowner
    • Solar Quote
    • Commercial >
      • Matchmaker
    • Business >
      • Courses >
        • Lunch and Learn
        • RealEstate
    • Contractor
    • Non Profit
  • Solar Energy
    • How Solar Works
    • Solar Components
    • Environment
    • History
    • FAQ
    • Solar Blog
    • Solar Webinar
  • Solar Finance
    • ROI
    • Incentives
    • Financing
    • Warranties
  • Get Started

Solar Chat

A cup of morning sunshine and some sunny talk

APPLES TO BANANAS TO ORANGES

 

By Seth Mansur

Solar Consultant Team Lead

When I am on the road and know I need a gas refill, comparison shopping is pretty easy with the sign on the road. The difference between $2.17 on the left side and $2.15 on the right is a no-brainer decision. Gas for our cars is just one of many decisions we make on a daily basis that is pretty easy to compare the different options. For something complex like a home renovation or solar installation, it can be a little more difficult to get the “apples-to-apples” comparison.

​Having worked for a handful of local and national solar companies, I can tell you that different companies will use different calculations and different variables when creating quotes and proposals. This means you could get 3 different prices (and 3 different projected savings) for the exact same panels / system. It’s no wonder so many get confused.

​Here are the top three variables that often vary between solar proposals from different companies:

1. Shade - : If representatives from 3 companies analyze the tree in your backyard, you will likely get 3 different tree heights. Some companies may undersize the tree to make the shading appear to be less of an issue, while other companies use the exact height today. Personally, I recommend using a shade analysis from one surveyor and applying it to all bids for a project to get a uniform analysis.

2. Annual Utility Rate Increase - Depending on their product effectiveness and cost (i.e. payback period), solar companies will provide different forecasts for the rate your utilities will increase. . . and projections can range from 2 - 9%. Conservative economists predict 3.7% - which is probably a safe number to ask for your proposals to be geared towards.

3. Length of Financial Return - Obviously each company wants to make themselves look best. One way they do this is by presenting the number of years that you see benefits. . . .and then altering the length. So one company will say you save $15,000 after 15 years; another one will say you save $30,000 after 30 years. Obviously, the one using a longer time period will look better! However they are both the same (or at least similar in most cases). 20 years tends to be the industry average and a suitable time period to determine accurate ROI. ​

Want even more help comparing quotes and vetting installers?  Learn more about how Intelligen.Energy does it and other services we offer as free solar consultants.
9/11/2016



Leave a Reply.

Company

Meet The Team
Careers & Employment
Contact Us

Services

Residential Consulting
Commercial Consulting
Courses & Presentations
Installer Consulting

Energy

How Solar Works

Solar Technology
Environmental Impact
​History of Solar

Economics

Return on Investment
State & Federal Incentives
Financing Options
Understanding Warranties

Tools & Resources

Custom Design Request
Savings Calculator
Blog


(508)-459-8718
Worcester, MA
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Leadership Team
    • Consulting
    • Consultants >
      • Seth Mansur
      • Kayla Carnes
      • James Brink
      • Stephen Rogers
    • Careers
    • Why Intelligen
  • Our Services
    • Homeowner
    • Solar Quote
    • Commercial >
      • Matchmaker
    • Business >
      • Courses >
        • Lunch and Learn
        • RealEstate
    • Contractor
    • Non Profit
  • Solar Energy
    • How Solar Works
    • Solar Components
    • Environment
    • History
    • FAQ
    • Solar Blog
    • Solar Webinar
  • Solar Finance
    • ROI
    • Incentives
    • Financing
    • Warranties
  • Get Started
✕