This is general information and may vary or go out of date on occasion. While we do our best to keep the latest and greatest online at all times please make sure to check with us for any clarification or additional details that may be relevant to you. Please send us any additional questions you have as of course this list only covers some of the most common we come across.
General FAQs
WHY SHOULD I HIRE SOLAR NINJAS?
With a long history of contracting in the residential marketplace and many forms of heavier construction spanning several decades, we feel the time is right to focus on renewable energy and modern technology in the electrical field.
SolarNinjas is dedicated to providing not only great gear but also education and awareness so that the customer is fully able to appreciate what they are getting and the service we provide. We want you to really KNOW, not just trust us. We will teach you the secrets of photon ninjutsu…if desired.
There are several excellent industry leading specialists in this field, we know, we trained with them from early in the industry. We are doing this because it’s important not just because it’s work. Beware of unlicensed installers, fly by night operations, and unqualified people who make the industry fraught with risk. We feel it’s our duty to be a leading demonstrator of what great work and great service looks like. Having worked for others, it’s time to strike out on our own.
We’re deadly at our craft, we do it with a strong sense of pride and we fiercely represent our client’s interests in the Alberta marketplace. It is our hope that you will enjoy and appreciate what we do, to that end we want to be your Ninjas. Hire us!
WHAT ABOUT MY ROOF? WHAT HAPPENS THERE?
PV Systems do not add significant weight to the roof and do not contribute meaningfully to wind lift when installed correctly. They lie fairly flat and close to the roof which protects it. Your roof will last much longer when protected from the elements by solar panels so cover the whole thing!
In order to install a system we need a reasonably good quality roof to begin with. That will depend on the quality of your shingles and their age.
If needed we will provide connection to preferred roofing contractors who will replace your roof quickly and at a discounted rate with good quality materials. Whether this is required will depend on our assessment. Don’t trust anyone willing to toss up a system on any old surface! What other corners will they cut on your job?
Removing and reinstalling the system to re-roof is a chore, trained electricians will remove the system then return to install it again if needed, 30 or 50 years down the road.
WHY SHOULD I INSTALL SOLAR ON MY HOME?
Reasons for installing solar energy systems include eliminating your electric bill every month, helping to create more green energy in the marketplace to move us away from coal & oil, fulfilling a personal value of being self-sufficient, staying ahead of rising energy costs and making money back from the energy market. People like the way they look, they protect your roof from the elements long term, and why not move into the future on pace with technology? It creates green jobs and it even makes the energy grid cheaper to maintain in the long run (fewer tax dollars spent on major transmission lines).
What are your reasons? Tell us!
DON’T I GET A CHARGER WITH MY ELECTRIC CAR WHEN I BUY ONE?
Automobile manufacturers put a charger in every car. What we do is install your supply equipment to feed that charger. It’s a matter of quality and time.
The charging cable that comes with your car (if provided) is usually a simple wall plug type that can take up to 24 hours (several days in the case of premium vehicles) to charge.
We can install a system that will charge your car within as little as 4 hours. How big or how expensive and the type your choose will all depend on the vehicle you own (or plan to own) and how fast you’d like to be able to charge up.
Many affordable options exist that are attractive, powerful, and will handle your needs for the life of your vehicle and then some.
IS ALBERTA GOOD FOR SOLAR ENERGY? WE HAVE LONG WINTERS AFTER ALL…
Many people do not know this but, solar panels work BETTER in winter! The cold helps the efficiency of the panel even outperform its maximum specifications by up to 25%.
We get a lot of cold, clear, sunny days here in the winter.. with the sun at a nice low angle. We simply plan for that with our install designs. Fewer hours per day at a higher efficiency means solar energy is great here in Alberta all winter!
During the summer we get long days. Facing east, west or south is no problem for our latitude.
Solar panels even work on cloudy days, albeit at a reduced rate.
Light snow melts off them quickly as well… and the panels will still generate power when the light passes through the snow to the panel. So don’t worry, you won’t be running to the roof with a snow brush like you do for the car in the morning.
HOW OFTEN DO PANELS FAIL OR NEED REPLACEMENT? IS THERE ANY MAINTENANCE?
Solar panels are incredibly robust when installed properly. Most come with 30-year performance warranties guaranteeing a certain output. They simply do not “fail” historically speaking. After 30 years your solar panels will still be producing ~85% of their original output, and should never drop below that. Solar panels are a “forever” purchase.
There are even still systems installed back in the 1960s that are still going strong! That’s 55 years using the oldest technology available. Today’s panels are many times better.
It can be suggested to clean the panels on occasion. If rain is not doing enough to make you happy it doesn’t hurt to bust out the extension on the hose or light duty pressure washer.. of course window cleaning companies have picked up on this and are providing special cleaning services for solar panels using squeegees and brushes designed for the purpose at extremely affordable rates. An electrician trained in solar electricity can do an inspection anytime to check connections and hardware, this service is included in our packages as a follow-up.
Snow clearing companies also have special tools that make removal of serious snow a simple matter if there is ever a two-foot dump overnight…prices are market-based and extremely low for homeowner systems. They bank on repeat business and the fact that its an extremely easy and quick job.
Solar panels are covered by your house insurance in case of vandalism, freak hurricane force golf ball hail, or whatever else may come your way. These cases are extremely rare and the panels are designed to withstand a fair bit of punishment once installed.
HOW MUCH DOES IT TAKE TO ZERO OUT MY ELECTRIC BILL?
We love to say “fill the roof, it’s not doing anything anyways!” but if you’re looking to hit zero dollars (including paying any connection fees with solar energy) it will depend on a few things:
- How efficient your home usage is. (LED Lights, Efficient appliances, limited bad habits with leaving things on, how many people in the house.)
- How great your site is. (Which way do your roof surfaces face? Are there trees to shade them? How much roof space is available?)
- Do you have anything unusual with electric power such as welding machines, multiple dryers or ovens, electric heaters in the house/garage?
- Several other factors…
Regardless of conditions, we are generally able to adapt. We will calculate your needs and develop a system tailored to you if elimination of that evil electric bill is your goal. There is a huge assortment of equipment available to help.
HOW (AND HOW MUCH) DO I GET PAID FOR MY EXTRA ENERGY?
Your service will be outfitted with a bi-directional meter and tracked every second of the day. The government regulates what you will get paid at a minimum of market value, and more incentives are being released that can increase your payback. You will also be able to monitor your site performance using various apps, and the equipment we install.
Many electric retailers offer programs to sell green energy at higher rates and can offer you incentives for signing up with them. As a solar producer you become a superhero in Alberta’s energy market!
Your payment will come on your electric bill as a credit, or as a quarterly cheque. There are several arrangements in place that customers use to get paid.
How much of course depends on the size of your system. Fill that roof! Electricity rates vary wildly during the year but over time, we all know the only direction they’re going and that is UP.
What if your’s was free essentially forever, and anything you generated was paid for?
WHATS A TESLA POWERWALL? JUST HOW AMAZING WILL IT MAKE MY LIFE?
A Tesla Powerwall 2.0 is a sort of Star Trek level battery backup technology for your whole house. It installs cleanly on the wall by your panel either in the house or garage and does not require any old-fashioned battery maintenance.
It will provide enough power to operate your WHOLE HOUSE for anywhere from a set number of hours to several days.
How amazing will it make your life?
Imagine charging it up for free using your solar panels, then all night you have free energy while the sun isn’t shining! During the day it tops off then feeds energy out to the grid.
Not only does it provide reliable power all the time for the whole house without any homeowner action, but it magnifies the impact of any solar installation.
This technology is coming to Canada in the early part of 2017 and we expect availability anytime after that.
Tesla Powerwall Information
Real Estate Value Increase
Longer-term studies are now showing that homeowners recoup their investment when installing PV systems.
Alberta Solar Advantage
Conditions for Solar electricity generating in Alberta range somewhere between very good and stunningly excellent.
Government Policy & Rebates
The Government of Alberta recently announced a rebate program for homes and businesses to install rooftop solar panels.