Renewable energy is on the rise as our nation realizes the importance and necessity of clean power, specifically solar energy. There are now many solar companies to choose from and multiple brands of panels and equipment. With a quality solar array lasting from 25-35 years, choosing the right company and the best equipment is a vital decision. But how do you know what solar company to use and which equipment to prioritize? It seems daunting.

As the region’s experts with over 21 years of experience, we’re here to help. We’ve developed a list of the top questions to ask when researching a solar company that will help you find the right partner and the best equipment for your budget.

1. Do you guarantee your production? 

There is a difference between the size of a system (kW) and how much energy it will produce in your home (kWh). The size of your solar array (system) depends on many factors, such as shading (the number of trees or structures that interfere with the sun), orientation (the placement of your roof in regards to north/south/east/west), roof pitch, your home’s interworkings, etc. 

For example, on one home, a 10kW system may produce 9,000-10,000 kWhs, while on another, a 10kW system may produce 11,000-12,000 kWhs. During your proposal meeting, your salesperson will estimate your system’s production based on their experience, shading software, household energy consumption, and more to give you the best estimate of your savings. 

Be wary of companies that inflate this number, quoting production coverage that is much higher than reality to portray more significant savings to entice you to sign a contract. Your solar company should guarantee the production they estimate so that you know it is an actual value, and so you can accurately calculate your savings over time – almost like insurance for your production. GreenSpark Solar guarantees the production of your installation – we offer a 95% production guarantee, meaning we pay cash for lost energy. 

2. What type of solar modules are you using for residential or business installations? 

Is the solar company using the appropriate solar module type for residential and business installations? There are multiple varieties of modules (a singular solar panel) designed for certain types of installations or climates. Always ensure that your solar provider uses modules intended for use on residential homes, not modules that may be “leftover” from a larger commercial install that they may be trying to repurpose. 

GreenSpark solar uses Qcell panels for residential installations, which are manufactured in the USA and certified for high snow and wind loads – which can happen in western NY!

3. What solar inverters do you use? 

When you purchase a solar system (or array), there are three critical pieces of equipment to think about:

• Panels
• Inverters
• Racking

Why are inverters so important? There are two different types of inverters – string or microinverter, with many manufacturers for each. Companies can use lower-quality inverters to save on costs. Still, these inverters will often fail before the modules, resulting in multiple maintenance visits to repair or replace the lower-quality inverter within your system. The more downtime you have with your system, the less energy you are producing, and therefore the more money you are losing. You’ll want to ensure the quality of the inverter used in your system. 

GreenSpark only uses top-quality inverters for microinverter and string inverter installations. We use Enphase microinverters, which are highly rated and require little to no maintenance over time. Using inverters by other manufacturers is possible, but we prefer working with the highest quality products that will last and produce for years on your roof!  Our operations and maintenance specialist once said he loves that we use Enphase microinverters because he knows he won’t need to service installs much and that our customers are getting the best system and experience. 

4. What racking systems do you use to attach the modules to my roof? 

When installing a roof-mount system, holes are drilled in the roof to attach the racking system. This can cause anxiety as roofs are one of the most expensive parts of homes! As such, you’ll want to ensure that what the solar company is connecting to your roof is top quality and will last the entire lifetime of your panels without causing any issues to your roof. 

GreenSpark Solar uses Ironridge Solar racking for all of our rooftop installations. Over time, we have found this product to be the highest-rated racking system for our customers; the longevity of the quality is unmatched! Be sure to ask about the racking equipment!

5. What about town permitting and fire code setbacks – are you adhering to modern fire codes and following the recommended permitting process? 

Town permitting and fire code setbacks are required regulations. However, cities, towns, and villages don’t always monitor these regulations. Some solar companies may forgo these setbacks to fit more panels on your roof to make your savings look more attractive and bring them a more significant profit.

However, suppose you are caught without adhering to these codes or go to sell your house. In that case, this could mean considerable fines to you, and you’ll be required to remove or redesign your solar array to adhere to the fire code setbacks later, which can be very costly. 

Some town and fire code setbacks that tend to be ignored by some solar companies  include: 

• No solar modules over vents or roof obstructions such as pipes or skylights
• Solar modules placed within the required clearance of the ridge of your roof or the edge of your roof 

Unless these structures are removed or moved to a different part of your roof before the solar installation, you should not see panels over the top of them. If you get a proposal that includes solar modules over these roof structures, be sure to press the company on why and inquire about town and fire code setbacks. 

6. How did you arrive at the proposed system size? 

Is the solar company simply putting panels on your entire roof to increase the price, or are they looking to maximize your system/investment? Always ask about every part of the proposal, from the number of panels to the equipment used, to how they achieved your estimated savings and production. It takes an expert salesperson to accurately size your solar array to meet your energy needs. You may have an expansive roof with more space than you need. Be wary of companies that “fill the roof”; this could result in you spending more money than you need and paying for the extra energy you won’t use. Always ask how they arrived at the proposed system size, and be sure to communicate any changes in your energy consumption. GreenSpark always has a meeting before providing a proposal because we want to understand your energy needs and consumptions and any future energy needs to ensure that your system is the appropriate size and your savings are accurate to plan for the future. 

7. What warranties do you offer for all equipment within my solar array? Post installation, do you assist with warranties of this equipment?

With many parts of a solar array, it’s crucial to ensure a solar company offers warranties or can assist you with the warranty process if handled directly through the manufacturer. Similarly, you’ll want to ensure your chosen company has a large enough customer care team to support your system in the following years. There is always a chance something can happen with your installation. If the company you choose can’t get someone to diagnose a problem within 1-2 days, this could mean considerable downtime when you aren’t producing any solar and, therefore, utility savings.

GreenSpark’s customer care team response time is within 48 hours from the time of the call. It’s important for us to solve the issues as quickly as possible to get your system back up running and producing solar. 

8. Do you offer solar financing?

Choosing solar for your home can be a significant investment upfront (with great returns over time) – don’t let that stop you from breaking free from the utility company and bringing some stability into your life. Ask the solar company if they offer financing.

GreenSpark has a unique financing partnership with the Clean Energy Credit Union, a values-driven lender, to give homeowners an exclusive new financing opportunity. Industry-specific loans through the GreenSpark and Clean Energy Credit Union partnership provide community members with some of the strongest rates available.

• 2.49% for a 12-year loan
• 2.99% for a 15-year loan
• 3.49% for a 20-year loan
• A bridge loan of 0% for 18 months so that you don’t have to pay a dime while you wait for those sweet solar tax credits to hit the books

During a time when the prime rate is at 7%, need we say more? We know that financing and your monthly payment are not a one size fits all approach, and we want to give all our customers all the options to help them go solar and break free from unpredictable utility rates.

9. Is the solar sales team commissioned? 

There is nothing wrong with commission-based work. However, we have witnessed circumstances when a commissioned salesperson from another company unethically sells or pressures folks into a decision. These high-pressure situations are often made by salespeople who are not knowledgeable in solar. Be sure to get the facts about what motivates the salesperson and their experience level. At GreenSpark, we aim to educate our customers on how solar can benefit them. We do not pay our sales team per sale, which better aligns with our mission and core values. Our sales presentations are for educational purposes, and our team does not ask for any commitment at the end. Instead, we follow up a few days later to check on any questions or provide additional information. 

10. Do you have your own installers and electrician on staff that works year-round?

11. What assumptions are you using for savings? Are they ethical, data-backed assumptions for savings?

GreenSpark assumes a conservative 3% inflation rate for energy prices over time. While this may make our savings look lower than our competitors, the future of energy prices is unknown. We want to ensure steady rising savings rather than aggressive estimating that could jeopardize your financial future if the energy rates do not rise at that rate. Always ask what rate the savings are estimated at over time to ensure they are ethical and conservative to ensure that you will receive or hopefully exceed these savings over time. 

12. Are you setting me up for future expansions? Will you be around to add or reroof my system in the future? 

In the future, if you have more land or space on your roof, you may want to increase your energy consumption and expand your array. It will save time, money, and resources if the same company can assist with this expansion. Additionally, everyone will need a new roof at some point. Removing and reinstalling the panels promptly is imperative to ensure your system has minor downtime. Having a company that already knows the ins and outs of your system and has done many removals or reinstalls is critical to ensuring it comes down safely and goes back up quickly. GreenSpark Solar has been around for over 21 years. We are committed to assisting our customers through expansions, roof repairs, and more, no matter how much time has passed since their original installation.