Getting a Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy System on Your Home

PV systems are complex. An improperly designed system could burn down your home or kill an electric utility line worker. PV systems should not be treated as something you can install over a weekend with an instruction booklet.

Are You Building a New Home?
If you are, you have the opportunity to do solar energy right from the ground up. You can work with an architect that knows solar technologies and how to properly and aesthetically integrate them into your home. This includes achieving the optimal siting and orientation of your home and solar panels, and using building integrated PV systems. You can also have passive solar elements and the most energy efficient building materials and equipment designed into your home. If your funds are limited your priority should be making your home and roof renewable ready for PV and solar water heating systems.

Hiring an expert to design and install your PV system will better ensure that the system is properly designed, operates safely, and results in fewer problems for utility and electrical inspectors. Some of Wisconsin's PV installers are certified by the National Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP). To become certified by NABCEP installers must have installed PV systems and passed a rigorous exam. Your installer can also work to educate your local utility and building inspectors in case they have questions.

To make inspections of the system easier, consider using PV system components with UL labels. The UL label tells utility and electrical inspectors that the components are safe.

For a listing of Wisconsin Solar Energy experts, visit Focus on Energy's Full Service PV Installers List or the Renewable Energy Yellow Pages (they can be found at http://www.focusonenergy.com/page.jsp?pageId=806. Some of these individuals have been designing and installing PV systems for over 20 years.


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	Learn Getting a Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy System on Your Home Introduction Cost of a PV System Why PV? PV System Incentives Getting a PV system on Your Home: A Strategy 1. Make Your Home Energy Efficient 2. Contact Your Local Utility, Insurance Agent, and Subdivision Architectural Review Board 3. Use a Reputable PV System Designer and Installer 4. Design Considerations 3. Use a Reputable PV System Designer and Installer PV systems are complex. An improperly designed system could burn down your home or kill an electric utility line worker. PV systems should not be treated as something you can install over a weekend with an instruction booklet. Are You Building a New Home? If you are, you have the opportunity to do solar energy right from the ground up. You can work with an architect that knows solar technologies and how to properly and aesthetically integrate them into your home. This includes achieving the optimal siting and orientation of your home and solar panels, and using building integrated PV systems. You can also have passive solar elements and the most energy efficient building materials and equipment designed into your home. If your funds are limited your priority should be making your home and roof renewable ready for PV and solar water heating systems. Hiring an expert to design and install your PV system will better ensure that the system is properly designed, operates safely, and results in fewer problems for utility and electrical inspectors. Some of Wisconsin's PV installers are certified by the National Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP). To become certified by NABCEP installers must have installed PV systems and passed a rigorous exam. Your installer can also work to educate your local utility and building inspectors in case they have questions. To make inspections of the system easier, consider using PV system components with UL labels. The UL label tells utility and electrical inspectors that the components are safe. For a listing of Wisconsin Solar Energy experts, visit Focus on Energy's Full Service PV Installers List or the Renewable Energy Yellow Pages (they can be found at http://www.focusonenergy.com/page.jsp?pageId=806. Some of these individuals have been designing and installing PV systems for over 20 years. Next page» About \| Learn \| Fund \| Connect \| Contact copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 WisconSUN