If you have solar panels on your home, you might be interested to learn more about the potential for these panels to be installed on your commercial building. There is a potential for energy savings, similar to what you would experience from the ones on your house. Commercial buildings typically have different roofs, especially in terms of their shape. So it’s reasonable to wonder if they can benefit from solar panels the same way a home with a slanted roof can. While solar panels on commercial buildings have some different features than those on homes, it’s very possible to reap certain benefits from solar panels on your commercial building.
Where Can You Install Solar Panels For Commercial Use?
On the house, the roof is the best place to install solar panels. This is because it provides a space where the panels can catch plenty of sunlight. While you can install solar panels on rooftops of office buildings and other commercial buildings, there are some additional places that commercial properties often choose for solar panel installation. For instance, parking lots can have solar panels installed above the existing parking spots to make the most of this space. You can also use green space on the business’ property for the installation of ground-mounted solar panels.
What Is the Difference Between Residential and Commercial Solar Panels?
Because commercial buildings are so much larger than homes and have so much more energy needs, commercial buildings require more panels. Each panel will usually be more powerful than what you’ll find on a home. In fact, while most solar panels for homes will have about 60 cells at most, a commercial solar panel will typically have about 72 cells. Also consider the fact that commercial buildings provide more options for solar panel installation simply because of the size of the structure and property.
Solar Panel Needs on a Commercial Building
Determining the number of solar panels necessary to power a commercial building is a fairly straightforward process. First of all, you’ll need to take the amount of power in wattage that your commercial building needs per hour and multiply that by the number of hours of full sun your building receives every day. Then, divide that by the wattage of each panel that you’re considering using.
How Are Commercial Solar Panels Installed?
Installing commercial panels requires that a building can hold a lot of weight. Each panel needs to be secured with ballasted racking, which can be very heavy. Additionally, if you’re securing them to a roof with a pitch, the technicians will use hardware that can attach to the roof as well as be secured around the solar panel. A trained professional is always necessary for commercial solar panel installation on roofs. If solar panels aren’t properly installed, they can pose a serious risk of danger if they were to fall off. Improperly installed panels are also more likely to experience a poor transfer of power.
What Are the Incentives to Installing Commercial Solar Panels?
Beyond saving your business a lot of money in energy costs, there are lots of rebates and tax incentives available when installing commercial panels. For instance, the solar Investment Tax Credit encourages business owners to install solar panels on their roofs as a way of cutting down on the amount of electricity that the business consumes. Additionally, there are often rebates available on the materials used.
Top Reasons to Invest in Solar Panels
If you’re looking for ways to save money and reduce your company’s carbon footprint, solar panels are an ideal option. Solar energy is entirely renewable, which gives a company a greener image. This is especially useful for businesses that are known for consuming a lot of energy, but it could also be a nice perk for smaller businesses with less equipment and overhead. Even though the initial investment of solar panels is fairly expensive, there’s a great return on investment that adds up over the years.
Many people appreciate how reliable solar panels are and how little maintenance they require. With a roof hatch, technicians can easily gain access to the panels on the rare occasions that they need maintenance or repairs. You might be surprised to learn that the cells are encased in tempered glass. They can withstand rain, snow and even hail. They also have a non-corrosive frame that will withstand the elements. Solar panels don’t create noise as they function, which is especially nice for storefronts and other businesses that accommodate the public.
Things to Consider about Solar Panels
While installing commercial solar panels is very feasible, there are a few considerations that could impact your installation potential. The upfront cost of solar panels is fairly expensive even if you’ll eventually reap the benefits later on. Additionally, you have to remember that solar panels are dependent on the weather. If you have a lot of days that are cloudy, your panels may not provide as much energy as you had hoped. They often only provide an intermittent source of energy.
Be mindful of what your commercial building is situated near. Many commercial businesses might have trees or other buildings around them, which can block the sunlight during certain parts of the day.
You also need to be aware of the different types and brands of solar panels that are available. Not all are created equally. Some models are more suited to certain types of buildings. Finally, solar panels require a lot of room. Your roof is the most obvious place, but you might have to spread out to other parts of your property. This could cut down on the space that you have for other projects.
You should consider investing in a warranty for your commercial solar panels because they come with such a large upfront cost. Even though solar panels will usually last for decades when properly installed, there are a couple of types of warranties that you should consider. A performance warranty will typically ensure that the panels are working at 90% efficiency at 10 years and 80% efficiency at 25 years. But there’s also an equipment warranty, which will guarantee approximately 10 years without failing. You should also make sure that there’s product warranty insurance sold with your panels. This will insure the panels in case there are problems, such as premature aging and manufacturing defects. Different brands tend to carry different lengths of time for their warranties, which typically range between 10 and 25 years but can be as short as 5 years. Longer warranties tend to be more advantageous even considering the cost, so it’s worthwhile to keep your eyes on the length of warranty offered.
Talk to Professionals about Your Solar Needs
When you want to save money for your business, installing solar panels is a smart option. If you’re interested in solar panel installation in San Diego, look to Friar's Heating and Air. can obtain all of your heating, cooling and solar services from us. We perform indoor air quality tests, work on ductwork and install smart thermostats. We’ve been in business since 1989, so we bring to the table a great deal of experience. We also offer financing to qualified customers.
