Thinking about going solar?

Foothills Solar Plus is here to help! This solar energy page covers everything from parts to panels to installation. Get ready… parts of this page can be nerdy/techie and not for the faint of heart! We suggest you start with the basics.
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The Basics of Solar Energy

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Installing a Solar System

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Costs, Financing, and ROI

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Ownership and Maintenance

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Solar's Environmental Impact

SECTION ONE

The Basics of Solar Energy

The sun doesn't just generate light and heat. It also produces energy. We call the sun's energy ‘solar power.’ Using a physical and chemical process known as the photovoltaic effect, we can convert solar power into the electricity we use to operate our homes and workplaces.

The photovoltaic effect requires two pieces of equipment — solar panels and inverters. Solar panels capture the sun's energy. Inverters transform that energy into electricity. If you are living totally off the grid, you also need batteries to store the energy you generate and charge controllers to manage the batteries' rate of charge.

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What are solar panels?

Solar panels come in two main types. One uses monocrystalline, and the other uses polycrystalline solar cells. Monocrystalline cells come from a single piece of silicon while polycrystalline cells combine bits of several pieces of silicon.

The silicon cells, which measure about six inches by six inches, sit at the top of the solar panels and are supported by a protective backsheet. A large square of cells is called a panel. Several panels working together are dubbed a solar array.

Residential-size panels hold either 60 cells or 72 cells. A 60-cell panel measures about 39” x 65”, and a 72-cell panel runs about 39” x 77”.

types of solar panels
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How do solar panels work?

Solar panels allow photons, or small particles of light, to bump electrons free of their atoms to generate electric flow. Made up of many small photovoltaic cells composed of semi-conductive materials, the panels can conduct electricity and simultaneously create an electric field.

Inside a solar panel, each piece of semi-conductive material gets a positive or negative charge. Engineers add electrons for a negative charge and borons for a positive one. Within this electric field, the sun's rays knock the electrons free where metal plates can convert them from energy into electricity.

Most solar panels last about 25 years and perform at least 80% capacity over their lifetime.

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What are inverters?

Inverters are the pieces of a solar system that convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity. In DC, the voltage stays steady in a single direction, but in AC, voltage alternates between positive and negative charges. Solar panels generate DC, but an electrical grid uses AC.

To convert energy from DC to AC, inverters regulate the flow of power. Inverters can come in one of several different types, including string inverters, central inverters, microinverters, and battery-based inverters. These inverters generally last 10-12 years and need replacing just once during a panel's lifetime.

A microinverter lives in a single panel. With this kind of inverter, you basically create a whole solar system in each panel.

A string inverter, the least expensive option, hooks up to a whole line of panels. Usually, about ten panels are connected to a single string inverter. So if your house requires a 20-panel array, you would need two inverters.

solar power inverter
SECTION ONE

The Basics of Solar Energy

The sun doesn't just generate light and heat. It also produces energy. We call the sun's energy ‘solar power.’ Using a physical and chemical process known as the photovoltaic effect, we can convert solar power into the electricity we use to operate our homes and workplaces.

The photovoltaic effect requires two pieces of equipment — solar panels and inverters. Solar panels capture the sun's energy. Inverters transform that energy into electricity. If you are living totally off the grid, you also need batteries to store the energy you generate and charge controllers to manage the batteries' rate of charge.

solar panel icon

What are solar panels?

Solar panels come in two main types. One uses monocrystalline, and the other uses polycrystalline solar cells. Monocrystalline cells come from a single piece of silicon while polycrystalline cells combine bits of several pieces of silicon.

The silicon cells, which measure about six inches by six inches, sit at the top of the solar panels and are supported by a protective backsheet. A large square of cells is called a panel. Several panels working together are dubbed a solar array.

Residential-size panels hold either 60 cells or 72 cells. A 60-cell panel measures about 39” x 65”, and a 72-cell panel runs about 39” x 77”.

types of solar panels
home ownership icon

How do solar panels work?

Solar panels allow photons, or small particles of light, to bump electrons free of their atoms to generate electric flow. Made up of many small photovoltaic cells composed of semi-conductive materials, the panels can conduct electricity and simultaneously create an electric field.

Inside a solar panel, each piece of semi-conductive material gets a positive or negative charge. Engineers add electrons for a negative charge and borons for a positive one. Within this electric field, the sun's rays knock the electrons free where metal plates can convert them from energy into electricity.

Most solar panels last about 25 years and perform at least 80% capacity over their lifetime.

monitoring icon

What are inverters?

Inverters are the pieces of a solar system that convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity. In DC, the voltage stays steady in a single direction, but in AC, voltage alternates between positive and negative charges. Solar panels generate DC, but an electrical grid uses AC.

To convert energy from DC to AC, inverters regulate the flow of power. Inverters can come in one of several different types, including string inverters, central inverters, microinverters, and battery-based inverters. These inverters generally last 10-12 years and need replacing just once during a panel's lifetime.

A microinverter lives in a single panel. With this kind of inverter, you basically create a whole solar system in each panel.

A string inverter, the least expensive option, hooks up to a whole line of panels. Usually, about ten panels are connected to a single string inverter. So if your house requires a 20-panel array, you would need two inverters.

solar power inverter
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SECTION TWO

Installing a Solar System

What are the benefits of having your panels professionally installed versus taking the DIY route?

Installation can get complicated, but we'll guide you through the whole process.

Our professional solar installers will help you determine what size solar system you need. We will also walk you through the permit process and hook up the solar panels to the grid when we've finished installing them.

Can you install a solar system yourself? Yes, if you want to crawl around on your roof for a couple of days, driving lag bolts, assembling prefabricated parts, and making sure you plug all the right ends into all the right ports.

Foothills Solar Plus will make your installation pain- and worry-free. For an in-depth look at our installation process, head over to our Installation page.

  • Chayne W.

    Very responsible and honest company that pays attention to details. They were very friendly and easy to work with.

    Chayne W.
  • Fred H.

    These guys did everything they said they would do! Came to my house and did the entire job in one day! Highly recommend.

    Fred H.
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SECTION THREE

Costs, Financing, and ROI on Residential Solar

Many consumers ask: How can I pay to go solar? And when will I see an ROI for going solar?

We can help answer those questions.

Residential solar systems aren't cheap, but they ultimately pay for themselves.

Solar panels and inverters cost money, as do the racks to hold them on you roof. You also have to pay installers, inspectors, and an electrician. We understand that these costs can add up. A personal loan from a bank or credit union typically comes with low finance charges and interest rates. But remember this:

Our goal is to completely eliminate your energy bill.

So, while you'll likely have new monthly payments from financing your solar array, you'll never see a power bill again! Plus, many homes produce more solar energy than they require, so you may actually earn money by going solar!

If the initial cost still seems intimidating, you can take advantage of tax benefits from both state and federal tax agencies.

You can get a 26% federal tax credit for systems installed in 2020-2022 and 22% for systems installed in 2023. South Carolina taxpayers can also deduct 25% of the total cost of solar panels, including installation, from their taxable income. Solar panels also increase the value of your home by about 4.1%.

With all these benefits, most homeowners see a net positive ROI on their investment in approximately 6-10 years.

a professional roofer installs solar panels on a shingle roof
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SECTION FOUR

Owning and Maintaining Your Solar System

Solar panels require very little maintenance.

They do need to be cleaned every year or so. Since dirty panels are less able to absorb the sun's rays, they lower the efficiency of the overall system. Otherwise, panels don't need care or maintenance.

In the event of a snowstorm or ice storm, your panels will probably generate enough heat to melt the snow that falls on them. Should we experience a severe hailstorm, your panels might need to be serviced. Contact us if you believe your panels have gotten damaged.

a man smears his fingers across a solar panel to dislodge dust
a man uses a squeegee to clean a solar panel
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SECTION FIVE

The Environmental Impact of Solar Power

Do you want to reduce your home's environmental impact?

Solar is one of the cleanest energy options available.

Many consumers choose to transfer to solar energy because they want to reduce their home's environmental impact.

Solar is one of the cleanest energy options available. It does not produce greenhouse gasses or harmful CO2 emissions. Plus, solar energy reduces water pollution and the strain on finite resources like oil and gas.

All these reasons help explain why solar has become one of the most popular forms of alternative energy for everyday homeowners.

Solar panels generate 4-5 times as much energy as it takes to produce them. And today, Environmental scientists are working with engineers and waste management experts to create an increasingly efficient, clean, and environmentally sound solar option.

The sun produces 10,000 times the world's total combined energy use and won't run out of power for 5.5 billion years. Are you ready to tap into a limitless well of clean, inexpensive energy?

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Nuclear Power Water usage: 2.3 liters/kwh

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Coal Power Water usage: 1.9 liters/kwh

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Solar Power Water usage: 0 liters/kwh

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Ready for a consultation?

If you think installing a solar energy system might be right for you, give us a call.

We’ll be happy to talk you through your options, and we can even come out and evaluate your home to get a better idea of what kind of real numbers you’re looking at. Call us today at (864) 775-8508 or request a consultation online to have one of our agents give you a call at your convenience.

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