Solar system installation is growing quickly in the United States. In 2017, “solar power capacity doubled compared to 2015—itself a record-breaking year—with the country adding 14.5 gigawatts of solar power.”
If you’re considering taking the leap into the world of renewable energy, ask yourself these three questions first to make sure your company is a good fit for solar power.
1. Can Your Building Support it?
There are many facets to this question and many different ways to make solar power work for your building. But the first question to answer is whether or not you own the building. If not, installing solar panels on a property that isn’t yours probably won’t be possible.
If you do own the building, the next step is to get it inspected by an engineer to make sure the roof is structurally sound. A new building shouldn’t be a problem, but you may need to make some improvements if your company is housed in one that’s a couple decades old.
The final step in determining whether your building can support a solar system is to consider the size of the property. Businesses consume much more energy than residential buildings, so they need larger commercial systems.
Contact a contractor to learn if your roof has the space to accommodate one or if there is available land nearby where it can be installed instead.
2. Are You In A Solar-Friendly Location?
Where is your business located? Some parts of the United States are more solar-friendly than others. Sunny states like Arizona and Colorado provide more sunshine hours for your solar panels to soak up and convert to energy. On the other hand, places like Island County, Washington, the least sunny place in the United States, may not make as much sense.
Even if you’re in an optimal state, that’s not all that matters. Your actual building also needs to be out of the shade. If it’s located in a forested area, or the roof is often obscured by the shadows of other buildings, then the simple truth is that your company is not a good fit for solar power.
3. Does It Make Financial Sense?
Last but not least, considers whether or not solar energy make sense for your company financially. Before your company decides to go solar, take some time to make the basic calculations. What kind of subsidies does your state offer? Take a look at this article to see where your state ranks on the solar-friendly scale and financial returns.
Ask Yourself These Three Questions Before Switching to Solar Power
Going green is an initiative that every business should adopt, but the unfortunate reality is that installing solar power systems isn’t possible for everyone.
Before you take the leap into renewable energy, you must ask yourself if your building is structurally sound, if your company is based in a solar-friendly location, and if it makes financial sense to take the leap with your business.
If you can answer yes to all three questions, your company is a good fit for solar power!
