7 Things to Consider About Solar for Businesses

Solar for businesses is more popular than ever. As solar power continues to grow as an option for powering homes, many business owners have wondered how they can benefit from the clean energy route as well — resulting in commercial solar becoming as popular as residential solar. We’ve seen these commercial projects pop up just about everywhere from schools to churches to parking decks, both on the rooftops of buildings and mounted on the ground.

If you’re a business owner who’s considering commercial solar, there are many upsides to converting to clean, renewable energy. While each solar project is unique, there’s a list of things to consider that are universal. In this blog, we’ll go through all of the important things to consider about solar for businesses and how you can benefit from it. 

What to Consider for Commercial Solar Projects

Before taking the plunge into solar energy, here are a few things you should know about it to make the best decision for your business:

1. Your energy needs. 

The very first thing you should consider is the energy needs of your business, school, farm, or whatever the project may be. How much are you spending on utilities each month? Each year? Do you have a large factory to heat in the winter? Or maybe you have a large medical facility that powers vital machinery for treating patients. There are so many types of businesses that have their own specific requirements, and learning the most you can about yours will help you choose the right system. Find or create a 6-month to year long analysis of your energy consumption and determine how much you’re using – this will help you to calculate the solar system size you would need to install to meet those energy needs, ensuring you are able to keep up the means of production. 

2. What form of solar system the business site will require. 

If you have a large rooftop area, solar panels on the roof may be your best option. However, you need to consider if that roof faces the sun, if there are large trees or other buildings blocking sunlight from reaching the roof, or if the area on the roof is otherwise occupied. If any of these are issues that may arise, ground-mounted solar panels are the way to go! These allow you to build a solar canopy to house your panels and place it wherever would be the most suitable for maximum sun exposure. 

3. The climate in which you operate. 

A major thing to consider about going solar is the climate in which your business resides. While solar panels do work on cloudy days, if you live in an area that is habitually cloudy or rainy, commercial solar might not be the wisest choice for you as the system relies on sunlight to be converted into electricity. A few rainy days here and there won’t stop your solar panels from operating as needed, but they only generate up to about 25% of their potential energy when the sun isn’t shining. However, if you see mostly sunny days, commercial solar is the perfect option for your company! 

4. Your business’ impact on the environment. 

If yours if the type of business, school, farm, etc., that requires massive amounts of energy and has any type of output on the environment such as water runoff or the burning of fossil fuels, commercial solar would be an excellent way to help negate some of those effects and improve your carbon footprint. This would not only benefit your company, but also the community in which you operate — you’d be helping create a safer, cleaner environment for your customers and employees to live and work in.  

5. City building regulations. 

Occasionally, we run into the issue of homeowners associations not allowing residents in their neighborhood to install solar panels on their houses. The same can sometimes happen to commercial solar projects, which is why it’s important to vet the solar companies in your area and find one who fully understands building codes and is able to meet them. At Renu Energy Solutions, we thoroughly analyze a commercial solar project before we begin, allowing us to decide the best route to take to comply with local regulations. 

6. The tax credits in your state. 

The Federal ITC Tax Credit of 26% is a great way to save big on your solar system! Learning about your state’s tax incentives can make all the difference in deciding to go solar or not, as many don’t know about how much they can save by going solar. For example, commercial solar projects in South Carolina can benefit from 25% of a tax credit up to $140,000, meaning you could potentially save $35,000. 

7. The maintenance of a commercial solar system. 

Solar panels are built to last. Most solar panel manufacturers guarantee that your system will last at least 25 years, with the capability of lasting much longer than that if they’re properly cared for. While solar systems are relatively low-maintenance, it’s still important to be on the lookout for any problems that may arise or external factors such as weathering or wildlife that could cause damage to your panels. You can clean and troubleshoot yourself if you’re prepared, but we recommend hiring a professional solar O&M company to effectively service your system. 

Why Renu Energy Solutions Can Help with Solar for Businesses

Since our founding 2010, Renu has installed over 3,300 solar projects for both residential and commercial customers. We have a dedicated team of certified solar installers who are more than capable of tackling commercial solar jobs of all shapes and sizes. But don’t just take our word for it — see the results for yourself! To learn more about what we’ve done as a solar company, take a look at some of our favorite solar success stories.

If you’re considering commercial solar for businesses, school, church, farm, etc., to clean, renewable energy, contact Renu Energy Solutions today for a free consultation. We’d be happy to help you on your solar journey and help you start saving today!

Why Energy Storage is Important in 2022 and Beyond

Energy storage, at its core, is about reliability — you want to be able to rely on your  solar system to keep providing you with energy even when other sources have been disrupted. The electrical grid, which most homes and businesses are connected to, has little storage capacity. Because of this, if the grid is ever down for whatever reason, the homes and businesses it provides energy to will lose power. 

In today’s age, a power outage is a nuisance that no one wants to deal with — your groceries will spoil because the fridge is off, your heating won’t heat in the dead of winter, and sometimes the only form of entertainment is playing board games by candlelight. But more than that, you may not be able to communicate with your friends and family, finish important projects, or stay updated on the latest news if your phones and computers are dead or unable to connect to wifi. We get it, this is how people lived for thousands of years! But in 2022, we’re just not accustomed to it. We like our power! Which is precisely why it’s so important to have a backup energy storage system for when things don’t go as planned. 

How Energy Storage Helps When You Need It Most

2022 has been a year of adjusting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re staying at home way more than usual — and working from there, too. Because of the increased amount of time spent at your house, you need a reliable energy source more than ever. 

To protect employees from potentially contracting or spreading the virus, many companies have opted to move to work from home protocols. Millions of people are now relying on their home offices to get their jobs done, highlighting the importance of having a comfortable environment with a stable power and internet connection. If the grid is down, due to purposeful reasons like rolling blackouts or from accidental reasons like storms, you will want your energy storage system to continue powering your home. 

The whole purpose of having an energy storage system is to have energy security; you want a reliable power source for when all else fails. For example, say you’re working from home and you have an important deadline to meet — your whole team is counting on you to finish this project and boom! The power goes out! You’re sure your coworkers will understand that it wasn’t your fault, but nevertheless, the deadline isn’t met. This is exactly the kind of thing that scares most people about working from home; most people don’t feel as secure about their internet connections, power sources, etc. compared to those of their offices.

Due to an increase in the need for medical care, more and more people are having to get that treatment at home. Powering your home is the key to powering medical equipment that is vital to patients in need, so having energy storage ensures you never have to worry about any of that equipment fails. 

With an energy storage system, you don’t have to worry about outages that can affect your work or your health because you will always have a backup. Even when the grid fails, your home system will continue on powering throughout a blackout and make sure that you have energy security for when you need it most. 

How Does Solar Work with Energy Storage?

At the risk of sounding too technical, we’ll try to explain this as simply as possible. Solar panels absorb the sun’s light through photovoltaic (PV) cells, or the solar panel cells designed to transform sunlight into energy.

At Renu, we provide two types of solar energy systems, the Tesla Powerwall and the Generac PWRcell, which are both excellent options for homeowners looking to store their own energy. 

The Tesla Powerwall is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery able to store energy at a residential level, storing up to 13.5 kW of clean energy with or without a solar system. However, it is most often paired with a solar system to store the extra energy your panels produce throughout the day with the intention of utilizing that excess energy at night time or on rainy days when you aren’t receiving as much sunshine as usual. 

The Generac PWRcell is another intelligent home energy storage system, able to protect from power outages and get you through the night on stored energy from your solar panels. Providing up to 10 kW of energy, it’s a great option for those who don’t need as much energy as the Tesla Powerwall produces. 

It’s important to choose the right storage system based on your needs, which is why Renu is proud to offer both options to accommodate the most homes! 

How Renu Can Help

With the future of our society as it relates to COVID-19 and the adapting world still uncertain, we can be sure of one thing — energy storage isn’t going anywhere. The ability to produce and store your own energy has become increasingly important and popular with no sign of slowing down. 

Renu Energy Solutions is fully equipped to install both solar and storage systems to customers in North and South Carolina. Since 2010, we’ve completed over 4,100 installations to both residential and commercial properties, providing our customers with the clean, renewable energy they need to power their homes and businesses. 

If you’re interested in an energy storage system to claim your energy independence and protect yourself from the uncertainties of the grid, give us a call today for a free consultation! We’d be happy to guide you through this process and help you achieve your energy storage goals. 

The Advantages of Solar Energy During the Holiday Season

The leaves are falling, the decorations are being pulled out of the attic, and the department stores are already decked out in their winter wonderland finery. But what’s the best part of the holidays? Going solar! There has never been a better time to convert to solar energy, especially with the increased electricity needs of the season — not to mention the federal tax credit of 26% based on the cost of your system that drops to 22% in 2021. After all, this time of year is all about giving, so why not give yourself the gift of clean energy?

With this time of year comes lots of Christmas lights, kitchens working round the clock, prolonged store hours, and more. All of these additional energy needs tend to turn utility bills into a nightmare, putting quite a bit of a damper on your holiday spirit. That’s where solar panels come in to help. 

We’ve already covered all of the great benefits you’ll reap by producing your own energy, but did you know there’s even more advantages of solar energy during the holiday season? In this blog, we’ll take a look at all of the reasons why renewable energy makes sense this time of year, and how you can start your own solar journey! 

Why You Should Convert to Solar Energy for the Holidays

You might have asked yourself already, “Is fall/winter really the best time to go solar?” While we may not be getting as much sunlight as we do in the summertime, we’re still using plenty of energy! There are many reasons why converting to solar energy during the holiday season is going to help you save money. 

Picture this: you’re preparing for a Thanksgiving meal to feed your entire family, your aunts and uncles are crowded into your guest bedrooms, and the chill that’s set into the air has brought with it the need to crank the heat in your house. Does any of that sound familiar? Because of the increasing amount of energy to accommodate the holiday fanfare, your utility bills are going to be skyrocketing for the next couple of months. That is, unless you have a solar system installed! 

Thanks to solar panels, you can easily power all of the appliances being used in your kitchen to cook those large holiday feasts, alleviate your electricity bills that have increased because of the extra people in your household, and help you keep those heating costs down when it gets cold out. 

Phew! Thanksgiving is finally over and the relatives have gone home, the kitchen is out of business until further notice, and you’re getting used to the colder weather. Just when you think things are going to settle down: Christmas! 

Solar Energy and Christmas Lights

If you’re someone who loves to go all out with the holiday decorations, you should definitely consider going solar. According to the Washington Post, a strand of 25 C9 lights will average about $15.12 added to your electric bill, assuming they run 12 hours a day for about 45 days, since some people put them up before December or leave them up until January! So what, $15.12 doesn’t sound like that big of a deal, right? Remember — that’s only one strand. If you’re looking to really deck the halls, you’re going to be using more than one strand of these lights, and even the smaller bulbs will end up costing you about $3.50 per strand. Either way, the addition of Christmas lights to your home is going to put a dent in your utility bill! 

With solar, customers in the Carolinas can expect to save an average of $83.25 per month, greatly alleviating the strain on your electricity bill and reliance on the utility company. With the increased need for electricity this time of year to power all of our favorite things, solar energy during the holiday season is a lifesaver! 

The Federal Solar Tax Incentive

Thanks to an initiative by Congress, the 26% federal solar tax incentive has been extended through the end of 2022, giving you two more years to install solar and take advantage of the credit. Previously, it was intended to drop to 22% in 2021, but the push for clean energy in this country gave Congress reason to extend the deadline for the 26% incentive, which is a huge win for both residential and commercial customers who are looking to go solar. 

Going Solar with Renu Energy Solutions

Since 2010, Renu has helped over 3,000 residential and commercial properties adopt clean, renewable energy with solar systems. We value our customers and their time, so providing them with the best service possible is at the forefront of our minds. 
While the holiday season can be a stressful time of year for some, our team at Renu Energy Solutions can guarantee a smooth transition into solar energy. If you’re ready to convert to solar and begin saving, give us a call or book a free consultation online. Our energy consultants are experts in helping you save money and energy and would be happy to guide you through your solar journey.