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!