We're in the business of selling solar energy systems, but for certain homes, going solar just doesn't make good financial sense. We love our trees here in the Pacific Northwest, but they can definitely be a barrier to solar potential. The shade that trees can cast on your roof means that your solar panels won’t be collecting energy. We want our customers...
Because it’s your investment. If you have a solar installer promising you big production numbers and then has no written guarantee to back them up, think twice before signing up. We take great pride in our reputation, and we also care about the solar industry as a whole. A&R provides 10-year warranties on your residential system’s performance and workmanship. This is...
Maybe. Whether or not solar can go on the roof of a pre-engineered structure--whether it’s a pole barn, carport, or manufactured home--has to do with its load-bearing capacity. This isn’t the time to guess or hope whether the structure will hold up under the added weight of solar panels when snow and wind storms hit; we often have engineering reports to...
Because we really believe that matters. A&R Solar has the most NABCEP-certified employees in the Pacific Northwest. NABCEP certification is the gold standard for solar. It means that our employees have been through rigorous training and testing--they’ve invested a significant amount of time and money to initial and continuing solar education. It doesn’t stop there--every NABCEP certified professional signs onto a comprehensive...
Our first job onsite is setting up the roof anchor. From then on, installers know that they need to be roped up anytime they are on the roof. This goes for ALL roofs, flat to steep. Working with safety gear on and managing ropes does slow down the install a bit, but all of our crews get to go home...
Any reputable solar installer will want to know how many years you have left on your roof. We require homeowners to have at least 10 years of roof life left when installing a solar energy system, and recommend having at least 12 to 15 years of life left. Solar panels are designed to last decades, so replacing a roof with solar...
Storage systems--including Tesla Powerwall--are based on relatively new technology. Someone can’t simply read a manual and understand the nuances of installing it. A&R Solar is one of a handful of Certified Tesla Powerwall Installers in the Pacific Northwest. This means we’ve been through a rigorous training program from Tesla. Furthermore, we’ve logged hundreds of hours researching energy storage solutions. We have...
Setbacks for solar PV systems are required by the IBC (International Building Code) and adopted by some state and local permitting authorities. The intention of the setbacks is to provide firefighters with access to the peak of the roof in order to provide positive ventilation in the event of a house fire. This firefighting practice can be critical for releasing toxic...
If you operate a business out of your home, you may be able eligible for additional depreciation savings through the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS),--in addition to the federal tax credit. Determining your eligibility for MACRS and calculating its value can be very complex and must be completed by a CPA or other tax professional. Get a tax professional’s advice...
Despite the news that President Trump has imposed tariffs on imported solar panels, home and business owners in Washington and Oregon who want to go solar won’t see much, if any, of increased prices in 2018. Several manufacturers are either exempt from the tariffs or have been planning to minimize their impact since news broke of the possibility last summer....