Frequently Asked Questions

Who are we?

Solarize Tompkins SE formed after a series of Energy Independent Caroline (EIC) goal-setting retreats. We quickly joined forces with like-minded leaders from the town of Danby and Dryden in a combined three-town campaign to energize this effort. The sister towns are contiguous and together we have enough population to make community-level purchasing more effective. Our goal is that all of Tompkins County will soon be ‘solarized.' The success of Solarize Tompkins SE will set an example, and the lessons learned will help other towns to foster the expansion of solar energy adoption.

The campaign to date is a grassroots effort by residents in the three towns. We are guided by a steering committee and organized into three active subcomittees focused on 1) community education and outreach, 2) community purchasing and contracts, and 3) project management and resources.

Solarize Massachusetts WebTV video

It's long, but very informative! You can watch the WebTV video here.

Solarize In the News

It is impossible to list all the news coverage that has been provided for these Solarize campaigns. These links are provided either because of the uniqueness of the program or because they are more difficult to find while searching online.

KVAL.com Feb 21, 2012
Willamette Live; Solarize Salem (Solar Hot Water)
Solarize USA: The Paradign Shift [3 parts]
CNBC 5/38/2010
USA Today 8/25/2010
Huffington Post Green 8/26/2011
Huffington Post Green 12/17/2011
Clean Energy Group 8/17/2011

If you have any questions about the Solarize Tompkins SE Campaign, send them our way and we'll post the answers here.

My property is located in a nearby bordering town or county, can I participate in Solarize Tompkins SE?

Our 2013 Solarize Tompkins SE program is limited to the boundaries of our three towns, Caroline, Danby, and Dryden. This was a management decision that we made at the outset, and is what the proposing firms for our program were given as our geographic limit, so that they could plan accordingly. Of course anyone is free to contact either of our installers for this year to see what they can offer you (Solar Liberty for PV, Renovus for Solar Thermal), but people outside our Solarize area cannot be included in our program. But anyone is very welcome at our public workshops. We do hope that Solarize will expand in our area next year.

An Inspiring Video

Is my home right for solar?

Solar works best on roofs facing south, southwest, and southeast. There should be little or no shading from trees, buildings, chimneys or roof gables on or adjacent to your home. Remember, locations with no shading in the winter may be shaded by spring and summer foliage.

Another consideration for installing solar is the condition of your roof and the wiring in your home; in some instances, an electrical upgrade may be needed if your home has older wiring. Your installer will help you assess these issues.

Is Energy Efficiency and Conservation truly important?

Absolutely! Energy efficiency and conservation means using less energy to accomplish the same task. By improving your energy efficiency, you reduce the size (and cost) of the renewable energy system needed to power your home. Improving your energy efficiency is the first and most important step toward adopting renewable energy. Take 5 minutes and assess your home with the Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick.

How do I know if an installer is qualified?

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is the “gold standard” for PV and solar heating installation certification. NYSERDA requires this certification for any installer making application for incentives on behalf of their customer. NYSERDA has a list of approved contractors on their website (solar PV, solar thermal, wind, and energy smart communities coordinators).

How much CO2 emissions will my system offset?

There are approximately 18lbs of CO2 emissions per 1 kWh of electricity used. If you use an average of 900 kWh per month you are releasing 16,200 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. Here is a handy carbon dioxide emissions footprint calculator for you to use. You can also take this fun ecological footprint quiz.

Can I put solar panels on my garage or barn?

Yes, if your garage or barn has good solar access and the roof is in good condition, you can install solar panels on them. There may be additional costs if additional electrical or structural work needs to be done (e.g. trenching).

Does a solar PV system increase property taxes?

In 2012, Tompkins County voted to be exempt from the renewable energy property tax exemption, due to the tax implications of a planned large wind farm. At this point, very few homes exist with solar systems, and there has been no apparent effect on home prices. Houses with solar do sell faster. We may have to revisit the exemption policy due to the success of the solarize program.

How does solar electricity work?

Solar PV Systems use photovoltaic (PV) technology to produce electricity from a 100% clean source. Specifically, Solar modules convert sunlight into DC Power. A device known as an inverter then converts the DC power to AC power (which is the same electricity as provided by the utility grid). The power then travels from the inverter to your electric service panel, and is distributed throughout your house.
On sunny days you may not have a use for all the electricity you are generating and any excess flows out to the electric grid where it is available to other electric customers. When your system generates more electricity than you use, you receive a credit from your utility. This credit is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh).

What are watts, kilowatts, and kilowatt-hours?

The size of a solar electric system is often described in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). One kW = 1,000 W. Watts are a unit of power, just like the horsepower of an engine. They express the maximum possible output of energy the system can produce at any point in time. When sunlight strikes solar electric panels, they produce electricity that is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). Kilowatt hours are the units of energy you buy from your utility and use in your home to run your appliances, lighting and electronics.

What is net metering?

When your system produces more power than you consume your electric meter spins backwards and you earn a credit from your utility company. If your solar system produces less energy than your consumption the meter spins forward and there is a charge from the utility company.

When you install solar panels, your electric meter will be replaced. Your new meter will measure both the electricity you are purchasing from your utility and the electricity you are sending to the grid. The utility tracks both of these when it reads your meter, and you are charged only for your "net" energy use, the electricity you purchased minus what you sold. In the summer, you may run a credit for several months. You can use this credit during cloudy days or during the winter when more energy is consumed. The energy credit is exchanged on a kWh basis. Storing your excess energy on the grid is better than the best batteries, because it doesn't take up space or need to be replaced. In order to qualify for NYSERDA incentives, your system must be net-metered.

If I have solar panels, will I have electricity when the power goes out?

NO, Solar PV Systems are interconnected with the utility grid. In the event of a power outage, there are “anti-islanding” laws that prohibit your PV system from operating (so as to prevent power produced by your system from being sent back onto the grid). When the power goes out, your inverter will automatically shut down. The reason - if someone is working on the utility lines to bring the electricity back on in the neighborhood, the energy you are producing could harm the utility worker.

What is the NYSERDA incentive?

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provides cash incentives for the installation by Eligible Installers of new grid-connected Solar Electric or photovoltaic (PV) systems that are 7kW or less for residential, 25kW or less for not-for-profit and 50 kW or less for commercial sites. Funding for the Solar Electric Incentive Program (Program) has been allocated by the New York State Renewable Portfolio Standard. You qualify for this incentive if you see the RPS charge on your utility bill. As stated in the solar PV incentive manual issued by NYSERDA, "Incentives are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Incentives will only be reserved for customers once an application has been approved by NYSERDA." The manual continues, "The individual project incentive rate is $1.40 per watt for all types of applications, subject to change on a bi-monthly basis, depending upon demand during the previous two months."