Solar Electric

In Iowa the area experiences enough sunshine to warrant a solar rating of “good”, making it a viable candidate for a solar energy system. The average Iowa resident’s electrical usage is 10,428 kWh/year. If a Burlington homeowner has 400 square feet of roof space for a Photovoltaic solar collector array and $36,000 for equipment and installation – less $10,800 from a federal tax credit – electricity usage can be reduced by half. The benefits include:

An estimated increase in property value of $8,540
An estimated 25-year utility savings of $17, 918
An estimated 25-year greenhouse gas (CO2) reduction of 107 tons
IA provides a property tax exemption for 5 years for any market value added by the solar system


	Solar electric (PV) panels are the component that makes electricity. These panels come in a variety of outputs and mechanical configurations.

	PVH -Solar hot water collectors provide a convenient way to add hot water to PV installation. These are sized to most popular 185 to 230 W PV panels from most manufactures.

		Inverters are the electrical device that converts the energy (DC voltage) to AC voltage that we normally use in our homes and businesses. They come in 3 types: Grid tied for connection to the utility; Off grid Inverters for standalone operation with battery backup and Grid interactive backup power systems also with storage batteries.