FAQ

No. Our team does all the permitting paperwork and the engineering for structures that require them.

Solar electric panels produce power for 30-50 years, and manufacturers usually warranty the power output for 25 years. The inverter typically wears out first, and most are warrantied for 10-25 years.

Because solar panels often outlast roofing shingles, your roof should be in good condition before you install a solar panel system. If your roof has less than 12 years of remaining life, we recommend replacing your roof before installing solar.

Studies show that solar systems do indeed increase home value, often by an amount similar to the cost of the system. Although there are no guarantees, a solar system can pay for itself in resale value alone, and you could consider the electricity it produces as a bonus!

State law in Washington prevents homeowner associations from outright prohibiting the installation of solar PV systems if the system meets all health, safety, and performance standards required by state and local permitting authorities. The HOA may have its own rules on where the system is located on the property, and on the physical appearance of the system.

In Idaho, however, homeowner associations can prevent you from putting up solar, so you should ask permission. You should also ask for a solar easement to ensure permission isn’t taken away, and that your solar access isn’t obstructed.

Solar panels work well and often more efficiently in cold weather. While it is true that they do not work if there is snow on top of them, the snow usually slides off or melts quickly — all you will likely need to do is clean off your panels with a broom and/or add snow guards to your solar panel installation.

Our region’s long summer days were made for solar. Thanks to all the summer sunlight we get and the credits earned through utility net metering programs, we can build energy credits in the long summer months and then use those credits in the shorter winter months. Solar panels also operate more efficiently in our cooler summer weather, which means more efficient power than hotter climates like the Southwest. Solar energy systems keep on working on cloudy days too, collecting scattered light and focusing it into energy.

Net metering is an agreement between you and your utility where you are allowed bank credits whenever your system is producing more energy than your home is using.

Typically, this occurs in the sunny summer months when your system is most productive. In the winter, you can draw from those credits, keeping your bills low.

There is a net metering fiscal year, which runs from April to March. On March 31st, you will forfeit any credits you may have with the utility. The year resets on April 1st, coinciding with the long summer days when you can again start building up credits.

• FEDERAL: Homeowners can get a Federal Income Tax Credit of 30% of the total cost of an Installed system.
• WASHINGTON: Washington provides a sales tax exemption for solar energy systems, such as rooftop solar panels. The exemption is available through 2029 and can exempt sales taxes for the purchase of machinery, equipment, and installation of solar energy systems.
• IDAHO: Idaho offers a Residential Alternative Tax Deduction that allows you to deduct 40% of the cost of your solar panel equipment and installation from your personal income taxes. You can also deduct 20% of the cost each year for the following three years after installation. The deduction is maxed out at $5,000 per year, or $20,000 total.