Sunspec

Revised
Jan 21, 2009

Site Assessments

What is a site assessment?

When a property owner is interested in finding out if a solar energy system is right for their needs, a site assessment helps answer this question. This is an unbiased evaluation of the property for feasibility, sizing, estimated cost, benefits, and limitations to installing solar water heating or electric power.

1. A shade reading is taken to determine the available solar energy at the specific location.

2. A load analysis is done to determine your energy needs.

3. Also included is a consultation on energy efficiency measures, to help reduce the cost of your system.

4. Photographs and physical measurements are taken of your property.

5. We will engage you in a discussion of available technologies.

6. A comprehensive report is prepared, and typically delivered in two to five weeks, which may be given to an installer to bid on the project.

All reports for which a Focus On Energy coupon is received will be reviewed by a veteran solar energy installer prior to being sent to the client.

The on-site visit typically takes 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on the complexity of the property or situation.

What do I need to do during the appointment?

You will be asked to provide your 12 most recent energy bills, and answer some questions regarding the nature and motivation for your project.

For residential solar electric assessments, you will be asked to provide estimated usage of the lights and appliances of your home. This is necessary to provide the site assessor with a breakdown of your usage, and where you have the potential to cut back. In the case of a newly purchased property or new construction, it is essential for making an estimate of your energy usage.

For solar hot water assessments, you will be asked to answer some basic questions about your hot water usage.

At SunSpec, our customers come first!

We will make the extra effort to provide you with accurate information, common-sense explanations, and creative solutions to any unusual aspects of your property or situation. If there is a specific type of system or technology you are interested in, SunSpec will gather as much information as is available to tailor your report to your requests.

Solar Space Heating Analysis

As an additional service, SunSpec can provide a solar space heating analysis. This can supplement a Solar Hot Water Site Assessment if the system is to be used for heating one or more rooms in a home or building.

It is an estimate of the energy and financial savings that may be realized from installing a radiant heating system that is heated by solar hot water collectors on a particular property. It is billed separately, since Focus On Energy does not provide a discount coupon or financial incentives for this service. However, the analysis can help the client understand the potential effectiveness of such a system.