Solar Power
Why Solar?
Solar electric systems are the most sustainable way to produce electricity, and quality designs like ours are quite durable.Consider the fuel -photons leaving the sun’s photosphere and traveling roughly 93 million miles in 8.5 minutes to irradiate your solar array and set electrons flowing. No moving parts, no transport or extraction costs, no waste. Our systems installed in the early 1980’s are still producing flawlessly,
How Solar Works
Photovoltaic cells are made of very pure semiconductor grade silicon similar to that used in computer chips. Silicon is the 2nd most common element in the Earth’s crust. Electricity is produced as photons of sunlight penetrate the element, bumping electrons into a flow. PV cells are connected together to make a module. Modules are the building blocks connected together to make an array.
Grants and Incentives
As part of the recent Inflation Reduction Act, the Federal Solar Tax Credit for residential and commercial systems has been increased to 30% until 2032. We’ll explain the benefits and include them in your costs analysis at a site assessment.
Clean Energy Stats
We have been tracking 12 of our PV systems in western Mass since 2003, a representative sample of roof and ground mounts with varying tilt angles and orientations. This original group of sample systems is now 15 years old. Equipment efficiencies have improved significantly. We are now conducting a sensitivity analysis of a wider group of sample customer systems. Our goal is to provide you with the most accurate statistics.
Energy Conservation
Owners of the PV systems we’ve installed over the years often report their solar kilowatt hour (kWh) production and tell us of their efforts to reduce their overall use of electricity, especially of ‘dirty power’ from the grid. Replacing inefficient appliances results in savings, but behavioral changes in their electricity use often results in dramatic savings.
First Steps!
A solar electric system is a great way to reduce your electric bill, and lower your carbon footprint. In considering your goals for the system, a good first step can be to evaluate your electrical consumption, and consider ways to manage your usage more efficiently.
Since 1985, Berkshire Photovoltaic Services Inc. (BPVS) has designed and installed hundreds of innovative Photovoltaic (PV) Systems in the area. We favor reliable equipment and PV components manufactured regionally and by established manufacturers. Our reputation for excellence and prompt service complements the ethos of our environmentally minded customers. Our business could not have thrived this long without their references and example.
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