Design
Whether you want a solar panels on your roof, in your garage, or on side of your house, we can design the solar array ideal for you.
Residential Solar Energy 101
Simply put, the sun is the planet's most plentiful source of energy. Over 10,000 times the world's entire energy requirements, or about 173,000 terawatts, of solar energy, strike the Earth every second. One of the most effective ways to fight the present climate problem and lessen our reliance on fossil fuels is to harness the renewable energy of the sun with a residential solar system that generates clean electricity.
Solar panels capture the sun's energy and convert it to electricity for your home. To create the solar panels you see on rooftops, photovoltaic (PV) cells are connected together. Each photovoltaic cell in the solar panel collects photons as the sunlight shines on it, creating an electric field that flows through the layers of the solar panel system. Depending on your energy requirements, you can utilize a single solar panel or connect several of them to create a solar array.
Residential solar panels also offer other incentives such as net metering and solar battery storage. If a customer meets the requirements for net metering, they may earn credits for any excess electricity their solar power system creates, and they can use those credits to draw extra power from the electric grid at night or on a cloudy day. For more information about our solar technology, reach out to us today.
Use it now, save it for later, or sell it back
The choice is yours
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Step 1
Direct sunlight from the sun's rays contains many tiny energy particles called photons
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Step 2
Some of these photons hit solar modules, which consist of many connected solar cells
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Step 3
Photons hitting the top layer of a solar cell cause electrons to flow through the bottom layer
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Step 4
Direct current (DC) power produced by these electron motions travels to a solar inverter
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Step 5
Inverters change DC electricity into AC power
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Step 6
AC electricity is used to power the home, reducing its electricity bills and carbon emissions
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Step 7
This usable electricity can also be used to power other structures or to recharge an energy storage system
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Step 8
The end results: lower electric bills, lower carbon footprints, and potentially a higher home value.
Premium Performance, Superior Savings, and Quality You Can Count On.
Custom Solar Solutions does things differently. Just like the solar energy industry itself, we’re all about long-term solutions and sustainability. Our offerings go far beyond the one-and-done jobs you’ll see with other companies. In addition to Solar Panel Installations, we also provide Solar Panel Cleaning and Maintenance, Energy Storage Systems (Battery Backup), EV Charging, and Solar Panel Repair services.
Our all-encompassing approach is personal. Every house, every home, and every family’s energy needs are unique. We develop relationships with our clients to deliver solar energy solutions that last.
Frequently Asked Questions
While solar is comprised of a diverse suite of technologies, there are three main types: photovoltaics (PV), solar heating & cooling (SHC), and concentrating solar power (CSP). Solar heating & cooling systems are typically installed on residential or commercial properties, while CSP is only used for large utility-scale power plants. PV technology can be harnessed both at utility-scale levels as well as in distributed generation on homes and businesses.
PV panels directly produce electricity from sunlight, while CSP and SHC technologies use the sun's thermal (heat) energy to change the temperature of water and air. PV panels have no moving parts, and use an inverter to change the direct current (DC) power they produce to usable alternating current (AC) power. SHC technologies are often used to heat water for domestic or commercial use, but can also be used to heat or cool the air in buildings.
Most concentrating solar power systems use concentrated sunlight to drive a traditional steam turbine, creating electricity on a large scale.
A solar panel generates electricity when the sun shines on it because photons from the sunlight are absorbed by the cells in the panel, which causes an electric field to form across the layers. Learn more about the process of photovoltaics (PV).
Solar panels perform the best with direct sunlight, however; they don't need direct sunlight to still capture and produce solar energy. This is due to the fact that photovoltaic (PV) panels produce electricity using light particles known as photons. Solar panels will function in both direct and indirect sunlight since photons are present in both. Nonetheless, solar panels can still work with partial shade and other weather conditions including rain, snow, and hail.
Photovoltaic panels can use direct or indirect sunlight to generate power, though they are most effective in direct sunlight. Solar panels will still work even when the light is reflected or partially blocked by clouds. Rain actually helps to keep your panels operating efficiently by washing away any dust or dirt. If you live in an area with a strong net metering policy, excess energy generated by your panels during sunny hours will offset energy that you use at night and other times when your system isn't operating at full capacity.
Yes, absolutely. You can install solar panels on a flat roof. It's important to ensure that your flat roof is in good condition and there aren't any significant obstructions nearby, like trees, that could obscure the sun and reduce your energy output. In some cases, installing solar panels on a level roof can be better than doing so on a sloped one!
A flat roof is better for two reasons. First, it allows you to use a ballasted racking system which doesn’t require any roof penetration which eliminates the risk of leakage. Second, it gives you the flexibility to position your panels to optimize sun exposure.
Yes is the quick answer. Solar panels can still be charged on cloudy, overcast days. Though they are most efficient in direct sunlight, photovoltaic panels can produce electricity from either direct or indirect sunlight. Even when the light is deflected or partially covered by clouds, solar panels will continue to function.