Eastern Mountain Solar Corp.
300 Sedgwick Drive
Syracuse, NY 13203-1315
(315) 4SOLARPOWER (476-5277)
Eastern Mountain Solar Corp. is a full-service solar PV and solar hot water system design and installation firm, serving residential and commercial customers across Central New York.
Solar Information and FAQs
What is Solar PV?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight directly into electricity. This solar-generated electricity first feeds your home or business, and any excess is fed into the utility grid (if you have an "on-grid" system), for which you are credited by the power company - literally spinning your meter backwards. Depending on the size of the system you install, you can offset a portion or all of your electrical usage!
PV panels can be installed on roofs (flat or angled), along the ground in "ground-arrays," or elevated on "pole-mounts." They can be either "on-grid" or "off-grid," can be incorporated with battery-backup capability and interfaced with existing wind and/or backup generator equipment.
What is Solar Hot Water (SHW)?
Solar Hot Water systems use the sun's energy to heat hot water for tap and shower use, space heating (including in-floor radiant heating), washing clothes, and hot tub/swimming pool heating. SHW systems are robust, long-lasting, maintenance-free, and highly efficient. They pre-heat the water going into your existing hot water heater, reducing your hot water heating expense by 50 to 90%!
What Are Some of the Benefits of Solar?
Gives you the satisfaction of generating your own power with no pollution or CO2 emissions
On-grid PV systems help to reduce the peak load on the utility grid, reducing the need to build expensive new power plants
Generating electricity where it is being used reduces the need for expensive upgrades to the power grid
Helps to lower our country's dependence on foreign energy sources
Hedge against future utility rate increases - your cost of energy remains constant for 30+ years while everyone else's goes up!
Both PV and SHW systems operate with little or no maintenance
Both have low operating costs after initial installation - the fuel is free!
Enhances your company's image with your prospective customers by going "green"
Does Upstate New York Get Enough Sun to Make a Solar System Worthwhile?
Central New York has a surprisingly-good solar resource. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) maintains a database containing over 30 years of solar data (1961-1990) for 237 sites across the U.S. According to the database, a solar array mounted at a 30-degree angle facing south in Syracuse receives an average of 1,523 hours of full sun (1000 watts of radiant energy per square meter) per year. Other cities in NYS compared to Syracuse (+x% means that it receives that percent more sun hours than Syracuse): Albany = +3%, Binghamton = -2%, Buffalo = -1%, Massena = +3%, NYC = +8%, Rochester = -1%. Other cities in the U.S. compared to Syracuse: Anchorage AK = -35%, Boston MA = +9%, Chicago IL = +5%, Houston TX = +13%, Los Angeles CA = +31%, Minneapolis MN = +10%, Portland OR = -5%, Seattle WA = -10%.
Am I a Good Candidate for Solar?
A good installation requires about 125 square feet per kilowatt (PV) and must be in an area (either on the roof or ground) that faces generally south and is completely free of shade between the hours of 9AM and 3PM. You must own the home or structure to qualify.
Services We Offer:
Site Analysis
Examine historical usage, measure possible install locations, assess effects of shading, determine method of utility interconnection
System Design
Configure system to produce maximum output for given location, ensure compliance with National Electrical Code, local requirements, and industry best-practices
Financing Assistance
Identify all applicable Federal, State and Local incentives, as well as low-cost loans if desired
System Build
Obtain necessary permits, construct system, rigorously test to ensure maximum performance and conformance with design
Support
Monitor system output, periodically inspect and clean system if desired, provide five-year inclusive warranty on material and labor
Incentives Available:
Both New York State and Federal incentives are available for both residential and commercial solar PV systems. These incentives combined may constitute 40 to 70% of the cost of a typical system. Low-cost loans through NYSERDA's Energy $mart Loan Fund.
How Much Does it Cost?
Residential and small commercial-scale PV systems (grid-tied, roof-mounted, no battery backup) average around $8.50 per watt. Thus, a typical 5kW residential PV system costs around $42,500 before incentives, or about $22,500 after incentives (but before tax credits, which vary depending on your individual tax situation). SHW systems (roof-mounted, family of 3 people) average around $6,000 to $7,000 (before tax credits), and swimming pool heating systems average $4,000 to $5,000 (no tax credits available).
How Do I Get Started?
We encourage you to collect as much information on solar energy systems from as wide a variety of sources as possible. Once you are comfortable with the concept of solar energy and want to proceed with a site inspection and formal quotation, feel free to contact us at (315) 4SOLARPOWER (476-5277) or info@easternmountainsolar.com.
Make Your Power Company Pay You!
