Whether you are thinking about your bottom line or your triple bottom line, investing in solar energy for your business makes sense now more than ever before.
10 Simple Steps to Rooftop Solar:
1. Learn about solar technology
Learn more about the different solar technologies and determine which will best meet your energy needs and objectives.
Look at your power bill (or contact your electric utility) to figure out your annual energy usage and your peak monthly demand. You might want to consider performing an energy assessment of your business to determine your current energy baseline and identify opportunities for energy savings with energy efficiency measures.
Establish your business’s energy, economic, and environmental goals, so you can customize your solar installation to meet your needs. Estimate sizes for a solar installation that will cover your usage or match your budget. Working with a solar contractor or energy consultant can help you through this process.
A more energy-efficient business will improve your bottom line and the ROI of your solar investment. Learn about low-hanging fruit that could save your business money.
With ample roof space and unobstructed access to the sun, solar makes a lot of sense for a lot of businesses and commercial properties (yes, even in areas with snow). The PVWatts Calculator can help you estimate your solar resource.
6. Contact solar contractors
Depending on the size of your business and number of facilities, you may want to consider issuing a more formal Solar Request for Proposals to receive bids from multiple solar contractors. You can also contact 2-3 installers directly and request a site visit and customized bid. We’ve provided a comprehensive contractor list (for Utah) and tips for selecting a solar contractor.
7. Research financing options
Ask the contractor is they offer financing options, including opportunities to explore C-PACE financing. (Please note: solar leasing for commercial entities is allowable under Utah law; however, PPAs are not currently legal in Utah for commercial entities). You should also inquire with a financial institution about traditional financing options.
8. Connect to the grid
Work with your selected contractor to apply to connect with your utility and get credit for any excess energy you provide to the grid. More information here. (Please note: solar energy export rates differ among utilities; check with your utility and ask about their net metering terms or ask your solar contractor to help with this). Is you are planning an off-site, large-scale solar development, you will need to go through a different interconnection process.
Let your employees, customers, and community know about your decision to install solar.
10. Apply for available incentives
Work with your selected contractor to apply for available incentives and improve your return on investment!
We would like to clarify that Utah Clean Energy is not a solar company. We are a nonprofit organization that advocates for solar and other clean energy technologies, but we do not install or sell solar in any way.