Solar for New Construction

Start with the orientation of the roof.

A south-facing roof is the best for capturing the power of the sun. The setting afternoon sun is still pretty powerful, so a western exposure home is second best. East-west roofs generate 15-20% less energy than a south-facing roof. Our experienced solar designers can provide panel options to meet your energy goals. Northern exposure roofs are not well-placed for a solar PV system.

Pay attention to the planting of trees in your yard.

Trees provide so much value to our natural world, but their shade can diminish a solar PV system’s energy production. How high will your trees grow and will they block your roof? A good solar design will take into account the angle of the sun and long-term growth estimates of surrounding trees.

Design a “solar-ready” zone on the roof to accommodate a solar PV system.

An unobstructed area on your roof would be free vents and chimneys, allowing several solar modules to be tied together. Make sure your roof is structurally sound to hold the weight of solar panels and their racking. Rooftop construction should take into account solar-preferred materials like metal, flat membrane roofs, or asphalt shingles that can last beyond the 30 or more year life expectancy of your solar PV system. Tile and slate shingles tend to crack when installing the module’s racking.

Leave room in your electrical panel and basement walls for solar and/or solar battery backup.

An average sized-solar PV system typically requires a 40 amp circuit in your electrical panel box. This is called a load-side connection to your panel. Make sure your electrical panel has room to include this breaker with all the other circuits to run your home. Typical homes with solar have a 200 amp main breaker for the entire electrical system. You will also want to leave space on the wall near your electrical panel for the inverter and any battery storage.

Larger homes may require a line-side or supply-side connection, placing the inverter between the utility meter and the main electrical panel. Typically, a supply-side connection and the accompanying AC disconnect box are constructed on the house’s outside wall.

Your inverter will require a connection to the internet in order for you to receive information on your system’s energy production. We run a CAT5 cable to the router in your home to connect the inverter’s data communication to your router. Included in our 10-year residential production guarantee, StraightUp Solar will monitor your system and alert you to production failures.

Consider the aesthetics of your solar array.

Solar panels have improved in look and design to blend in with your rooftop. StraightUp Solar offers a variety of panels, backsheet, and racking that can provide an sleek, all-black appearance on your roof. We can also add critter guard to protect the system from rodents, leaf buildup and nests. A snow guard and array “skirt” can slow snow fall from the roof, and reduce visibility of the couple inches of gap between your roof and the solar panels.

Solar adds value to your home.

StraightUp Solar partnered with Pearl Home Certification to provide our customers with a report demonstrating the value of solar to your home. The certification report validates the cost savings from your energy system and estimates the net value of the system over its lifetime. The Pearl Certification Report can be used for appraising the home for refinancing or selling.