News and Articles

It is Military Appreciation Month and we would like to show our appreciation to one of our own at Fichtner Services: Steve Finn.

Solar energy is one of the fastest growing types of alternative energy resources. More homeowners are installing solar roofs to reduce energy costs and to lessen their impact on the environment. It’s important to understand some basics about solar roofs, such as how installation works, who can have solar panels installed and the benefits for choosing to go solar. Another really important thing to consider is the roof below the panels.  If you are considering installing solar panels, you may be interested in the following information from Colin Gload, one of the co-founders of Lumina Solar.

Would Solar Panels Work on My Roof?

An ideal roof for solar is a roof that faces south, with little to no shade.   While that is ideal, most customers are not perfectly south, and most have at least a little bit of shade.   As long as the house is not fully shaded, and there is enough available roof space to put panels, we will usually be able to come up with a solution for you.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?

This is a great question, and as you can imagine probably one we get asked the most.  It is a common misconception that people need to shell out $20-30k to put solar on your roof when really that isn’t the case.  You certainly can pay cash to buy your system, but around 80% of our customers go solar with nothing out of pocket.  This is done through either a PPA/Lease arrangement or through a $0 down loan option.  In either scenario, you are replacing your high electric bill with clean energy, and getting a more consistent and lower payment with the solar.  If you choose to buy a system, there are some great incentives available to help with the cost.

How Much Will I Save on My Energy Bills?

The savings are going to differ depending on the site quality, and the offering the customer chooses, but typically we can show 20-30% savings.  One of the things to consider is not just the long term savings, but the savings over 10, 15, or 20 years.  Utility rates are continuing to climb higher, and customers that go solar save money from day one but also know exactly what they will be paying for power in the long run.  This predictability and control are extremely valuable to people who switch to solar.   

What Do I Need To Do To Prepare for Installation?

At Lumina Solar, we handle the whole process start to finish for you.  Step 1 is doing a full site survey of the home.  The two biggest things we look for are the roof condition and the electrical setup.   If the roof isn’t in great condition, we typically recommend getting a roof looked at by someone such as Fichtner to get a quote for replacement.  You are putting on solar panels that will be operational for 25+ years, so having a new roof is a smart move.  In terms of electrical, sometimes we run into old breaker boxes that we need to replace, or need some work. That electrical work can often times be rolled into the project.

What’s Ahead in the Future of Solar?   

Over the next decade, we are going to continue to see the shift to renewable energy, and more specifically distributed solar.  It is the smart thing to do, not only for the environment but for long term cost stability.   There are still some great incentives being offered by the Federal Government, the State of Maryland, and also some counties as well.   On top of this, we are excited to start offering battery back-up solutions and EV charging units with our solar installations as well.  The future is solar, give us a call at Lumina for a free evaluation!

Thank You and Congratulations go out to Mrs. Lois Tuwiner of Riva!

Mrs. Tuwiner referred 4 of her neighbors to us and she was randomly chosen to be our March Referral Program winner! She is pictured here in front of one of her beautiful gardens holding her prize, a new iPad! We always appreciate receiving the highest compliments any company can get – referrals from our happy customers!

Here is what Mrs. Tuwiner has to say about us, “I felt comfortable referring Fichtner for several reasons. The company is responsive and they do good work. Workers are polite and have excellent work ethic. We have had good history with the company. I choose Fichtner because we have gotten outstanding service and workmanship from the company. They put a roof on our old house in Upper Marlboro and in Annapolis. I was so impressed with the drone picture Scott took which helped me to understand the recent problem with the chimney.”