| So you have decided that enough is enough with | | | | required by your state department of energy and |
| your high electric bills and you are going to make | | | | then preparing this information in a complete |
| the switch to renewable energy to reduce or | | | | report that will be submitted to them for |
| eliminate your dependence on grid provided | | | | acceptance and approval of the incentive dollars |
| electrical power. There are a number of | | | | you are seeking. |
| considerations that should be addressed in making | | | | Not only will this site assessment get your project |
| this move. Among these you should first consider | | | | approved for renewable energy incentives, but its |
| what type of renewable energy system(s) you | | | | information is also used in determining the best |
| are going to want to have installed and if you | | | | equipment and systems to be chosen for |
| happen to live in areas that receive either high | | | | installation. The assessment report, upon state |
| volumes of sunshine or wind or both your choices | | | | approval is then used by a certified site installer |
| are easy. However, these choices can become | | | | who is responsible for designing the systems that |
| difficult if you have no idea what systems will | | | | are specific to your location so you then also learn |
| perform best for your particular location. | | | | exactly what components and equipment costs |
| Given that you are more than likely going to want | | | | your project will involve as well as how the |
| to use the available government incentives to help | | | | incentive dollars will be used in funding them. This |
| pay for the equipment and installation costs your | | | | detailed method then gives you every aspect of |
| decision options can be made very clear by simply | | | | your projects equipment list, equipment costs, |
| contacting either a local renewable energy | | | | installation costs, energy generation capacities and |
| contractor or by making contact with your state | | | | any net metered energy and thereby your overall |
| department of energy. The very first thing in | | | | energy savings and from all of this you can |
| either case which will be required is a complete | | | | determine the return on investment time period. |
| solar or wind site assessment performed by a | | | | By using this simple method it becomes very |
| (NABCEP) North American Board of Certified | | | | easy to determine what your choices are and |
| Energy Practitioners site assessor. Most people | | | | although there are costs associated with obtaining |
| have a general idea of whether their particular | | | | a professional site assessment you will find that |
| location would be good for either solar or wind | | | | your state department of energy also offers |
| energy systems so by using internet searching it | | | | rebates on these costs to help you offset your |
| is relatively easy to find a site assessor in your | | | | own expenses in getting your renewable energy |
| immediate area. A site assessor is trained in | | | | project started. |
| collecting all of the relevant information that is | | | | |