A solar electric photovoltaic system converts sunlight into usable electricity. When the system is generating electricity, your home or business is using this energy. Any excess electricity that is not used causes the electric meter to run backwards giving you a credit balance. In the evening, when the solar electrical system is not generating electricity, you use the electricity from the power company.

Solar cells are made of thin layers of silicon. When sunlight strikes the cells, a reaction releases electrons, generating electric current. A device called an inverter changes this DC power into AC which is the electricity needed to power our homes and businesses. A solar cell can operator for more than 40 years with minimal maintenance .

There are two basic types: bill reduction and blackout protection. Solar Choice Solutions Inc offers many different solar power system designs including ground and patio mounts, metal, round, and tile roof mounts, and sophisticated commercial building designs.

Solar Choice Solutions, Inc. is a commercial and residential solar power company that specializes in strictly solar electrical systems. We design and install solar electrical systems in Southern California, we take great pleasure in being able to make a difference in the world by offering products that effectively reduce the emissions and greenhouse gases that have been contributing to global warming.

A Solar Electric System is designed to lower and may totally eliminate your monthly electric bill! It also makes your home worth more for resale but does not add to the assessed value of your home. As a matter of fact, adding a solar electrical system to your home increases it's resale value.

A solar electric system can increase your home’s value by reducing operating costs. The Appraisal institute published a study in their Appraisal Journal that stated that if a home’s operating costs can be reduced through an energy efficiency measure, those savings have a tangible connection to increasing the home’s value. The rationale is that instead of paying the utility, a future buyer could take a larger mortgage and instead pay the bank and their operating costs would be unchanged. The article established that a home’s resale value increases $20 for every $1 in saved operating costs. For more detailed information check out the Appraisal Journal article. A home’s annual savings of $3,000 translates into an increased resale value of $60,000.

Thanks to California's small energy generator law, you can feed the output of the solar electric system directly into the grid (using the grid as storage) during the day and then draw it back from the grid during night-time. Your electric meter will actually spin backwards when electricity production exceeds usage. "Net metering" means that you will only be charged for the deficit, if any. This is great for the grid, because you are generating electricity when the grid needs it -- during the day -- and drawing from the grid at night (mostly off-peak). In addition, solar power reduces greenhouse gases generated by your utility company to help fight global warming.

When designing a system, we take into account your current and future electric usage and plan for about 95% replacement of your electric usage from the electric company. Since your electric utility charges you on a “tiered” basis, that is, the more you use the more expensive your cost per kilowatt-hour, it is not financially worth generating 100% or more of your electric usage. The 5% of the electricity you purchase from the utility will cost you about 2% of your current bill. The utility company will not buy your excess production

The more electricity you use, the larger the solar electric system required. The best way to determine the cost for your system is to review your electric bill and total the kWh usage on the bill for the last twelve months. If you don't have your bills available, contact us and we will get the information from your utility company for you. We will explain the current incetives both federal and state and size a system for your electric usage and budget.

The first photovoltaic system was invented 50 years ago and are still operating. Today’s equipment is more efficient and expected to last longer. The limited manufacturers warranty is 25 years on the solar modules and 10 years on the balance of system installation.

There are no moving parts in a solar power system, therefore, these systems require very little maintenance. Make sure that the modules are clear of dirt and bird droppings and that trees are not shading the system. The system comes with a meter to allow you to see the electrical output of the system. Make sure the system is putting out its proper power during the year by glancing at the metering system from time to time. Solar Choice Solutions includes a ten year warranty on parts and labor for the entire system.

At least 100 square feet of unobstructed roof (no skylights or vents) is needed for every kilowatt of electricity generated in the southern California region. We also need South, West or East facing roofs that are not shaded between 9am and 5pm. We will review your building to determine the appropriate location for your system.

A solar electrical system is connected to your electrical main and is designed to offset all power usage within your home or building—this includes air conditioning and all major appliances! .

Blackout protection requires batteries which are charged by the solar panels and act as an energy reserve in the event of blackout.  Most of the systems that we install do not have batteries because of the added expense and the space considerations.  Battery backup usually will replace some of the critical circuits in the home or business and will not be used to totally substitute for all the electrical usage. The amount of blackout protection is a function of your budget.

If you have your last 12 months of electric bills, let us know the total kilowatt usage for the year. If you don’t have these bills, we can contact your electric company and request a twelve-month history. Forward this information to us via e-mail or fax for a free evaluation. Preparing a site survey on-line gives us the information we need to start the initial design.

Your average monthly usage for electricity over the past twelve months helps us determine the size of the system. We then factor your budget requirements against the savings that you would receive. We survey your home or business and determine placement and any structural considerations for installation and then we make a system recommendation.

To determine if solar power is right for you, contact us and we will get back to you right away.