For the moment, we are focusing on the North Okanagan, however are open to hear about your solar plans outside of this area.  If you live in Vernon, Coldstream, Armstrong, Lavington, Lake Country, Lumby, Cherryville, Falkland, Enderby, Salmon Arm, Kelowna, Kamloops and around, give us a shout for your next solar project!

The method of mounting – whether to install solar panels on your roof or through a ground mount solution is both personal preference and characteristics of your land and building.

If your property isn’t ideal for rooftop solar, but you have a large enough property, a ground mount system is a great choice.  Ground mounted solar panels can be located wherever the conditions are best and thereby can be more productive per module than a rooftop solar array,  saving you more money in the long term.  On the flip-side, ground mount systems require a foundation to be built and trenching to occur and thereby typically are 15-25% more expensive than a comparably sized roof mount.

Where the roof is naturally orientated to maximize sun exposure with minimal shading throughout the day, roof mounting is normally a better, more economical option.

Roost Solar will help you determine the best method and location of mounting upfront in the design phase.

Roost Energy will perform this process for you, so no need to worry there!  These are the steps we follow to connect your PV system with the grid under BC Hydro’s net metering program.

Step 1: We apply as a simple net metering application to BC Hydro through their online PDF here (Adobe required). Details like your account number, and smart meter number, as well as your signature are needed from you.
Step 2: BC Hydro will assess the application and approve it.
Step 3: We proceed with the installation of the PV system.
Step 4: Roost Energy will submit a finalized electrical inspection.
Step 5: BC Hydro will authorize you to connect.

The roof is key to the health of your building and how that roof is treated during a solar installation is vital to a successful project.

Most flat roof installations will use ballasted racking which does not penetrate your roof surface, thereby leaving the integrity of the roof intact. In unusual cases where a different installation approach is required, Roost Energy works closely with you and your roofing contractor to ensure the continued integrity of your roof and warranty.

For pitched roofs, we use only high quality mounting brackets that can attach to the roof with minimal amounts of roof penetration with appropriate flashing and waterproof sealants to maintain the roofing warranty and integrity.

The great news is that these things are built to last…and they do!  The panels themselves often last 30 years or more, with typical performance guarantees for tier A modules for 25 years after installation.

Inverters average lifespan vary, but top manufacturers are now offering reasonably priced warranty extensions to 25 years as well.

For off-grid or hybrid systems where batteries are being used for energy storage, the good news there is that they have no moving parts and so not too much can go wrong there.  Battery lifespans vary widely and are primarily based on how many cycles of charge/discharge they will have.  Their lifespans can be as high as 15 years.

Solar panels, once properly installed, require very little maintenance. They don’t involve any moving parts that will wear out or need replacing. Even the more basic solar panels can be relied upon to produce thousands of hours of energy with very little maintenance.