FAQ

Tax credit and rebate policies change often. Go to our page on Tax Credits and Financing to learn more: https://www.sundancepower.com/financing-solar-tax-credits/

You can find an explanation of the above tax credits and information for all 50 states at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency website dsireusa.org.

Solar systems can be retrofitted to almost any home that receives adequate sunlight each day. The energy collectors (photovoltaic for electricity, thermal collectors for heating) can be roof or ground mounted and their output can be routed into the home where they connect to the rest of the system. The size, orientation, and shading of the home’s rooftop and property all influence the size, the design and the energy-producing potential of each home site. A site assessment from a qualified renewable energy company can identify how to best integrate a system with your home. The overwhelming majority of renewable energy systems for residential installation are retrofitted to existing homes.

The type of renewable energy system determines whether or not, and the types of permit that may be required. Sundance will complete and file the paperwork associated with any required permits. All systems designed and installed by Sundance meet or exceed all State and Federal standards and codes.

Solar panels can be mounted on your rooftop or ground-mounted on a rack system somewhere on your property. During the site assessment, Sundance will explore the various options for placement. Based on shading, orientation, and appearance, we can help you choose the placement that best meets your needs.

Sundance Power Systems has designed and installed battery backup systems since our founding in 1995. Battery power has changed a lot in that time, with more options to choose from for your energy storage system. With the federal solar tax credit at 26% through at least the end of 2022, there has never been a better time to explore solar battery backup. Investing in your energy independence with solar is a great start. Adding battery power is a smart way to maintain reliable power and maximize the work your solar panels are doing. Contact us today to begin the conversation and learn how Sundance Power can empower you with an energy storage system using the right solar batteries for your solar power system!.

The prices of renewable energy components have decreased over the past decade – due in part to improvements in technology and manufacturing, and from the economies of scale. As renewable energy has become increasingly popular, consumer demand has driven investments into technology research and development, and has ramped up the scales of production.

Other significant factors in improving the affordability of renewable energy systems are the federal incentive programs (26% tax credit through 2022) and the Duke Energy rebate program.

There has never been a better time to go solar, so contact us for a free analysis and quote – our Renewable Energy Consultants are ready to listen!

The number of panels that are right for your system depends on your current power consumption and on your objectives. Both may change over time and since solar systems are fairly scalable, you can upgrade your system by adding more panels at a later date. Each of our customers has their own unique objectives. Some want to offset their contribution to global warming; some want to produce their own power; and some want to gain complete independence from their utility grid. Most of our clients’ objectives include a balance of all three. Sundance will help you explore all of your options and choose a system size and type that best meets your needs and objectives.

System cost depends on a number of factors. Like a new home or automobile, prices can vary widely and depend on your own needs and objectives.

Costs are influenced first by the availability of renewable energy sources – the intensity and unobstructed path of sunlight, the intensity and frequency of wind, or the volume and pressure of flowing water available on your site – each determines the upper limit of the energy that is available for a system to capture. Other influences include how much of that energy you wish to capture, your own power consumption needs, and your overall objectives. Sundance works with each of its clients to ensure a design that produces the most renewable energy at the lowest possible cost. For additional information on how much a renewable energy system might cost for your home, contact Sundance Power to begin the conversation!

If you are considering the purchase of a new house, check with your bank or mortgage company. The cost of adding a renewable energy system may be rolled into your mortgage. While the energy your renewable energy system produces becomes more valuable every day, you will be paying for it over time with cheaper dollars whose value will be eroded by inflation.

A home improvement loan or home equity line-of-credit may also work in your favor. Many financial institutions are considering, or already have in place, loan programs for renewable energy that may have more favorable interest rates. Check with your bank or search online for availability.

Sundance Power Systems offers financing options as well – check out the options here.

A solar system will produce energy with almost any amount of sunlight. The important question is how much sunlight is needed to make a solar system produce enough energy for it to be a sound investment. The southeastern United States is situated close enough to the equator to receive adequate sunlight throughout the year. We do not suffer from chronic cloud cover and therefore have great potential for solar electric or solar thermal systems that will pay for themselves over time. Of course, your specific site location will have its own characteristics that will have to be assessed, but in general, solar systems are a viable solution in the Southeast.

You’ve come to the right place. Please read through this FAQ page and explore this website. The more you learn about renewable energy, the more empowered you will be to make an informed energy decision. If you would like to get answers to any questions you may have that are specific to your own home, or if you would like to set up an appointment to have your site assessed, please contact us. We will have a Renewable Energy Consultant follow up with you, listen to your questions, and offer a free analysis that meets your needs!

Sundance Power System’s Service Division provides service on every system we sell. In the 25+ years that Sundance has been in business, we have also had the opportunity to service many systems installed by other renewable energy providers. Our record has made Sundance Power the local leader in experienced, prompt and reliable service!

Our Renewable Energy Consultants (RECs) are not high-pressure sales people offering poorly constructed solutions and pipe-dream financing options. Our 5 Step Process is based upon listening to our customers and designing systems that empower a clean energy lifestyle. With 25+ years of experience, Sundance Power knows that listening to each customer is the key to success. Contact us today to begin the conversation!

Today, there are a wide variety of solar battery options available. Every type of solar battery offers backup power from solar energy that your solar panels generated. Our RECs and Design Team are experts in each battery type and will help you choose the best option for your energy needs.

Lithium ion, lithium ion phosphate, partial charge carbon (AGM), sealed lead acid, flooded (wet) lead acid – these are all different battery types that are used in battery storage systems. Check out our battery page for a quick look at the various solar batteries and terms used to describe their pros and cons.

Sundance Power is the local leader in solar battery technology. From design to installation, our team has the expertise to ensure that your battery system does what you want it to do. Contact us today to begin the conversation!

As the cost of energy increases, payback periods can become significantly shorter. Payback time varies and depends on the system type and size and the solar potetntial of your home. Our Renewable Energy Consultants will generate a proposal that let’s you know when your system is projected to ‘pay back’. Contact Sundance Power today for a free analysis and quote for a renewable energy system that is designed to meet your needs!

All systems installed by Sundance include a 5-year warranty on the workmanship of the system. Components are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty for the specific components used. Please review our complete warranty information sheet and download it for your records if you wish.

Some people have been using renewable energy for decades now and the evidence for its need has been available for even longer. What is new is the scientific, political and cultural consensus on the realities of climate change, and the mainstream acceptance of the true costs of fossil-fuel generated energy. The marketplace has done the rest. We are now past the ‘tipping point’ in recognizing the need for alternatives to fossil-fuel and nuclear-based energy. The dramatic rise in the price of oil, natural gas, coal and uranium, and a growing concern regarding the impact on our planet and its inhabitants by the production of fossil-fuel and nuclear- based energy has guaranteed that renewable energy is here to stay. We seem to be getting it!

First, let’s look at how they are similar – their differences will then be easier to understand. Both systems tap into the energy of the sun. In the Southeast, we are blessed with fairly good sunshine. Averaged across the year, the sun bathes North Carolina with between 370 and 460 watt-hours of energy per square foot each day. Solar electric and solar thermal systems are each capable of capturing some of that energy. Both systems are sensitive to shade or other obstacles that may block or impair their ‘view’ of the sun. And each works best when they are facing the sun directly; as their angle to the sun changes, so does the amount of energy they can intercept and capture for your use. Solar electric, as the name implies, converts solar energy directly into electricity. It uses a technology— photovoltaics–which is clean, silent, and has no moving parts. Photovoltaic panels are mounted on your roof or on a rack on your property and are positioned during installation to capture as much sunlight as possible. The more panels you have in your system, the more energy you can capture. Whenever the sun shines, they produce electricity. After the electricity is converted and conditioned by other equipment in the system, it is indistinguishable from the electricity supplied by your local utility company. Solar thermal, as the name implies, involves heat. Different kinds of panels, called solar or thermal collectors, are mounted on your roof or on a rack located on your property. Siting and orienting thermal collectors is similar in practice to siting photovoltaic panels. Thermal collectors are fairly simple devices – they contain heat absorbing materials and a network of tubes. The heat absorbing materials draw as much heat as possible from sunlight and transfer the heat to the tubes. A liquid, usually water (or an antifreeze-based liquid) draws the heat out of the tubes, and under the influence of a small pump, circulates into a hot water tank. The pump is controlled by one or more sensors that determine when the sun has heated the liquid enough to raise the temperature of the water in the tank. On cooler days, your existing hot water heating system will be needed to ‘top off’ the water temperature – taking it the last few degrees to its final desired temperature. The water pre-heated by the sun is then available for cooking, drinking, washing and bathing, and heating your home. Both system types can dramatically reduce your consumption of fossil-fuel generated power and many of our clients elect to install both solar electric and a solar thermal for their comprehensive renewable energy system.

Some people have been using renewable energy for decades now and the evidence for its need has been available for even longer. What is new is the scientific, political and cultural consensus on the realities of climate change, and the mainstream acceptance of the true costs of fossil-fuel generated energy. The marketplace has done the rest. We are now past the ‘tipping point’ in recognizing the need for alternatives to fossil-fuel and nuclear-based energy. The dramatic rise in the price of oil, natural gas, coal and uranium, and a growing concern regarding the impact on our planet and its inhabitants by the production of fossil-fuel and nuclear- based energy has guaranteed that renewable energy is here to stay. We seem to be getting it!