GettinG Started

• Beforeinvestinginasolarelectricsystem,takethetimetofindahighlyskilledsolarenergyprofessional.

• Solarphotovoltaicsarealong-terminvestment.Neverallowyourselftobepressuredintomakingadecision.Youarethecustomer.Itisyourinvestment.

• Powergenerationequipmentmustbeinstalledproperly,tobesafeandlong-lasting.

• LocateaAmericanSolarEnergySocietygroupnearyouandattendameetingsoyoucantalkwithsystemownersandsolarenergyprofessionals-http://www.ases.org/membership/chapters/

tax creditS and incentiveS:

• ResearchandunderstandifyourstatehasincentivesavailableforyourinstallationattheDatabaseofStateIncentivesforRenewablesandEfficiency,(DSIRE),www.dsireusa.org.

• Findoutifyoucanbenefitfromthe30%FederalTaxCreditforyoursolarinstallation.

dUraBLeSUStainaBLe BeaUtifULTHE SILICON ENERGY DIFFERENCE

findinG the riGht SoLar enerGy profeSSionaL: Beforehiringasolarinstallationspecialist,youwillwanttounderstandtheirprofessionalcredentials,training,experience,andproductpreferences.

here are Some qUeStionS yoU’LL want to aSk:

profeSSionaL credentiaLS:1. Doesthesolarenergy

professionalhaveNationalAmericanBoardofCertifiedEnergyPractitioners(NABCEP)orIBEW(NJATCSolarTraining)certification?NABCEPandIBEW’scertificationarethegoldstandardforPVinstallationcertification,www.nabcep.org

2. Doesthesolarenergyprofessionalhavemanufacturer’strainingontheproduct?

3. Howmanyprojectshasthesolarenergyprofessionalinstalled?

4. Canthesolarenergyprofessionalprovidecustomerreferences,photos,andtestimonials?

5. Doesthesolarenergyprofessionalexhibitastrong,credibleunderstandingofsolarproductsandperformance?

6. Doesthesolarenergyprofessionalhaveastaffofinstallersorsubcontractthework?Howdotheymaintainqualityworkmanship?

7. Doesthesolarenergyprofessionalwarrantytheirwork?

8. DoesthesolarenergyprofessionalcomplywithsafeOSHAinstallationpractices?

9. Isthesolarenergyprofessionalresponsivetopreandpostinstallationquestionsandpotentialserviceneeds?

10. Isthesolarenergyprofessionalbondedandlicensed?

11. Doesyourutilityprovideareferrallistofapprovedsolarenergyprofessionals?

12. Makesureyourrequirementsandneedsareaddressedbythesolarenergyprofessional.

13. AskSiliconEnergytoconnectyouwithourpreferredsolarenergyprofessionalinyourarea,http://www.silicon-energy.com/how-to-buy.

Revision 06.07.2013

prodUct conSiderationS

• UnderstandthesignificantdifferencesinPVdesignsimpactingmodulequalityandsystemperformance.

• Pickamoduledesignedtoperformandlastinextremeweatherconditions.

• Comparemodulewiremanagementsystems,firesafetyratingsandwarranties.

• SelectalowmaintenanceandeasytoservicePVsystem.

• Findoutifthemodulesmaterialsaresourcedlocally,intheUSoroverseas.

• Isthemodulemadefromrecyclableortoxicmaterials.

• Visitthemanufacturer.

• Asktoseetheproductsyouareconsidering.

dUraBLeSUStainaBLe BeaUtifULTHE SILICON ENERGY DIFFERENCE

SyStem deSiGn and prodUct SeLection:

1. Doesthesolarenergyprofessionalprovideinstallationoptionsandexplainthestrengthsandweaknessesofthoseoptions?

2. Doesthesolarenergyprofessionalexplainhowthevarioussystemdesignscanbenefitfromanyavailableincentiveprograms?

3. Canthesolarenergyprofessionaldiscusstheproductfeaturesandbenefitsofthesolarequipmenttheyareproposing,(i.e.quality,safety,warranty,durability,performance,andaesthetics)?

4. Whatsolarequipmentisyoursolarenergyprofessionalproposing,andwhy?

5. AskyoursolarenergyprofessionalformadeintheUSAproducts,andfindoutiftheproductsaremanufacturedusingsustainablemanufacturingprocessesandmaterials.

SiLicon enerGy, LLc3506124thStreetNEMarysville,WA98271USATel:360-618-6500

SiLicon enerGy mn, LLcPOBox3768787SiliconWayMt.Iron,MN55768USATel:218-789-1710

www.silicon-energy.com

www.silicon-energy.com

www.facebook.com/SiliconEnergy

https://twitter.com/SiliconEnergy

https://pinterest.com/SiliconEnergy

Revision 06.07.2013