Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions about Green Energy
| Q. |
What is Considered "Green Energy"? |
| A. |
Green Energy, in general, refers to sources of energy that have little or no negative impact on the environment. CO2 emissions, toxic gases and other waste products occur frequently in burning coal, oil or nuclear energy. In contrast,green energy products, such as solar, wind, tidal and geothermal have little or no negative impact on the environment. |
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| Q. |
Are There Any Set Standards for What is Considered "Green"? |
| A. |
At the present time, there is no formal definition. There may be "greener" ways of burning oil that release fewer toxins, but it is certainly not any "green" technology. While we all appreciate a 20% reduction in pollution, it is not a 100% reduction. True green technologies do not pollute the environment. |
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| Q. |
Is Green Energy Affordable? |
| A. |
Yes, green energy is finally affordable.with government and utility incentives, often paying 60 to 90% of the cost of green energy system, the cost of the homeowner is extremely low. Many people will have a "net savings" right from the beginning, while others will realize the benefit over time. An energy expert will inspect your home, calculate your potential savings and share this information with you before you ever make a purchase decision. |
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Questions about Wind Energy
| Q. |
How do wind turbines work? |
| A. |
 Typical wind turbines resemble a large fan blade. These blades can be from 10 feet to 100 feet long, and the device height is generally three times this. The Energy Ball v100 and v200 use a unique design to keep the device extremely compact - approximately 3 feet high for the v100 and 6 feet high for the v200.
The concept of a wind turbine is that wind spins the turbine blades, which are attached to a rod. That rod turns a gear which interfaces with a generator that produces electricity.
For a detailed discussion on Wind Turbines, see Wikipedia. |
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| Q. |
How much energy can the EnergyBall produce? |
| A. |
Depending on wind conditions, the v100 can produce 500W of electricity and the v200 can produce 2,500W of electricity. A wind survey helps predict the amount of wind you will have at your home, based on historic wind data, and can project your potential output. |
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| Q. |
How Can We Get Power without a Large Ugly Windmill? |
| A. |
Our competitors turbines look like giant fans - with blades 100 feet long (or longer) - while others look like giant upright egg beaters.
Remeber that blades spin on the center axis, so whatever the height of one blade is ... double it.
These large blades are also quite loud and may make you less-than-popular with your neighbors.
Not a great option.
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| Q. |
How Attractive is the Energy Ball? |
| A. |
The Energy Ball uses curved blades that wrap into a ball shape, making it incredibly efficient and ultra-compact. The two models (v100 and v200) are just 3 feet and 6 feet tall, respectively.
Unlike other designs, ours resemble a weather vane, which looks great on top of a roof or on top of a pole. Even at 3-6 feet, once it is mounted on a roof (or even higher on a mounting pole) it looks quite small.
The v100 (picutred right) is just 3 feet tall from the top of the rotation to the bottom. |
| Q. |
How much does the EnergyBall cost? |
| A. |
Surprisingly little. With up to 90% in rebates from federal government, state government and utilities, it is practically paid for by the government and agencies. Your exact cost will vary based on which (and how many) you choose to use, where they are mounted (roof mounted or pole mounted) and intallation costs. This is fully quoted to you before any work begins. |
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Questions about Solar Electric
| Q. |
How does solar energy work? |
| A. |
When the sun emits rays, particles called "photons" are sent at the speed of light. When these photons hit your solar panel,
it causes electrons (which make up electricity) to be released from the solar cells. These electrons are captured and harnessed
to create electric current, which is fed back into your house or back to your power company. See this article at Wikipedia for more details. |
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| Q. |
Does my house need to face in a particular direction to capture solar energy? |
| A. |
If you want to use a roof mounted system, you should have south-western, south or south-eastern exposure on one face of your roof. If you do not (ie., your house faces due east or due west) you can use a truss (rails) to place the panels elsewhere on your property and face them in the proper direction. |
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| Q. |
What if I do not get enough sunlight? |
| A. |
Experts will inspect your property first for direct sunlight, angles of sunlight, tree cover and other factors before
performing calculations to determine if solar power is right for you. It isn't for everyone and we'll let you know. |
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| Q. |
Is Solar Energy expensive? |
| A. |
No. The cost has come down radically over the last decade, and new state and federal programs can cut the cost by an additional
65% through tax credits and rebates. It is in their best interest for you to go green and, at the present time, they'll pay to get you there. |
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| Q. |
Will these rebates and tax credits last forever? |
| A. |
With government, the only certainty is uncertainty. Budgets and administrations change, priorities shift. Right now
is the best time to get a system and, if you act while the programs are in place, you will receive these free tax credits and rebates. |
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| Q. |
Is there catch? |
| A. |
No. It has nothing to do with income, tax bracket, political affiliation, etc. It is purely a matter of which
programs are available in your local area. We have experts who help you determine exactly how much you can save
with available tax credits and rebates.
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| Q. |
What is a "tax credit"? Is it like a deduction? |
| A. |
Tax credits are real money from the government. A $1,000 tax credit gives you $1,000 of spendable cash.
Tax deductions come off of your income in detemrine how much tax you pay. A $1,000 deduction may give you back $200-$500, depending
upon your tax bracket. Tax credits are far better - they are the equivalent of getting a dollar-for-dollar check from the government.
Note that we cannot give specific legal or accounting advice. Please speak to your tax advisor if you have questions.
You can also find information from this third party website Financial Web which features an article on Tax Credits vs Tax Deductions.
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Questions about Solar Heating
| Q. |
How does Solar Heating work? |
| A. |
Solar heating tubes use the infrared rays from the sun to heat water that can be used inside your
house for any purpose, ranging from hot tap water to radiant heat.
The sunlight enters the vacuum-sealed glass tube and heats a metal blade that runs the length of the tube.
At the center of that blade is a thin tube of water that is quickly heated by the blades.
The vacuum seal keeps the external cold out, allowing hot water production, even in the winter months.
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| Q. |
Does it work in the winter time? |
| A. |
The system works very well in the winter. While there is less sunlight in the winter than in the summer,
it will still produce hot water for you. Because the heating elements are contained inside the vacuum sealed
tubes, the outside cold temperature has very little effect, allowing you to produce hot water, even on the
coldest days.
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| Q. |
How much maintenance does it require? |
| A. |
There is virtually no maintenance required. The system is self-contained with water automatically circulated
back into your home. You should periodically inspect the system - just as you would with any other item in your home.
If there is ever an issue, we're just a phone call away.
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| Q. |
Are there incentives available for solar heating? |
| A. |
Absolutely. Solar heating tubes receive the same federal incentives as solar electric panels. State, local
and utility programs may vary. We will determine for you exactly what incentives and rebates apply in your area.
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Questions about Green Energy Tax Incentives
| Q. |
What incentives are available for green energy? |
| A. |
Currently, the federal government will rebate 30% of the cost of your system in the form of tax credits (essentially, a refund)
with no cap on the amount of the credit. States, cities and even utilities also offer rebates and incentives.
You will need to contact us to determine what programs are availble to you in your specific area.
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| Q. |
Why are these green energy tax credits and incentives available? |
| A. |
There are many reasons for these programs:
- Environmentalists want to help clean our planet and reducing the amount of
CO2 produced by fossil fuels is a major step in the right direction.
- Nuclear energy, while "clean" during energy production, produces
radioactive waste that is not easily disposed of in a safe manner.
- Oil prices continue to rise, plagueing families nationwide
- By reducing our dependency on foreign oil, it makes us more energy independent and
enables us to act in a more objective manner with oil producing countries
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| Q. |
How long will these green energy tax credits and incentives last? |
| A. |
The incentives generally do not fluctuate - they are typically in place for extended
periods of time. That said, different programs do have different expiration dates, and
the government, being the government, can change solar energy and wind energy tax credits
if it chooses to do so. Your best option is to get started now while programs are in place.
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| Q. |
Do I qualify for solar energy tax credits and other incentives? |
| A. |
Everyone qualifies under the current programs. The federal government currently offers 30% tax credits to help you
pay for your system. Other programs are also available from state and local governments as well as utility companies.
The amount you will receive is based on where you live and what programs are in your area.
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Have Questions About Green Energy?
Review the information on our site, including this FAQ page, to find answers to
the most common questions.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact our offices at 631-393-6555
and one of our experts will be glad to help you.
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