Going Green has come into its own. Solar power, hybrid and electric vehicles, recycling plants, and water conservation have become cultural norms rather than oddities. For those who want to dip their toes in these clean waters, these are among the top reasons that our customers have been choosing to go green with solar energy roofing and more. Going green can:

1. Increase the value of your home. Eco-friendly, energy efficient homes have a strong resale market. Install solar panels, water-saving showers and toilets, and water reclamation systems (rain barrels) to save money and resources now and attract buyers later.
2. Reduce your utility bills. Water and electric bills drop significantly with go green changes.
3. Improve your lung health. Low and no-emission vehicles reduce reliance on fossil fuel, improve air quality and help you breathe better.
4. Lower your body’s toxicity. Your skin is your largest organ, and you absorb over 60% of the products you put on it. Make smart, green choices, and your body will thank you.
5. Support the economy. Buy local produce, food, and other products. Locally grown fruits and vegetables and humanely raised animals will provide more nutrients than those you will find in the grocery store and help small businesses, too.
6. Shift the focus to sustainable energy. The more people who go green or demand alternative fuel options, the sooner these changes will occur.

There are many small steps you can take on your journey to green. Take reusable bags to the store, use energy-efficient light bulbs and shift to organic foods.

Go Green with Bay Area Solar Energy Roofing

Century Roof & Tile supports the Go Green movement. We created noutililtybill.com to answer solar power questions, and our expert team of installers includes a C10 electrical contractor and a C 39 roofing contractor. Call us today at 888-233-7548 or visit our website to learn more.

High fuel costs, government incentives and a growing cultural acceptance that we collectively need to move beyond fossil fuels have created the perfect storm and sparked tremendous home owner interest in converting to home solar power. Meanwhile, relevant tech is getting cheaper and more durable, and utility solar energy development is also expanding. These shifts have boosted the growth of the solar industry and captured the nation’s attention and imagination.

Utility Solar Energy

Utility companies, concerned about expiring tax incentives, added significant solar capacity to their operations last year. The government also extended solar tax incentives, and industry watchers expect additional growth this year. 2016 will also see a new nuclear plant come on line, the first in 20 years. Renewable energy sources, combined with this new plant, are expected to produce two-thirds of new energy capabilities in the country over the coming year.

Commercial and Home Solar Energy

Residential solar power continues to be the fastest growing area of the U.S. solar industry, having experienced a 66% increase in solar capacity installation last year. Continued tax incentives and lowering installation costs appear to be fueling the growth of this industry. Commercial solar power installations are also increasing, as more businesses are taking advantage of a plethora of tax incentives and seeking to lower their operating expenses, not to mention their carbon footprint.

Home and business owners need to know that these tax advantages are only available when a professional installs their solar energy systems.

Work with Bay Area Solar Power Experts

Century Roof and Solar are experts in Bay Area solar energy. Our trained staff installs systems for home owners, apartment buildings and businesses. In fact, we have both a C10 electrical contractor and C39 roofing contractor – this in house expertise gives us the ability to maximize the efficiency and durability of our clients’ solar energy systems, regardless of where they live and their roof types. Call us to set up an appointment by calling (888) 233-7548, or visit noutililtybill.com to learn more.

You’ve been investigating solar roofing and solar tiles, because you’ve heard that homeowners can potentially save a lot of money (and time) by “going solar.” Most homeowners – even up here in Bay Area – still use traditional methods for heating their water and their homes. Thanks to rapid improvements in solar technology — coinciding with the advent of an unstable traditional energy market — more and more consumers are turning to solar to solve their heating problems.

©2013 Century Roof and Solar

Here are a few reasons why:

• When you add solar tiles to your home, you can amortize the cost of the investment over years, if not decades. The installation can pay for itself and then some, given enough time.
• You can reduce your dependency on “the grid”;
• Going “solar” is good for society because it contributes to reducing our collective carbon footprint and energy consumption;
• Some people may qualify for rebates and tax incentives for heating their homes or businesses with solar;
• Reduced risk — special investment programs have radically reduced how much money homeowners need to invest to get started with solar;
• Adding solar capacity in your home can improve the resale value of the property;
• Adding a solar power component can reduce your risk of losing power, if the grid exceeds its capacity.

Choosing the Right Company for Your Solar Installation

To explore whether a solar roofing installation would be right for you or your home or business, call the Century Roof & Solar team today at 888-233-7548 for a free, ethical, and thorough estimate.

©2013 Century Roof and Solar

The push for solar power roofing is gaining steam. And our Bay Area solar experts are excited!

What’s the latest news?

The California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development helped approve a permit to fast-track the solar permitting process for nearly a million Bay Area residents. The new initiative will slash bureaucratic obstacles, speed up solar system installation times, and reduce the costs of such installations. Tom Bates, the Mayor of Berkeley, said the new initiative will “standardize the solar permitting process and make it more business- and user-friendly … our new process will create high quality jobs and help our region reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintain a healthy planet for the next generation.”

Help for Nearly a Million Californians

The permitting plan will go into effect for nine cities, including Berkeley, Oakland, Hayward, Emeryville, Richmond, San Leandro, El Cerrito, Hayward, Albany, and Alameda. It helps homeowners, municipalities, and businesses bypass traditional red tape and save on engineering expenses. It’s an incremental improvement, and then some.

New Thinking about Solar?

The new process will likely also speed along a sea change in how Northern Californians think about solar energy. For decades, solar was considered a bit of pipedream – a fixation for the very environmentally conscious, perhaps. But in the last several years, thanks to advances in technology and engineering — coupled with impulsive market forces — the game has genuinely changed. Many normally conservative observers believe that we may be seeing the first sparks of a full blown solar revolution.

Ready for Your Own Solar Power Roofing?

Do you need information about how to modernize your building with solar to save money, enjoy rebates, and add value to your property? If so, please get in touch with the experienced team here at Century Roof and Solar. We’d be happy to discuss solar panel installations as well as optimal pricing. Call us now at 1-888-233-7548 or email our team to schedule your free estimate.

What do IKEA, Walgreens, Costco, Wal-Mart, Macy’s, and Staples all have in common?

Answer: they’re all leveraging solar solutions to improve energy use, reduce overhead, and gain a competitive advantage.

Whether you are the owner of an up-and-coming retail outfit or a homeowner who wants to use solar power roofing or solar tiles to get your energy bill down, consider this amazing development: the most successful retailers on the planet now use solar energy.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s going at Wal-Mart, specifically.

According to a recent report, over 100 Wal-Marts have gone solar, and the company is financing 300 separate solar projects. On some level, it’s not surprising that Wal-Mart would go solar, since the company’s mission is to offer the lowest possible prices for consumers. In 2005, the Bentonville, Arkansas retailer set a goal of becoming 100% reliant on solar energy. Today, there are over 8,000 Wal-Marts on Earth. So it may take some time for that goal to come to fruition. However, the solar revolution has already helped Wal-Mart save more than a million dollars since 2008. You can bet that the market is noticing. And you can be sure the company will soon scale up their solar efforts to gain more of a competitive advantage.

Finding a Bay Area Solar Company

Whether you’re a homeowner who’s frustrated with soaring energy prices or a retailer who wants to add equity to your property, talk to the experienced team at Century Roof and Solar. We’d live to discuss how you can leverage the newest ideas in solar tiles to save money, conserve energy, and make the world more energy efficient. Call 510-780-9489 or 888-233-7548 or email our team for a free consultation now!

You’re a big fan of solar power roofing – at least the thought of it on top of your Bay Area home. But you’re holding back because of the price tag. Even though you know that, in the long run, solar can pay you back (and then some!) in terms of energy savings and in terms of making your home more valuable to buyers, but you must mind cash flow and avoid spending beyond your means.

Our solar company appreciates those needs, and we’re happy to announce that Bay Area homeowners like you can make the solar switch without taking on undue risk. Here’s how:

First of all, you don’t need to buy a photovoltaic system outright. You can lease the array or get what’s known as a solar power purchase agreement, or PPA. Nearly two-thirds of all solar power system buyers purchase with PPAs or solar leases.

A solar lease is similar to other types of leases that you might be more familiar with – such as car or apartment leases. On the downside, the company that owns the array gets to enjoy the tax credits, rebates and incentives. On the upside, that company also takes on the maintenance/repair burden. Depending on the solar scheme you want to install and your budget, you can choose from different financing options.

A PPA is a similar to a lease, but you’re not renting the system, per se. Instead, you’re agreeing to purchase the solar power created by the system at a given price. This is a nice option, because you can protect yourself against the volatility of the energy market and reduce your upfront investment in the technology.

Weighing Solar Roofing Payment Options

Should I purchase, do a PPA, lease my system, or just defer taking action?

You really can’t make these choices effectively without all the information. That’s why many shoppers find it really helpful to connect with the Bay Area solar roofing contractors at Century Roof & Solar. We aim to help clients understand what is truly best for them and their budgets. Connect with us today, and get insights you need to make a better decision on solar. Call us: 1-888-233-7548.

Whether you’re installing a solar solution for your Bay Area home’s energy needs or you’re just comparing solar with a more traditional energy setups for your San Francisco business, here are ten important solar energy terms to know and understand.

1. Solar array

An array is an assemblage of modules that work together to generate electrical output for your home or business at a particular voltage. Arrays are often customized to maximize the shape of the building and the efficiency of the photovoltaic modules.

2. Solar cell

This is the simplest photovoltaic powerhouse. Much like a standard battery might contain several cells; similarly, a single module usually contains multiple cells. Multiple modules are built up into an array.

3. Photovoltaic (PV)

Much like how plants convert radiation from the sun to usable biological energy via photosynthesis, a photovoltaic cell converts solar light into usable electricity.

4. Net metering

Net metering is a pretty neat concept that demonstrates how solar can be tremendously efficient. A sophisticated meter determines how much power your home uses and then adjusts the extent to which you tap your system based on your energy needs and how much electricity your system is generating. It’s roughly analogous to a buffet restaurant rule: “have all you can eat, but eat all you take.”

5. Irradiance

This measurement of electrical power tells you how much solar energy is bombarding a particular surface, such as one of your photovoltaic modules, over a given time.

6. Peak sun hours

When the sun is bright and shiny, the irradiance can cross over a key threshold of a 1000 watts per metered squared. If the irradiance crests above this number for four hours in a day, that means you get four “peak sun hours” for that day.

7. Photovoltaic module

This is the smallest integrated grouping of parts in solar cells capable of transforming sunlight into power.

8. Energy

In the context of solar power systems, “energy” has actually a very specific definition: it’s a measurement of the ability to perform work, as measured in units called joules.

9. Efficiency of solar cells

No solar cell is 100% efficient – that is, some of the solar energy that hits the unit will be reflected or lost or converted into useless heat energy. Cell efficiency measures what percentage of the sun’s energy can be converted into usable electrical energy.

10. Annual solar savings

A fun number to find out: this is the money you will save every year by leveraging the power that your solar system generates for you or your business.

For help setting up, engineering, or troubleshooting your solar array, connect with the experienced pros here at Century Roof & Solar.

But while the world has advanced in countlessly diverse ways since the energy crisis of the 70s, the US-Soviet rivalry of the 80s, the roaring 90s and the boondoggle oughts, solar power has yet to have its day in the sun. We’ve been hearing promises of a Solar Revolution since the 1970s (and even before that), but the technology, systems, and processes simply have not aligned effectively with the marketplace.

While debates about climate change, energy independence, and alternative “green” energy rage, consumers find themselves at a difficult crossroads. What’s the best, safest, cheapest, most “green,” and least cumbersome way to power one’s house and one’s life?

New research and new technologies have re-inspired faith in one of the oldest – actually the oldest – energy source: solar.
Here are four reasons why it may behoove you to install a solar solution for your home or business immediately.

1. Good for the environment.

Solar is a totally non-polluting technology.  Not only are you not releasing carbon-dioxide, but you are also not contributing to particulate pollution.  Moreover, when you make the switch to solar, you create a kind of “social permission” for your friends, neighbors, and others in your community to do the same.  You create the change: your change sparks others to change and help the environment on a grander scale.

2. Independence from the power companies!

Although modern utility companies do a fairly good job of maintaining service, you’re in many ways at their mercy.  During sweltering summer months, for instance, power might be rationed just when you need it most to keep your AC flowing.  Alternately, with a solar installation – backed up by a battery powered system, so you can have power at night and on foggy days – you get total independence from your utility company.

3. Virtually eliminate your maintenance.

Even “old school” solar power systems had long lives.  Today’s systems can last 40 yearsor longer – no need to add fuel, do maintenance to the panels, or change out parts (there are no moving parts!).

4. Big financial motivations.

In 2008, the government created a tax incentive program to provide thousands of dollars in tax credits to homeowners who install solar energy solutions. This money is not simply a deduction against what can be taxed.  It is a dollar for dollar federal tax rebate.  Also, consider the longer term cost savings. Yes, installing a solar solution can lead to upfront costs. But imagine if you never had to pay a utility bill for the next four decades? How much would you save? It’s easy to calculate this – chances are, virtually every homeowner out there could save significantly over the long term.

If you have questions about solar power solutions, connect with the most trusted name in roofing – Century Roof and Solar.  For 15 years, we’ve served the Bay area with reliable solutions.  We are a Diamond Certified company.   Find out more about our process and solutions at  www.centuryrooftile.com, www.noutilitiybill.com or call 510-780-9489 to speak with one of our professionals.

Solar terminology Glossary

If your thinking about a solar installation in your home, here are some useful and common terms to expect to hear about.

Alternating current (ac) — Electric current in which the direction of flow is reversed at frequent intervals, usually 100 or 120 times per second (50 or 60 cycles per second or 50//60Hz)..

Altitude — The angle between the horizon (a horizontal plane) and the sun’s position in the sky, measured in degrees.

Amorphous silicon — A non-crystalline semiconductor material that has no long-range order, often used in thin film photovoltaic modules.

Ampere or amp (A) — the unit of measurement for the electric current. One amp is produced by an electric force of 1 volt acting across a resistance of 1 ohm.

Annual solar savings — the amount of energy saved by the power generated by a solar system.

Array — Any number of photovoltaic modules connected together to provide a single electrical output at a specified voltage. Arrays are often designed to produce significant amounts of electricity.

Blocking Diode — A semi-conductor device connected in series with a PV module and a storage battery to prevent a reverse current discharge of the battery to prevent a reverse current discharge of the battery through the module when there is no output, or low output from the cells. When connected in series to a power flow preventing against the risk of thermal destruction of solar cells.

British Thermal Unit (Btu) — The amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water from 60 degrees F to 61 degrees F at one atmosphere pressure. Roughly equivalent to the amount of energy released by burning one stick match.

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) A term for the design and integration of PV into the building envelope, typically replacing conventional building materials. This integration may be in vertical facades, replacing view glass, spandrel glass, or other façade material; into semitransparent skylight systems; into roofing systems, replacing traditional materials; into shading “eyebrows” over windows’ or other building envelope systems.

Bypass diode — A diode connected across one or more solar cells in a photovoltaic module such that the diode will conduct if the cell(s) become reverse biased. Alternatively, a diode connected anti-parallel across a part of the solar cells of a PV module. It protects these solar cells of a PV module. It protects these solar cells from thermal destruction in case of total or partial shading of individual solar cells while other cells are exposed to full light.

Cell — The basic unit of a photovoltaic module. This word is also commonly used to describe the basic unit of batteries (ie. A 6-volt battery has 3 2-volt cells).

Cell efficiency — The percentage of electrical energy that a solar cell produces compared to the total amount of energy that is converted from the sun falling on the cell under standard testing conditions.

Circuit — A system of conductors that convey electricity.

Circuit breaker — A safety device that shuts off power when it senses too much current.

Compact Fluorescent Lights — Lights that use a lot less energy than regular light bulbs. We can use compact fluorescent lights for reading lights and ceiling lights.

Conductor — A material that is used to convey electricity, i.e. wires.

Conversion efficiency — see cell efficiency.

Crystalline Silicon — A type of PV cell made from a single crystal or polycrystalline slice of silicon.

Current — The flow of electric charge in a conductor between two points having a difference in potential (voltage.)

Direct current (dc) — Electrical current that flows only in one direction. The kind of electricity is generated by a solar system and is converted into ac power by the inverter. It is the most common form of electricity used in everyday disposable batteries.

Direct insolation — Full sunlight falling directly upon a collector. Opposite of diffuse insolation.

Disconnect — Switch gear used to connect or disconnect components of a PV system for safety or service.

Efficiency — The ratio of output energy to input energy. Expressed as a percent.

Electric circuit — Path followed by electrons from a power source (generator or battery) through an external line (including devices that use the electricity) and returning through another line to the source.
Electric Current — A flow of electrons; electricity.

Energy — The ability to do work. Stored energy becomes working energy when we use it.

Energy audit — A survey that shows how much energy you use in your house, apartment, or business. It can indicate your most intensive energy consuming appliances and even identify heating and cooling leaks that will help you find ways to use less energy.

Energy P ay Back Time — The time required for any energy producing system or device to produce as much energy as was required in its manufacture.

Gigawatt (GW) — One billion watts. One million kilowatts. One thousand megawatts.

Grid — A distribution network, including towers, poles, and wires that a utility uses to deliver electricity.

Grid-connected PV system — a solar system that is tied in to the utility’s network. When generating more power than necessary, the system supplies the surplus to the grid. At night, the system draws power from the gird.

Hybrid System — A PV system that includes other sources of electricity generation, such as wind or fossil fuel generators.

Inverters — Devices that convert DC electricity into AC electricity (single or multiphase), either for stand-alone systems (not connected to the grid) or for utility-interactive systems.

Incident Light — Light that shines onto the surface of a solar cell or module.

Insolation— Sunlight, direct or diffuse; from “incident solar radiation.’ Usually expressed in watts per square meter. Not to be confused with ‘insulation.’

Insulation — Materials that reduce the rate or slow down the movement of heat.Interconnect — A conductor within a module or other means of connection which provides an electrical interconnection between the solar cells.

Irradiance — the amount of solar energy that strikes a surface during a specific time period. Measured in kilowatts.

Junction box — An electrical box designed to be a sage enclosure in which to make proper electrical connections. On PV modules this is where PV strings are electrically connected.

Kilowatt (kW) — A unit of electrical power, one thousand watts.

Kilowatt-hour (kWh) — One thousand watt hours. The kWh is a unit of energy. 1 kWh=3600 kJ.

Life-cycle cost — An estimate of the cost of owning and operating a system for the period of its useful life; usually expressed in terms of the present value of all lifetime costs.

Load — Anything that is connected to an electrical circuit and draws power from that circuit.

Megawatt (MW) — One million watts; 1,000 kilowatts.

Module — see photovoltaic module.

Monocrystalline solar cell — a type of solar cell made from a thin slice of a single large crystal silica.

Multicrystalline — Material that is solidifies at such as rate that many small crystals (crystallites) form. The atoms within a single crystallite are symmetrically arranged, whereas crystallites are jumbled together. These numerous grain boundaries reduce the device efficiency. A material composed of variously oriented small individual crystals. (Sometimes referred to as polycrystalline or semi-crystalline).

Net metering — A practice used in conjunction with a solar electric system where your electric meter tracks your net power usage, spinning forward when you use electricity from the utility, and spinning backward when your system is generating more electricity than you need.

Orientation — Placement according to the compass directions, north, south, east, west.

Panel — A term used to describe a solar module.

Passive solar building — A building that utilizes non-mechanical, non electrical methods for heating, cooling and/ or lighting.

Peak load; peak demand — The maximum load, or usage, of electrical power occurring in a given period of time, typically a day.

Peak Sun Hours — The equivalent number of hours per day when solar irradiance averages 1000 w/m²(full sun).

Photovoltaic (PV) — This is the conversion of visible light into electricity. Photo means “light”, voltaic means “electric.”

Photovoltaic array — An interconnected system of PV modules that function as a single electricity-producing unit. The modules are assembled as a discrete structure, with common support or mounting. In smaller systems, an array can consist of a single module.

Photovoltaic cell — The smallest semiconductor element within a PV module to perform the immediate conversion of light into electrical energy (DC voltage and current).

Photovoltaic module — The smallest environmentally protected, essentially planar assembly of solar cells and ancillary parts, such as interconnections terminals, [and protective devices such as diodes] intended to generate DV power under un-concentrated sunlight. The structural (load carrying) member of a module can either be the top layer (superstrate) or the back layer (substrate).

Photovoltaic system — A complete set of components for converting sunlight into electricity by the photovoltaic process, including the array and balance of system components.

PV — An abbreviation for photovoltaic.

Semiconductor — Any material that has a limited capacity for conducting an electric current. Certain semiconductors, including silicon, gallium arsenide, copper indium dislenide, and cadmium telluride, are uniquely suited to the photovoltaic conversion process.

Silicon (Si) — A chemical element, atomic number 14, semi-metallic in nature, dark gray, an excellent semiconductor material. A common constituent of sand and quartz (as the oxide). Crystallizes in face-centered cubic lattice-like a diamond. The most common semiconductor material used in making photovoltaic devices.

Sine Wave Inverter — An inverter that produces utility-quality, sine wave power forms.Single-crystal silicon – Silicon material with a single crystal structure. A common material for the construction of solar PV cells.

Solar cell — See photovoltaic cell.

Solar energy — Energy from the sun. For example, the heat that vuilds up in your car when the windows are closed is solar energy.

Solar-grade silicon — Intermediate-grade silicon used in the manufacture of solar cells. Less expensive than electronic-grade silicon.

Solar module — See photovoltaic module.

Solar Noon — That moment of the day that divides the daylight hours for that day exactly in half. To determine solar noon, calculate the length of the day from the time of sunset and sunrise and divide by two. The moment the sun is highest in the sky.

Solar power — Electricity generated from sunlight.

Square Wave Inverter — The inverter consists of a DC source, four switches are power semiconductors that can carry a large current and withstand a high voltage rating. The switches are turned on and off at a correct sequence, at a certain frequency. The square wave inverter is the simplest and the least expensive to purchase, but it produces the lowest quality of power.

Stand alone — A solar system that operates without connection to a grid or another supply of electric battery bank stores unused daylight production for nighttime power. Commonly used in remote regions as mountains, ocean platforms or communication towers.

Stand off mounting — The installation of mounting brackets to a roof for the purpose of securing a solar array to a roof top. These brackets are usually waterproofed with a common roof plumbing flashing.

Standard Test Conditions (STC) — Conditions under which a module is typically tested in a laboratory: (1) Irradiance intensity of 1000 W/square meter (0.645 watts per square inch), AM1.5 solar reference spectrum, and (3) a cell (module) temperature of 25 °C, plus or minus 2 °C (77 °F, plus or minus 3.6 °F).

Surge — The momentary start-up condition of a motor requiring a large amount of electrical current.

Thin Film — A layer of semiconductor material , such as copper indium diselenide, cadmium telluride, gallium arsenide, or amorphous silicon, a few microns or less in thickness, used to make photovoltaic cells.

Tilt Angle — Angle of inclination of collector as measured in degrees from the horizontal. For maximum performance solar collectors/modules should be set at a perpendicular to the sun.

Two-Axis Tracking — A system capable of rotating independently about two axes and following the sun’s orientation and height in the sky (e.g., vertical and horizontal.)

Voltage (or electric potential) — The electric force that causes electric current to flow (analogous to pressure which can cause a water current to flow in a pipe) measured in volts (V).

Wafer — A thin sheet of semiconductor material made by mechanically sawing it from a single-crystal or multi-crystal ingot or casting.

Watt (W) — The unit of electric power, which is the rate of energy production, or the amount of energy consumed per time. One ampere of current flowing at a potential of one volt produces one watt of power.

Watt-hour (Wh) — A unit of energy equal to one wall of power being used for one hour.

Waveform — The shape of the curve graphically representing the change in the AC signal voltage and current amplitude, with respect to time.

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