Mission Statement:

Sunlight Solar Energy is dedicated to educating our customers and

empowering them to make intelligent buying decisions.

Dear Solar Enthusiast:

Thank you for your interest in clean, renewable – and best of all – affordable photovoltaic (PV) solar

electricity.

After reading this information, please call us at (203) 878-9123 to get started on your own solar system!

Rachel, your first contact, will gladly schedule an appointment for a Systems Designer to come to your

home and give you a free custom proposal. We do not charge a fee for any preliminary proposals or site

surveys.

Sunlight Solar is an innovative and creative company with an industry-leading approach and philosophy

to PV sales. We are one of the first Connecticut Clean Energy Fund-approved installers to offer a 10-year

labor warranty.

We sincerely look forward to hearing from you!

Solar energy never looked so good!!

4 Oxford Road, Suite D8

Milford, CT 06460

Phone: (203) 878-9123

Fax: (203) 878-9464 www.sunlightsolar.com

5.16 kW photovoltaic and

2-collector hot water

arrays in Lebanon

Table of Contents

I. About Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc.

II. Financial Incentives

A. Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)

i. Connecticut Solar Lease Program

ii. Rebate calculation

B. Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

C. Cost and Energy Production

D. Cost of electricity in Connecticut

E. Renewable Energy Credits/Green Tags

III. Solar Technology

A. Net Metering

B. SunPower Corporation

C. How a grid-tied system works

D. Solar panel quality and warranties

E. Solar panels

F. Inverters

G. Grid-tied battery back-up system

IV. Permits and Installation Process

A. Permitting and Interconnection

B. Site surveys and Proposals

C. Post Installation

V. Installation Considerations

A. Orientation

B. Roof

i. Age and weight load

ii. Square footage

iii. Angle

C. Shading

D. Aesthetics

E. Tilt mounts

F. Metal roofs

G. Wiring

H. PV System components

VI. Other considerations

A. Array maintenance

B. Homeowner’s Associations and Historic Commissions

C. Insurance

D. Property taxes and property values

Part of an 18.63 kW solar array in Farmington

1.8 kW solar array in Manchester

I. About Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc.

⋅ One of the leading PV solar design and installation companies in the United States

⋅ Approved PV Solar contractors in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Oregon, and New York

⋅ Founded in 1988 by Paul Israel in Sacramento, California

⋅ One of the original companies to be part of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund

⋅ Full-time in-house professional installation teams

⋅ Fuel-efficient hybrid and bio-diesel run company vehicles

⋅ Installed more than 300 residential systems and over two megawatts worth of solar systems

⋅ Installed large commercial installations such as Yale University’s 40,000 watt system and the North

Haven Health & Racquet Club’s 190,000 watt system

5.52 kW

ground-mounted

array in Chaplin

Walking the Walk: Two from our fleet – a bio-diesel installation truck and a hybrid design car (above)

II. Financial Incentives

A. The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)

The Connecticut Legislature created the

CCEF to support and encourage the

growth of renewable clean energy

sources for the benefit of Connecticut’s

rate payers. The CCEF is financed by a

surcharge (Renewable Energy Investment

Charge) on your electric bill. Solar

rebates are money collected from CL&P

and UI ratepayers.

i. Connecticut Solar Lease Program

The CT Solar Lease works in

conjunction with CCEF’s innovative

solar rebate program. The rebate is

utilized by CT Solar Leasing to reduce

the monthly cost of the lease.

Since CT Solar Leasing owns the solar system, it takes advantage of the tax incentives; the

value of these extra incentives helps eliminate the need for a down payment and reduce the

monthly cost of the lease to the homeowner even more!

With CT Solar Lease, the customer pays a fixed monthly fee which is usually less than their

average electric bill. Another benefit of the lease is that as electric rates continue to rise, the

monthly payment stays the same, thus increasing the savings for homeowners on their

electric bill.

Sunlight Solar is a CT Solar Lease Approved Contractor and Eligible Installer. There is an

income cap to meet the requirements for the lease. Please give Rachel a call to see if you fall

within the qualifying range. For more information on the lease program, we suggest you visit

www.ctsolarlease.com.

ii. Rebate Calculation

The CCEF rebate is based on three specific site conditions: tilt, orientation, and shading. For

a lease, the rebate will be approximately 50% of the total installed price and for purchasing

the rebate will be about 20%.

Three specific site conditions that will affect your rebate are tilt, orientation, and shading.

⋅ In Connecticut, the ideal roof slope is 36 degrees.

⋅ The ideal orientation of your panels to the sun is 180 degrees magnetic south (194 degrees

true).

⋅ Losses due to tree shading and other obstacles are taken into consideration. This is

discussed in more detail below in Section V, Installation Considerations.

10.125 kW solar array in Newington

The CCEF requires all contractors to conduct an official site survey. During a site survey, our

Systems Designer uses a Solar Pathfinder to calculate exactly when your panels would be

shaded. The Pathfinder tool is a device that views the horizon from the panels’ perspective.

We will calculate all the above site conditions and show you the projected efficiency of your

system. The site survey is critical in determining your true rebate. If a contractor does not

go on your roof to determine site conditions you should question the accuracy of the

projected rebate amount.

B. Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

If you are not interested in the lease program or are over the income limit, you may opt to

purchase the system with the CCEF rebate. By purchasing the system you will be credited 30% of

your investment by the Federal Government. For example, a $35,000 PV system may receive a

rebate of $7,000. You would then be eligible for an ITC of $8,400. If your tax liability is not that

great, it is possible to spread the ITC over a number of years to be able to take full advantage of

it.

C. Cost and Energy Production

A typical installation is 24 SunPower 225 watt solar panels – a total of 5,400 watts (5.4 kW). This

installation costs approximately $43,000 which includes all taxes and permits (but varies on

degree of difficulty).

A 5.4 kW system will produce approximately 22 kWh per day. Relative to a utility bill of $150 per

month, which is the equivalent of 26 kWh per day, this solar system would provide a homeowner

with 85% of their electric power per year. An average monthly lease payment for a system this

size would be about $130.

D. Cost of electricity in Connecticut

Currently, United Illuminating (UI) and Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) customers are paying

the second highest electricity costs in the nation. CL&P residential customers are paying about

$0.20 per kWh for electricity; UI customers are paying $0.24 per kWh.

E. Renewable Energy Credits/Green Tags

Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) are tradable

commodities used in the energy industry and are

essentially the free market trading of the “clean

energy attributes” (not the electricity) of your

solar energy.

Connecticut currently does not have a program

to purchase RECs. When a program becomes

available, customers who purchase their system

will be able to sell their Green Tags for

approximately $0.05 per kWh.

9.2 kW solar array in Brookfield

III. Solar technology

A. Net Metering

A 1988 state law allows individuals and businesses that generate excess renewable energy to

sell the electricity back to the local utility company through a process called Net Metering.

In addition to the utility meter currently installed at your home, CL&P or UI will install another

utility-grade meter to measure the output of your solar array. This bi-directional meter is in

addition to the meter that comes standard on your solar inverter. Utility-grade and inverter

meters are standard on all SSE installations.

A well-designed PV system usually provides 50-100% of your household electrical needs.

B. SunPower Corporation

Our solar panel and inverter supplier is California-based SunPower Corporation. We highly

recommend reading their Annual Report at www.sunpowercorp.com.

SunPower is one of the fastest growing solar manufacturing companies in the world and they

have developed the world’s most efficient commercially-available solar cell.

For a number of reasons, including cell efficiency, quality of construction, warranty, and

aesthetics, we are proud to have been chosen a SunPower factory-direct integrator. This

means solar panels and inverters come directly from the manufacturing plant to you.

8.28 kW solar array in Bethlehem

C. How a grid-tied system works

Solar PV systems work by directly converting sunlight into electricity without noise, moving

parts, or pollution. Therefore, the system is simple, reliable, renewable, fully automatic, and

virtually maintenance-free.

As shown in the image to the left, energy from the sun

strikes the PV panels (array) and produces DC energy.

An inverter changes this to alternating current, which

ties into your home’s electric circuit breaker panel. As

the solar electricity is produced, your electric meter

will slow down or spin backwards! Your utility

company will install a new bi-directional utility meter.

Your electric bill will be based on this new electronic

meter reading and will look quite different than your

current bill.

In a grid-tied system, if utility electric power becomes

unstable or is lost your PV system will automatically

turn off and your home will not produce solar

electricity. Every five minutes, however, the inverter

automatically tests the utility power for stability and

turns back on once power is restored. The system

works seamlessly and automatically.

Inverters are designed to be installed outdoors, protected from southern or western direct

sun, but can also be installed in the basement, garage, or other areas depending on owner

preference and site-specific conditions.

North Haven Health & Racquet Club, 190 kW solar array

D. Solar panel quality and warranties

Solar panels have no moving parts or chemical reactions and are therefore very low

maintenance. They also have a long life expectancy. Solar panels’ Power Warranties range

from 10 to 25 years (SunPower’s Power Warranty is 25 years), but they will produce clean

energy for many years beyond the warranty. Generally, the Power Warranty guarantees the

panel will produce at least 80% of its rated capacity for the warranty period. Once installed,

experts believe solar panels will be producing electricity for 35 years or more but with a

degrading output of about 0.5% to 1% per year.

E. Solar panels

One way to judge the efficiency of a solar panel is to compare two tests that all solar panels

must undergo: the PTC and STC panel tests. Basically, panels are tested in two different

conditions – a perfect condition and realistic conditions.

If you look at the drop-off in power of the test results, you get an interesting story about

efficiency. All things being equal, you want to purchase panels which have a high PTC/STC

ratio. For example, a SunPower solar panel has an STC rating of 225 watts and a PTC rating of

207.1 watts. This gives a drop-off of 17.9 watts or a percentage loss of 92%. This is very good.

Call us and we can help you compare different manufacturers’ solar panel efficiencies.

F. Inverters

Translating the solar DC energy into household AC electricity

uses some energy. For this reason, each inverter has a

published efficiency rating. The SunPower 5000m inverter has

an industry-leading 96.8% conversion efficiency. Call us and

we can help you compare different manufacturers’ inverter

efficiencies.

5.04 kW ground mount array in Bolton 7.56 kW solar array in Higganum

G. Grid-tied battery back-up system

For people who have concerns about power outages, we can design systems that have an

automatic battery back-up. If the power grid goes down the back-up system will automatically

sense the power loss and immediately switch electric loads to the batteries.

A battery back-up system is much more expensive than a standard grid-tied system because of

the extra components. You can expect a back-up system to cost about $10,000 extra. It is

important to note that the CCEF will not grant a rebate to cover the extra cost related to the

back-up system.

IV. Permits and Installation process

A. Permitting and Interconnection

SSE takes care of obtaining an

electrical building permit and the

utility interconnection approval,

which are included in your system

price.

B. Site surveys and Proposals

Before a Site survey is done,

Rachel will gather some

preliminary information regarding

your home and any solar PV

system requirements you may

have. She will also look at a

satellite photo of your house to

observe any shading and

determine its orientation.

With this information Rachel can prepare a preliminary proposal for you to consider. Our final

proposal typically does not vary much from our preliminary proposal unless the actual Site

survey reveals significant discrepancies from the initial information. The biggest problem is

usually related to shading: most people underestimate the amount of shade affecting their

roof throughout the year. Therefore, please be conservative when providing shading

estimates.

After carefully evaluating the preliminary proposal, many people decide Sunlight Solar Energy

is the right choice for them. If the proposal, including system components and cost are

satisfactory to you, we can then schedule a Systems Designer to come to your house to

conduct a detailed site survey.

43.92 kW solar array: the Saybrook Point Inn in Old Saybrook

What has your roof done

for you lately?

The CCEF requires eligible installers to

perform a Site survey prior to approving a

rebate application. While some

companies charge $80 to $120 for this

service, Sunlight Solar believes this

service should be free of charge.

During the site survey, our Systems Designer

will take several measurements and

photographs of your site and analyze a

number of important issues including:

⋅ Roof design, shingle age, and condition

⋅ Orientation, height, and pitch of roof(s)

⋅ Available roof space for solar panels; roof vent locations; skylights; etc.

⋅ Distance from solar panels to the circuit breaker panel and electric meter

⋅ Electric service panel suitability, including extra space for a breaker

⋅ Tree shading and other factors that will affect PV system output

⋅ Proposed location of inverter

⋅ Possible ground mount location

⋅ Any other factors impacting system price, energy production, etc.

⋅ Discuss proposal and answer homeowner’s questions

After the site survey, our Systems Designer will prepare a final proposal for you to consider,

along with a photo simulation of what the array would look like at your site.

The Solar Pathfinder tool helps us determine the

amount of shading at your site

9.23 kW

array in

Watertown

C. Post Installation

Once your solar array has been installed we do a “walk through” of your system with you. We

will show you each of the meters, explain the components, and teach you how to turn your

new PV system on and off. We will also present you with an Owner’s Manual that has

specification sheets, technical schematics, warranties, etc. Sunlight Solar coordinates the

following tests: local electrical inspection, utility Witness Test, and the final CCEF inspection.

You can legally turn your system on after the Witness Test.

V. Installation considerations

A. Orientation

While a southern-facing roof is ideal for a solar array, you may be surprised to learn that

southeast, southwest, and even east and west roof orientations can also work.

East- or west-facing roofs may produce about 20% less electricity than south-facing roofs. In

some cases though, tilting the panels is the only solution to non-ideal roof orientation or pitch.

B. Roof

i. Age and weight load

Your present roofing material should have at least fifteen years of life remaining. This

ensures the investment of your PV system will not be compromised by a deteriorating roof.

Local building codes usually allow a maximum two layers of asphalt shingles on your roof.

Codes dictate this because the additional weight of a solar array may create structural

problems. Occasionally, older roofs may need to be strengthened by adding larger rafters.

We will work with a structural engineer to be certain that your roof can support the

proposed PV array.

Solar panels are designed and installed to withstand severe weather conditions including

hurricane-force winds and 50 mph hail storms. In addition to our own rigorous installation

standards, your system will be reviewed, inspected, and approved by your municipality,

utility company, and the CCEF.

5.54 kW array

in Wilton

ii. Square Footage

Below is a listing of the number of SunPower 225 watt solar panels and the square footage

needed. After approximating the square footage of your roof (length multiplied by width)

you can compare it to the chart below. Remember: pipe vents, skylights, and other

obstacles limit available space.

iii. Angle

The sun’s daily path in the sky changes throughout the year. In the winter, the sun is low

to the horizon, while during the summer it is higher. During the spring and fall seasons, the

sun is somewhere in between. The above diagram depicts the sun’s arc traversing the

Connecticut sky during the winter and summer months.

PV systems on roofs steeper than 35 degrees will product more electricity in the winter,

while roofs with lower pitches or angles will work better in the summer, when the sun is

higher overhead.

Number of

225 watt

Panels

Approx. Sq.

Footage of

Roof

Total

Wattage of

PV Array

12 156 2,700

14 182 3,150

18 234 4,050

21 273 4,725

24 312 5,400

27 351 6,075

Working on a 5.16 kW

solar array in Shelton

If there is not enough roof space, Sunlight Solar will

install a ground-mounted solar array.

C. Shading

Shading has a significant impact on the efficiency of the solar panels and system. It is one of

the prime reasons one cannot install a PV system on some houses or properties. The site

should not be shaded more than 10-25% throughout the day (6am to 6pm), throughout the

year. Ideally, the array should have no shade between the hours of 9am and 3pm, the times of

greatest PV electricity production (“solar noon”).

Shading can be caused by soft sources (snow, leaves, bird droppings) or hard sources (objects

in the distance such as trees, dormers, chimneys). Shading problems from trees can be

handled by pruning, topping off, or cutting down trees and replacing them with shorter-

growing trees and bushes; shading cause by chimneys and dormers are unavoidable

obstructions.

Take a close look at your home and see how much sunshine falls on your roof during the day.

Imagine what shade will be on your roof in the summer. What about in the winter, when the

sun is low over the horizon? Seasonal changes in foliage and sun angle are extremely

important.

Trees to the east and west of your roof should be more than twice as far from your house as

they are tall and trees to the south should be at least three times away as they are tall. If the

trees on or near your property meet these general criteria then you probably will not have to

worry about shade during the year.

During our site survey we will climb on your roof and take accurate measurements to identify

potential shading challenges.

White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield, 11.04 kW solar array

D. Aesthetics

A 35-degree tilt of the roof is

the optimum overall angle for

PV panels in Connecticut,

although we will work with any

roof pitch. Typically we suggest

using the natural pitch of your

roof. Our standard installation

method is a high quality UniRac

SunFrame racking system. This

system “frames” out the panels

with no spaces between and

creates the most aesthetic

installation on the market.

E. Tilt-mounts

While not our favorite type of installation for both

aesthetic and labor-time reasons, tilt mounts are

important when the roof is flat or facing east or

west.

We suggest keeping the panels at a 5-degree tilt

towards the south to maximize aesthetics.

However, tilting the panels 36 degrees to the south

will maximize the solar production and the CCEF

rebate.

F. Metal roofs

For customers with metal roofs we use

clips that attach to the standing seams;

the panel is then bolted onto the clips,

prohibiting any penetration to the roof.

1.68 kW solar array in Middletown

East roof with southern tilt-mounted panels

4.6 kW solar array in Milford

G. Wiring

The wiring on your solar electric system is the conduit within which your solar electricity flows.

Sizing the wire properly is a requirement of the National Electric Code (NEC) and allows your

system to be most efficient. We oversize your wires, usually exceeding Code, so that your

solar panels maximize their efficiency.

Managing the wiring on an installation is

very important. All SSE installations will

have no wires touching the roof and all

“strings” of solar panels will be properly

fused with outdoor-rated warning labels.

H. PV System Components

All components can be installed inside your home except the AC Disconnect, which must be

installed within three feet of the exterior utility meter. This is a standard requirement of CL&P

and UI. All disconnects and components are labeled.

VI. Other considerations

A. Maintenance

Our best maintenance suggestion is to visually inspect the panels and wiring at least once a

year. If anything looks amiss, just give us a call. It is also good to keep the panels and

equipment clean from dirt, dust, salt, pollen, and debris. You may hose the panels down with

water and, if possible, use a soft brush or squeegee to scrub off bird droppings, pollen, dirt,

etc. A mild non-abrasive detergent can be used to take care of persistent dirt.

A common question customers have is how long it takes for snow to melt off the panels. The

answer depends on a number of factors including the amount of snowfall, temperature, cloud

cover, shading, orientation, and tilt of the solar panels. Generally, if you have six inches of

snowfall overnight, snow on panels tilted 22 degrees will melt off by the early afternoon,

Tilt Racks (back view) on west roof facing south

Look, Ma - no loose wires!!

AC Disconnect Inverter and DC Disconnect PV Combiner Box

provided there is full sunshine. The greater the tilt on the panels, the faster the snow will melt

off. However, snow could remain on the panels for several days during heavy snowstorms and

cold overcast conditions.

B. Homeowner’s Associations and Historic Commissions

Some homes are located in communities where there are active and stringent Homeowner’s

Association regulations. Associations typically have the power to approve or deny solar panels

on a homeowner’s roof prior to obtaining any required permits.

Historic District Commissions also present challenges to solar installations as they have an eye

towards protecting the historic character of the buildings. However, most Historic

Commissions have allowed PV systems to be installed on homes.

You will want to contact your Homeowner’s Association or Historic Commission to get a sense

if your application will be considered for approval. Our staff will help support your application

and attend any necessary meetings. A number of our customers have received Historic

Commission and Homeowner’s Association approvals for solar panels on their homes.

C. Insurance

Solar PV systems are typically covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. However,

you may have to increase your coverage because of the replacement value of your solar array.

We recommend you check with your insurance agent regarding coverage. Both CL&P and UI

require a minimum of $300,000 in Personal Liability coverage in order to approve the

Interconnection Agreement. This is a utility requirement, not SSE’s.

D. Property taxes and Property values

Many homeowners ask whether installing solar panels on their home will increase their

property taxes. You will be happy to know that the General Statues of Connecticut address

this issue: any municipality may exempt, by ordinance, Class I Renewable Energy Facilities

[such as solar PV systems] for single-family houses or multi-family dwellings of two to four

units.

6.3 kW

solar array in

East Windsor

Call us today to

schedule your

site survey!

(203) 878-9123