Residential Solar Power and Solar Hot Water
5KW solar electric (PV) system installed with an evacuated tube solar hot water system on a residence in Freeport, Maine
Solar energy costs have dropped to an all-time low and government financial incentives are stronger than ever, making it the perfect time to invest in a solar power or solar hot water system.
Help get your house off fossil fuels and enjoy both environmental and financial benefits!
Ways to Use Solar on Your Home:
- Solar Electricity - Clean electricity that cuts down your power bill
- Solar Hot Water - Heat your hot water with the sun
- Space Heating - Solar and high-efficiency heating options for well-insulated homes
Current Rebates Include:
In Maine:
- 30% federal tax credit and $2,000 state rebate for installing a solar electric (PV) system.
- 30% federal tax credit (usually around $3000) and $1,000 state rebate for installing a solar hot water system.
In New Hampshire:
- 30% federal tax credit for $4,500 cash state rebate installing a solar electric (PV) system.
- 30% federal tax credit and average $1,500 state rebate for installing a solar hot water system.
You can contact us for more information on these rebates, or sign up for a no-obligation, free solar evaluation and project quote.
Same Sun, Two Technologies
There are two distinct technologies for getting energy from the sun to use for your home: solar hot water and solar power (powered by solar electric panels, also know as photovoltaic (PV) panels).
Solar Power
Offset energy use with the clean power of the sun
5KW of clean, solar electricity installed on a boathouse in Falmouth, Maine.
Producing your own clean, renewable solar electricity is a great way to protect your household from rising energy costs while transitioning away from the massive CO2 emissions that come from America's coal and gas-fired power plants.
Grid-tied solar power systems produce electricity when the sun is shining, spinning your utility meter backwards! These proven, reliable systems will last more than 25 years, even in Maine and New Hampshire's rugged climate.
- Learn more about grid-tied solar power for your home.
- Contact us for a free, no-obligation solar site evaluation.
ReVision Energy provides licensed and NABCEP-certified design and installation of grid-tied solar power systems. We are the only solar company in Maine that carries a Master electricians' license in-house. This means that your project is completed quickly, courteously, and properly. We also make it as easy as possible for you to apply for federal and state rebates.
Read about some of the people behind ReVision Energy.
Grid-tied PV Rules of Thumb
- 1 kilowatt of installed PV panels will produce roughly 1,300 kilowatt hours of clean electricity annually.
- 1 kilowatt of installed PV panels will generate roughly $190 of electricity annually @ $.15 kW/h.
- 1 kilowatt of installed PV panels will offset roughly 1,700 lbs. of CO2 emissions annually.
- Between $4,300 - $6,000 per installed kilowatt, price varies based on choice of panel and complexity of installation.
Solar Hot Water
Enjoy Domestic Hot Water or Space Heating Courtesy of the Sun
Evacuated tube solar hot water system installed on a home in Bowdoinham, Maine.
Using sunshine to produce hot water for showering, laundering and dish-washing is a practical way to make a positive impact on the environment while saving money at the same time. A typical residential solar domestic hot water system will eliminate more than 5,000 lbs. of CO2 emissions annually and can save more than 300 gallons of oil per year, depending on your current domestic hot water setup.
After 10 years of designing and installing hundreds of solar hot water systems in Maine's challenging climate, we've distilled our knowledge and experience into a robust design that offers the highest efficiency and durability. ReVision Energy can tailor our time-tested, field-proven system designs to integrate with most existing water heating systems, whether it is gas, electric or oil-fired.
- Learn more about solar hot water for your home.
- See a video by ReVision's Fortunat Mueller, PE, about how to save money by switching to solar hot water.
- Contact us for a free, no-obligation solar site evaluation.
Solar Domestic Hot Water Rules of Thumb:
- Each 20-tube collector array will generate roughly 15,000 BTUs of clean heat energy per day
- Each 30-tube collector array will generate roughly 22,500 BTUs of clean heat energy per day
- 1 gallon of home heating oil contains 139,000 BTUs of energy, but most oil boilers burn at roughly 75% efficiency in winter and 15% efficiency in summer to produce domestic hot water
- 1 gallon of propane contains 91,000 BTUs of heat energy
