Whether it’s a large commercial project or a single-family residence, one company is poised to help building owners who are looking into solar power. Headquartered in Los Gatos, Calif., Akeena Solar has been designing and installing solar systems since 2001, and Jose Tengco, Director of Communications at Akeena, says the company has been an innovator since its inception.
San Francisco Project
Tengco points to a large commercial project in San Francisco as just one example of what his company can do in the commercial arena. “Last year we installed solar panels on four buildings owned by the same owner, and to this day it’s the largest commercial installation in San Francisco,” he said.
The buildings are in the Bayview/Hunter’s Point area, which the city was looking to help improve. “In San Francisco, we work with the city to create city rebates that target low-income areas specifically,” said Tengco.
The 385 kW system includes 1,500 solar panels, which produce 60 percent of the energy needed to power the building, according to Tengco. In this case, the low-slope roofs were already completed, and Akeena simply installed the solar arrays on top of the membrane’s cap sheet. “We do both new construction and retrofit work with a variety of general contactors, roofers, electricians, etc. In this case, we just handled the solar.”
The design of the solar panels makes them durable and easy to install, said Tengco. “In short, we’ve created a solar power system called Andalay, the only integrated racking, wiring and framing system available today,” he said. “With the integrated panel there’s no exposed wiring. It’s designed to create reliable power for the next 25 years.”
The company has created a non-penetrating, ballasted system for flat roofs. “It protects against wind shear and seismic concerns, and does not require penetrations,” said Tengco. Most places in California require tethering of the system. In some cases, local building codes can vary, cautions Tengco, and some jurisdictions require penetrations, but even in these cases the Andalay system requires fewer penetrations than other systems. “The rack and wiring are exclusive to Akeena, and the non-penetrating system is particularly attractive to building owners and roofers,” he said.
Purchase Options
Akeena provides building owners with a variety of options for purchasing a solar system. “People can purchase it straight out or finance it with credit,” said Tengco. “Payback is six to nine years. Customers who purchase the system get an estimate as to their specific payback. The system is warranted to last 25 years.”
Another option is a power purchase agreement (PPA). “Building owners want to reduce the cost of electricity and help the environment,” he said. “With a power purchase agreement, Solar Power Partners actually owns the system. If you have a flat roof and want a predictable rate of electricity for a period of 15, 20, 25 years, Solar Power Partners will purchase the system, own the system, and charge the owner a fee. Rather than a fluctuating bill, building owners have a predictable rate of power.”
In California, incentives are a big help in making the case for solar applications. “If you look at the cost of going solar, there’s never been a better time,” said Tengco. “The cost of solar panels has never been lower, and we’ve passed the savings along. When you figure in federal, state and municipal rebates, sometimes 50 percent of the cost is paid for with tax incentives and rebates. When depreciation is added for commercial projects, the contribution can be as high as 70 percent.”
When specifying a system, Akeena engineers consider the type of roof, its orientation, the amount of sunlight it receives, and any shadows or shading during the day. The most important factor, according to Tengco, is what the owner hopes to achieve. “We ask, ‘What are you trying to accomplish? Do you want to lower your electricity bill, eliminate the electricity bill, or just help reduce greenhouse gasses?’ Then, once we have an understanding of what the owner’s goals are, we check the orientation, shading, and figure out how the sun will hit the building throughout the year.” The company then comes up with a proposal tailored for the individual situation.