What is Solar Electric (Photovoltaic)?

Photovoltaic (PV) panels generate electricity directly from sunlight using a process that “frees" electrons of the individual silicon cells by energy of the sun. Once excited or “freed”, the electrons travel through an electrical circuit, powering your electrical devices and sending excess electricity to the grid. Some materials used for photovoltaics include monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and amorphous silicon.

The majority of solar cells are constructed from either crystalline silicon or thin-film semiconductor material. Silicon cells are more efficient at converting sunlight to electricity, but have higher manufacturing costs. Thin-film products have lower efficiency, but they are easier and less costly to manufacture.

What does Aztec Do?

Our experienced sales professionals will manage your custom project from the initial proposal, through the installation and start-up. We warranty and design a system to meet your energy requirements and/or additional electrical generation by surveying the site, analyzing shading issues, and inviting industry leaders to our world headquarters to keep us trained regarding the latest technology in the industry. Additionally, we will provide a cash flow analysis of the system’s expected performance over the next 25 years and manage the permitting and installation processes.

Are You Ready to go Solar?

Producing energy where it is consumed is why it is efficient to place solar on your property. Producing electricity or generating hot water is a great way to save on utility bills, guarantee a fixed energy rate, reduce your carbon foot print, reduce hydrocarbon consumption, and become energy independent.

Our initial site assessment utilizes the most modern satellite imaging technology. From that technology, we assess whether your property or rooftop is a candidate for solar. For a solar system, we recommend a rooftop space or land that is free of shade for at least 5 hours a day. Usually flat rooftops have the best platform to capture enough sunlight. Slanted rooftops work well if they face south, but we can engineer the system’s panels to capture enough sun from other directions.

What is Solar Thermal?

Water heating accounts for a substantial portion of energy use at many residential, commercial, institutional and federal facilities. Nationwide, approximately 18% of energy use in residential buildings and 4% in commercial buildings is used for heating water. Solar water heating systems, which uses the sun’s energy rather than electricity or gas to heat water, can efficiently provide up to 80% of the hot water needs-without fuel cost or pollution and with minimal operation and maintenance expense.

Solar water heating is a reliable and renewable energy technology used to heat water. Sunlight strikes and heats an absorber surface within a solar collector or an actual storage tank. Either a heat-transfer fluid or the actual potable water to be used flows through tubes attached to the absorber and collects heat from it. Some systems which use a separate heat transfer fluid loop also include a heat exchanger which then heats the potable water. The heated water is stored in a separate preheat tank or a conventional water heater tank until needed. If additional heat is needed, it is provided by electricity or fossil fuel energy by the conventional water heater system.
 

Why Now?

To make the world a better place by reducing your carbon footprint by producing clean, renewable energy. With many state and federal incentives, the initial cost of solar systems can be reduced by up to 40% during the first year of operation. In addition, many states have deregulated electric rates, which may increase your utility charges by 20% or more. Please click here to view the various incentive information:  Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency