Getting renewable energy doesn’t have to cost you the earth. Our holistic solar energy solutions allow maximum savings and energy independence for years to come.
Installing solar energy systems with us is a breeze. It will substantially reduce your utility bills, allowing you to save hundreds to thousands of dollars each year. Whether you’re looking to install a simple residential solar panel system or a large-scale commercial solar panel installation, AMECO will ensure everything is taken care of.
Our in-house design team will ascertain if your roof meets the required criteria for our best-performing solar energy systems. A dedicated project manager will guide you through everything, right from the design of your system all the way to its installation and upkeep.
Combining your system with a solar panel battery backup is a game-changer, particularly during fire season. By storing extra energy captured from the sun, you can power essential appliances even during an outage and contribute to a more sustainable future. A battery backup system is also an excellent alternative to noisy, fuel-burning generators.
For customers looking to make an even greater impact on the environment and their savings, an electric vehicle is a great solution. Convert your garage into a simple, safe, and maintenance-free charging station for electric vehicles. It's as easy as plugging and unplugging a charging cord!
We take pride in our streamlined, completely virtual solar panel service that makes going solar effortless. Whether you're looking for a residential or commercial solar system, we've got you covered!
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Will my roof support my solar panels?
Is it worth it to install solar on my roof if it will need to be replaced or should I consider alternative installation areas?
How can I both upgrade my roof and install solar at the same time?
How much will a solar + roofing installation set me back
Do tax credits and rebates apply if I get a solar + roofing bundle deal?
Who even offers solar + roofing bundles? Is that a thing?
Any reputable solar company will tell you that the first thing you should do when looking into solar for your home is evaluate your roof. Our team of experts have been bundling solar + roofing for over 45 years and want to help your home improvement upgrades as seamlessly as possible.
Evaluating your home includes a number of factors. Your solar company should help you analyze your current and projected energy usage, natural obstacles as well as roof type and health. In order to facilitate this, you should probably know how your roof works!
Knowing all the parts of a roof can help you save money, diagnose heating and cooling issues and protect your home from water damage
There are many components that make up a roof, and these will vary depending on the style, age, region and materials of your home. You can learn about a few of the most common components that make up a roof below:
Rafters: Think of the rafters like the skeletal system of your roof. Rafters give your roof its shape and serve as an integral part of any roofing upgrade.
Trusses: Some roofs use trusses instead of rafters. Because trusses require fewer materials, they are often more affordable than rafters but just as strong, which is why many newer American homes use them.
Covering: When most people think of their roof, they think of the covering. Your roof’s covering is the part that’s most visual from the outside. It’s also primarily responsible for protecting your home from weather damage.
Today, roof coverings consist of a variety of materials, including:
Fascia: Roof fascia is a series of wooden boards that give structure to the side of your house.
Without fascia, your gutters and downspouts would virtually have no support and would just hang off the side of your home.
Gutters: Gutter systems guide rainwater off your roof and direct it away from your home. They prevent water from pooling on your roof and channel water away from the area right next to your home, so rainwater doesn’t seep into your home’s foundation. Gutters are one of the most important factors to preventing water damage.
You will also hear about components such as flashing, ridge, drip edge, fascia, chimneys, downspouts, soffits, skylights, etc.
If any of the parts that make up your roof have damage or if your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, you will need to replace it before going solar.
If you do decide to install solar but opt out of a solar + roofing bundle, you will need to keep in mind that your solar panels will likely outlive your roof. What does that mean? It means that, without doubt, your roof will need to be replaced while you still have functional solar panels on them. This also means that you will need to remove your solar panels before replacing your roof. As a result, your roof replacement will likely cost a lot more, considering the additional labor, time and expertise required. It may also result in you having to contract two different companies: one to remove and replace your solar panels, and one to redo your roof. You also have to consider the increase in electricity bills that you will see when your solar panels are off your roof and offline.
Considering all of these factors, we cannot stress enough how important it is to avoid having to replace your roof after installing solar on your home.
While bundling your solar + roofing projects may seem to increase your upfront cost, by choosing the right installer, you can find great deals to drive down prices.
If you think you may need to replace your roof before installing solar, then find a company that will bundle your solar + roofing projects for the best deals! This will allow you peace of mind knowing that your new roof can support your state-of-the-art panels and help cut down on the inevitable costs of having to install solar and replace your roof!
Solar + roofing really is a match made in heaven. If you have going solar on your list of priorities, you may have your roof and roof life top-of-mind as well. And it makes sense! Solar panels should power your home for 20 to 25 years, depending on the materials used and maintenance provided throughout their lifespan. That means decades of savings for you and your family!As a result, it is only natural that you think of your roof and roof life when considering making the switch to solar. Commonly, homeowners will ask themselves a ton of questions relating to their roof:
Is everything alright in sunny California? On the surface, it might seem like a strange question to ask. And one that’s completely out of context. But a closer look at the uncertain fate of Net Metering 3.0 indicates otherwise. While California’s utility industry has long been rallying against the state’s net metering laws, the current state of affairs leaves a lot to be desired.
But what is net metering? Why’s there such a hue and cry over it? How does Net Metering 3.0 affect California’s booming solar industry?
For answers to these questions, we need to start at the beginning.
In 1979, architect Steven Strong incorporated solar panels in two of his projects – the residential Granite Place and the government-funded Carlisle House. Strong’s projects worked on a simple principle. When the solar panels generated more power than was being used by these buildings, the utility meter ran backward. When the photovoltaic cells didn’t generate enough power, the meter drew on electricity.
Thus, Strong accidentally triggered the first instance of net metering in America. But all this happened in Massachusetts. Yet, the environmental promise of net metering made most states put forth their own net metering laws. Minnesota became the first American state to implement net metering laws in 1983. California joined the bandwagon pretty late, in 1996.
The first-ever NEM law was stipulated by the SB 656 legislation with a few goals in mind. The state was pushing for economic growth and wanted private investors to finance renewable energy sources.
Over the past 20 years, the interest in NEM and renewable energy resources has grown. California, too, revised its NEM law multiple times. After a fair share of changes, the California Public Utilities Commission gave the green signal to NEM 2.0.
Implemented on January 28, 2016, NEM 2.0 initiated the following changes:
In short, customers who were feeding solar power from their rooftop solar grids into utility service providers saw a decline in financial rewards. Despite that, NEM 2.0 became successful enough to make California the highest solar power generator in America by October 2020.
But, NEM 2.0 was mired in controversy.
As California’s solar prowess and industry continued to prosper, the voices of dissent kept rising too. Utility companies claimed that net metering gave undue advantages to customers.
So, was NEM 2.0 good or bad?
The utility industry pressed forth their demand of implementing major changes to NEM 2.0. They were joined by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Utility Reform Network, Public Advocate’s Office, and other groups.
Their argument was simple- they believed that NEM 2.0 only benefited the rich who could make upfront investments in cutting-edge solar panels. Low-income families, on the other hand, had to put up with net metering induced price fluctuations. Given that most of these low-income families comprised persons of color, the issue took on racist tones, becoming a matter of grave concern.
Utility industry giants, including Sempra Gas Company, PG&E, Southern California Edison, and a handful of investor-owned utilities (IOUs), pressed for changes in NEM 2.0.
But the rooftop solar installers disagreed. They had good reason too. After all, middle-class working neighborhoods comprise half of California’s rooftop solar market. These tensions between customer producers and utility companies prompted the present-day debate.
The Newsom Administration initiated California’s controversial shift to implementing NEM 3.0.
By August of 2020, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) started the NEM 3.0 proceedings. Although the legislation has not issued its verdict yet, NEM 3.0 could:
However, the effectiveness of NEM 3.0 remains debatable. But if the IOUs’ demand of allotting fixed charges to customer-producers is implemented, it could sound the death knell for California’s solar industry. The question on everyone’s mind is – Will the CPUC be able to offer a ‘sustainable tariff’ that still prompts enough growth in the state’s solar industry?
Customer producers will need to wait till January 2022 to know if the odds are in their favor.
But one thing’s for sure – NEM 3.0 could either kill or boost California’s solar industry. There is simply no middle ground.
The utility industry may have put its foot down, but California’s solar users give no indication of backing out. 347 organizations comprising businesses, housing, environmental advocacy, citizen’s welfare, etc., came together to form the Save California Solar Coalition. The coalition addressed an open letter to the Newsom Administration and the California Public Utilities Commission to protect California’s solar industry. They also demanded that solar power be kept affordable in the state.
According to Dave Rosenfeld, Executive Director of the Solar Rights Alliance – “Net metering is helping bring costs down and making it possible for more people to access the savings, resilience, and other benefits of solar power while also moving California closer to our clean energy goals. Voters of all backgrounds want to continue that progress. They know the utilities do not have their best interests in mind.”
Go solar before the year ends to qualify yourself under NEM 2.0. Support activists and groups pushing for sustainable net metering. Go the extra mile because clean energy is needed for a cleaner world and a brighter future.
Over the past two years we have been helping the residents at Leisure World save money with solar energy. We have worked with many Mutuals in Leisure World and have made this video to highlight our work with Mutual 6 in Seal Beach, California.
Mutual 6 has been mostly solarizing their laundry rooms with carport solar installations, a residential system, and future EV charging expansion capabilities. Mutual 6 has focused on their laundry rooms because it is a common energy load that all of its residents must bear. By going solar, Mutual 6 won’t have to raise member dues because of increased utility bills. The additional benefit is that Mutual 6 is ready to add electric vehicle charging stations for its residents, providing green retirement plan for future Leisure World residents to also enjoy.
Last week, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) finally voted on the current state of the net energy metering program for solar owners. As a locally-based solar contractor (and solar owners ourselves!), we’re happy to report the commissioners voted in favor of those who use solar energy.
Net energy metering allows solar owners to sell overproduction back to their utility company. It’s an important benefit that helps people keep their electricity bills low.
This moment of victory for the solar industry is a long time coming. During the past year or so, we’ve been following the outcome of this vote.
Here’s a play-by-play of how it has gone down:
Now current solar owners (and anyone who installs rooftop solar before July 1, 2017) can rest happily and know that they will enjoy the benefits of net metering for a full 20 years. This victory is sweet as the utility companies were lobbying for a much shorter time period (some say as low as 6-12 years).
Moreover, the CPUC also announced that current Californian solar owners will be eligible for Net Metering 2.0 once their 20 years is up.
Though this battle was won, the war isn’t over yet. The details of Net Metering 2.0 still need to be worked out and the CPUC has until the end of 2015 to do so. In the coming year, solar owners and advocates in California will need to rally once again so that the collective solar voice is heard.