- Will a TSC RE solution work with my house?
- How much power does a typical home use?
- What size system should I get?
- What will a TSC RE Solution look like?
- How do I use the electricity generated?
- How will I know if it's working?
- What happens in power outages?
- Are TSC Renewable Energy Solutions safe?
- How much will the system cost?
- How much can I save with a TSC Renewable Energy Solution?
- What kind of maintenance is required?
- Do I have to go off the grid to use a TSC Renewable Energy Solution?
- Can I use all my regular household appliances?
- Can I install it myself?
A: Probably!
Solar technology works best on South facing roofs, but can also be effective on East or West facing roofs. If a suitable roof cannot be found, solar can also easily be pole mounted, requiring a fairly small amount of space. The only other major consideration for solar is to ensure that no trees will be shading the solar panel.
Wind requires more space and more evaluation, to ensure that your turbine works up to its full potential. It is important to consider that a wind turbine should be 30 ft above any surrounding objects to minimize interference with wind. Depending on the type of tower used, wind may also require a fair amount of space, so this needs to be taken into consideration.
Q: How much power does a typical home use?A: A typical home in Ontario uses approximately 8000 kWh a year of electricity. However, this can vary widely, depending on how energy efficient the appliances you use are, if you use electricity or natural gas for heating appliances (water heater, stove, etc.), and how many people live in your house. If you'd like more information on how much you use, simply look at your most recent hydro bill, and see how many kWh you used.
Q: What size system should I get?A: It depends on what your goals are and what type of system you're purchasing. For an off-grid system, it is essential to make sure it is accurately sized to run the items you want to power and not leave you without electricity when you need it most. For a grid tie system, the only thing really determining the size of your system is how much electricity you want to generate and the space available.
Q: What will a TSC RE Solution look like?A: If you're not sure what a renewable energy system looks like, head over to our Projects page to see some of the ones we've put up at our stores and our customers houses.
Q: How do I use the electricity generated?A: No matter which type of system you purchase, you use your electricity the same way you would use your regular electricity - just plug in what you want to sue and you're on your way. If you have an off grid system you may want to pay extra close attention to making sure you're turning off items when you aren't using them and running too many items at once, but other than that it's the same as using power from the grid.
Q: How will I know if it's working?A: TSC Stores and Solera use inverters with built in monitoring capabilities, showing how much power you're generating, so knowing what your system is doing is only a glance away. We also offer a remote energy monitoring solution called SolarVu. With it, you can see you how much power your system is producing from anywhere in the world, all you need is an internet connection!
Solar Hot Water has monitors built into the energy pack to see how warm the water you're sending to your regular hot water tank is.
With Solar Hot Air, all you have to do is feel the warm air from the vent heating your room!
Q: What happens in power outages?A: In a grid tied system with no battery back up, the system is designed to shut off when the power goes out for safety reasons - to prevent electricity flowing back to the grid while someone is repairing it and causing them injury. However, if a battery backup is installed, the system can be used to provide continuous power during the blackout.
With an off grid system, you'll never have to worry about power outages again!
Q: Are TSC Renewable Energy Solutions safe?A: Yes, TSC Renewable Energy Solutions are installed by licensed professionals using top quality system components. Solar systems have no moving parts (except for a small fan in Solar Hot Air), and all our wind turbines are tested to withstand hurricane force winds without breaking. Like any electrical system, care should be taken when interacting with various parts of the system.
Q: How much will the system cost?A: It depends largely on the system size and ease of installation. Please Contact Us to inquire about the various costs of systems.
Q: How much can I save with a TSC Renewable Energy Solution?A: Please visit our What's Right For Me section to see how much a Renewable Energy Solution could save you.
Q: What kind of maintenance is required?A: Solar power systems are virtually maintenance free, with only the batteries requiring a small amount of maintenance every year.
Wind turbines carried by TSC Stores should have a minor inspection every couple of years, with maintenance required on the bearings every 8-12 years.
Solar Hot Water requires the glycol solution to be changed every couple of years.
Solar Hot Air is virtually maintenance free, just ensuring the panel is clean of stuck on items from time to time enough!
Q: Do I have to go off the grid to use a TSC Renewable Energy Solution?A: Absolutely not, an off grid power solution is just one of many options available. Look at our Products page to learn more.
Q: Can I use all my regular household appliances?A: In a grid tied system, absolutely. In an off grid system, possibly not - large heating loads such as water heaters, stoves, and furnaces cannot be electric due to the massive amount of power they consume. However, there are many alternatives to using electricity for these items such as propane or natural gas.
Q: Can I install it myself?A: The Solera Power Packs are designed to be installed by the customer, with an electrician's assistance recommended for certain steps. However, for anything larger than this an electrician is strongly recommended, and for grid tied systems it is required. TSC Stores and Solera will schedule all this work for you to make the process as easy as possible.
