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What geographic areas does New Found Energy (NFE), Inc. service?
NFE, Inc. services the Tri-State area, Dutchess, Columbia, Rockland, Orange counties, western Connecticut, eastern Pennsylvania, and anywhere you need us to be.

Is maintenance a big part of ownership of a solar system?
Grid-Tie systems have the lowest maintenance with Solar Thermal after that, PV systems with batteries are the most maintenance intensive and that is not all that much, monthly checkups.

What’s the 1st step to getting a solar system?
The first step is to contact us and complete a simple energy questionnaire. We will conduct a brief analysis of your site and provide you with an approximation of cost. If this initial proposal is appealing to you, we will conduct and in depth site analysis that will take a few hours of your time. The site visit cost is $250 and is credited back to you upon contract for installation.

How long do the rebates take?
The tax credits are applied for that and following tax seasons, you should discuss this with your accountant for a better understanding of how it will work for you. Rebates from NYSERDA are processed within 45 days of completion of the installation and final inspection.

ROI? (Return On Investment)
This is a tricky thing to calculate as there are so many variables. NFE, Inc. will provide you with approximations for purposes of assessing your desire to have solar. ROIs can vary with the size of the system, location, and type.

Can I expand in the future?
Solar systems are generally flexible in their design. You must recognize however that certain upgrades may require exchange of equipment to accommodate the new design and therefore can have significant cost associated with it.

I have and older system installed in the ‘80s. Can I upgrade?
Absolutely! Upgrading systems is quite common. Certain components can be reused with little impact on the new design. A classic example is to upgrade the collector panels on a solar hot water system.
"But we don't have enough sun here"

Solar panels are the main components of the system. The solar panels charge the batteries. Several solar panels wired together create what is called a solar array. The overall size of the solar array will determine the amount of power or energy that will be produced from a solar electric system. The location of a solar electric system plays a major role in the overall energy output of a solar power system. Geographic areas such as Florida, Southern California, or Texas tend to produce more solar energy than do locations like Oregon, Maine or Maryland. Systems located closer to the equator will be the most efficient.

What future growth do you expect Solar energy to experience relating in particular to PhotoVoltaics (solar electricity)?
It is anticipated that there will be significant growth in the solar industry over the next decade. This growth will be led by improvements in technology (higher efficiency), reduction in equipment prices (better production methodologies and materials), and a shift in energy paradigms (going green).

Many are desirous of installing a PV system in their utility electrified home but don't know the first thing about the physics, mechanics, etc. of PV. Maybe they know basic wiring & electrical installation. What do I need to know?
It turns out that Grid-Tied PV systems are the simplest to own. The maintenance is minimal and the running of the system is nearly invisible to the homeowner.

Will I need to use batteries?
Batteries store energy. Batteries play the role of storing the energy your solar panels produce during the day. Batteries will provide you with the energy you need at night. Components that are powered by solar electric systems receive their power from batteries rather than directly from the output of a solar panel. A solar panel produces a high voltage that can damage electronics if loads are powered directly.