APS ENERGY STAR and Solar Homes - Program Requirements

To be eligible for Solar Home program incentives, all participating homes/communities must meet the current APS ENERGY STAR® Homes Program Requirements plus meet either the Solar Water Heating Ready or the Solar Electric Ready requirements listed below:

Additional Requirements:

Solar Water Heating (SWH) Ready

• Unobstructed roof space of 100 square feet for future solar panels
  • Southern exposure
  • Tilt angle range of 15 - 55 degrees
  • No shading on roof space
• Conduit provided from attic to service panel
  • One - 2” conduit or copper line set
• Pre-installed plumbing valves for future solar water tank
• Pre-run 18 gauge thermostat wire
• Provide an additional outlet and space at future tank location
• Identify components locations on construction plans
  • Note roof, storage tank, and conduit locations
• Have design and solar ready installation approved and inspected
  • HERS rater inspects plans and installation

• Types
  • Passive (no pumps) or Active (with pumps)
  • Open Loop (no heat exchanger) or Closed Loop (glycol)
  • Evacuated Tubes or Flat Plate Collector
• Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC)
• OG-300 Rating -- First year’s kilowatt hour savings
• Collector orientation not as critical as photovoltaic (PV)
• Back-up element is typically electric

Or

Solar Electric (PV) Ready

• Unobstructed roof space of 100 square feet for future solar panels
  
  • Southern exposure
  • Tilt angle range of 15 - 55 degrees
  • No shading on roof space
• Pre-run one 1" rigid 1" conduit
• Provide an electrical service panel with 240V/200A
  
  • Leave a minimum of one double pole breaker space available
• Have design and solar ready installation approved and inspected
  
  • HERS rater inspects plans and installation

Solar Electric (PV) Systems

• Types
  • Grid-Tied (interconnected with utility) or Off-Grid (battery storage)
  • Raised Panel or Building Integrated
  • Mono/Poly Crystalline or Thin Film
• Components -- Panels, Inverter, and Disconnect
• Customer is fed first from PV System, and then from utility if needed
• Bi-Directional Meter -- utility compensates for surplus energy produced

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