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3407 S Jefferson Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63118

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Take the next step towards energy independence with EFS Energy. Our team of experts is ready to provide you with a personalized solar solution tailored to your business’s unique needs. Discover how much you can save and how quickly you can start benefiting from clean, renewable energy. Schedule your free consultation now to get your custom solar quote!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will I need permits or structural engineering approval?

Probably, most jurisdictions require us to obtain both electrical and building permits. However, there are a few that don’t. Even in this case, we still provide a full engineering and drawing package identical to the permitting package for your records. This is the benefit of working with a professional company like EFS Energy–we take care of it for you!

How does solar photovoltaic energy work?

The moment that sunlight hits a solar panel, electricity is created and a direct current (DC) travels through the wires to an inverter. The inverter takes that direct current and generates alternating current (AC) for use in your business. When you generate more power than you are using, your meter actually runs backwards as excess energy flows back to the grid! With most electric utility companies, this will count as a credit to be used later when you consume more energy than your panels produce.

Will solar work for my business?

Our Solar Energy Consultants can quickly identify if your business is right for solar using advanced shade analysis tools. We can pull up your building to see what roof faces would be appropriate and any shading impact on the production. Then, using your consumption history can determine the right size system based on the space available. If it is a new building, a square footage calculations may be used to predict the amount of power needed.

What are the current incentive programs?

There are Federal and Statewide incentive programs to help urge business owners to install solar energy on their properties as well as implement suggested efficiency improvements from an energy audit.

There is a Federal Tax Credit for commercial property owners that install solar pv systems that cover 30% of your total costs with no maximum credit. The taxpayer may claim this credit of qualified expenditures for a system that serves the taxpayer’s property.

Low-Income Communities – The ITC is eligible for an additional 10%-20% boost for projects in eligible low-income communities. The ITC’s may be transferred or sold to other taxpayers.   

In addition, different statewide programs and utility company rebates may be in place at the time you are looking to install so ask us today if you qualify for any other incentive!

What size system do I need?

The average residential system is around 6kW which takes up about 450 square feet of roof or ground space.

As a Trade Ally Partner of Ameren, we can review your previous electric usage with your account number and determine what size solar system would be right for you. If your utility provider is not Ameren, we are able to use a simple calculation to determine the appropriate system size if you provide us with either the amount of an average monthly electric bill you are currently paying or how much electrical usage (kWh) your property uses monthly.

Who will maintain the system after it is installed?

A properly installed solar power system should require little to no maintenance and will include detailed monitoring to ensure the system is running optimally. However, any dust or debris that settles on the modules is usually removed by normal rainfall. Sometimes larger obstructions such as leaves or bird droppings can cause production losses, but this is typically minimal and would not require your intervention. A quality installation partner like EFS Energy will be there to monitor and troubleshoot any issues as well as work with manufacturers on anything that falls under their warranty scope.

What is the lifespan of a solar energy system?

Our recommended panels come with 25 year production warranties and inverters come with 12-25 year warranties so you can rest easy knowing you will be benefiting from reliable solar energy well into the future. Many early solar panels are still running efficiently after 30+ years. It is very likely that the lifespan of your panels will exceed their warranty.

How quickly will my system pay for itself?

Just like any other investment, solar is a long term investment that will pay for itself over time. However, with the current incentives: 30% Federal ITC, local rebates, depreciation, and monthly energy savings from the utility (many of which are when demand charges and peak-hours are high), the first 5 year savings average from 50-100%. Our detailed financial analysis will show you exactly what to expect.

What happens at night or, when it's overcast or cloudy?

The amount of power your solar system generates is directly proportional to the amount of sunlight available so it will produce less energy when the weather is cloudy and no energy at nighttime. However, our estimates are based on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s information and account for the climate based on the location of your property. Unless specified by the customer we design all of our systems to remain tied to the grid so our customers can take advantage of net metering. This way you can bank credits for the excess energy produced during the day to offset cloudy days and energy consumed at night.

What happens during an electrical power outage?

If you have a grid-tied system, it will automatically shut down until the power is restored. This is for safety precautions and allows the utility company to safely make the necessary repairs. There are certain inverters and electrical configurations that would allow for backup power from a battery bank or generator in the case you would like power during an outage. If you experience multiple power outages or long durations without power it may be beneficial to look at backup solutions.

How heavy is a solar panel?

Typically the average weight addition to a structure is around 2.8psf (pounds per sq. ft.) with the solar module, racking, and wire management. Before any solar installation, a full inspection of the current roof structure and condition should be performed to ensure the additional weight load, wind load, and other factors will not harm the current structure. In addition, the areas where the solar array will be located will protect that section of the roof, extending its lifetime.

Are batteries required to store energy?

No, with a grid tied system think of your utility as being a giant battery. When you are overproducing, the energy will be sent to the utility, when you need it, they will send it back giving you credit for what you sent to them. This is called Net Metering.

What is net metering and how does it work?

Net metering is a law that allows for retail credit to be given to customers for power that is sent back to the grid. This ends up being beneficial to the utility company as it reduces the demand on the power lines at peak times of day when the sun is shining and air conditioners are running. However, the utility will typically limit the amount of power that can be sold back at retail rates to the amount that the customer has consumed during that billing cycle. Excess power generated after that point may be sold back for a credit but at a reduced price point. That means you will not want to generate more power than you will use in that cycle due to diminishing returns. Some utilities allow you to keep the retail credits for a full year, while others have a monthly reset.

What are the financial benefits of solar?
  1. Lower operational cost of your business = Savings back in your pocket
  2. Tax Credits and Incentives to offset the initial cost
  3. Financing to see a positive cash flow sooner
  4. Provides strength to the local economy

View our blog for more info!

What are the environmental benefits of solar?
  1. Reduces air and water pollution
  2. Reduces Water Usage
  3. Reduces Dependence on Nonrenewable Energy Sources
  4. Improves Humanity’s Health
  5. Helps Fight Climate Change
What financing options are available?

We work with several solar specific lending partners that make financing easy. Take a look at our financing page for more details or reach out to one of our energy consultants to see what would be the best fit for you.

$0 down financing may be the most popular option and is available at a low interest rate that could provide the opportunity to pay down higher interest debt.

Apply For Financing Today!

What is the difference between string inverters, microinverters, and optimizers?

Standard string inverters are typically used in situations where shading is not an issue. With string inverters, the solar panels are all “strung” together and run DC power down to the inverter which will be hung internally or externally near the location of the Main Electrical Service Panel.

Microinverters and just that: small inverters that are installed on the solar modules themselves. Microinverters are used in areas where shading from trees or other buildings will cause partial shading of the solar array. Because each solar panel has its own inverter, the system is affected far less by shade than a string inverter.

Optimizers are like a hybrid between the other two technologies. Small optimizers will be installed on each module to mitigate shading just like microinverters, but there is also an inverter that hangs on the wall as well.

EFS carefully researches the best technology from each category and recommends the best fit for each situation.

How long will this process take?

EFS Energy prides itself on custom solutions for our customers. We spend the time upfront with you as the customer to determine the best solution for your energy needs. With that being said we try to keep this as smooth of a process as possible. On average from first contact your energy consultant can have a proposal ready for you to review in just a few days.

Once you decide to go solar, the duration of the project depends on a variety of factors such as incentive programs, permitting, and demand. It’s best to start the process early in the year to ensure maximum tax benefits.

Location & Directions

3407 S. Jefferson Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63118

844-33-SOLAR