What do I need to know to install Solar AC in my Hawaii Home?

What do I need to know to install Solar AC in my Hawaii Home?

Many people believe that living close to nature has plenty of benefits – from reducing stress levels in urban areas all the way up to feeling excited and joyful. Hawaii is the place that beautifully does so. The Hawaiian Islands are blessed with abundant sunshine all year long. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are an excellent way to take advantage of that resource and produce your own renewable energy at the same time.

If you live in Hawaii or have plans to move there soon, an installation of solar AC may be right for you. Solar-powered air conditioning systems use solar power instead of standard electricity from Hawaiian Electric to keep your house cool all summer long. If you’re interested in installing an air-conditioning system powered by solar panels, keep reading for some useful information on the topic.

Prerequisites for Solar AC Installation in Hawaii

1. Factually estimate the Cooling requirements for your Hawaii Home

The cooling can vary significantly depending on the size and type of the system. In general, you need to find out the cooling BTU requirement per hour of your Hawaii home by yourself or some reputed AC installer.

Home air conditioning significantly depends upon the design and construction of the building. If your home is currently using air conditioning, you’ll have a general idea about the cooling requirement of your home. If you don’t have an AC, you can use the Heating/Cooling Transfer Calculator to determine how much cooling power your home needs based on the square foot area.

2. Finding the Right Solar AC Installer is Important

The key to a successful solar PV installation is finding a trustworthy contractor who has experience in the field. Finding the right contractor is crucial to the success of your solar PV system. A reputable contractor will help you navigate the process of AC installation and maintenance, and will respond to any problems you might experience in a timely manner.

Find out whether the contractor has experience in installing solar AC systems in your area. If you’re planning to install a grid-connected or Hybrid solar Air Conditioning system, find out if the contractor has worked on similar projects before.

3. Estimate Costs for Solar AC Installation

Before you commit to installing a solar photovoltaic system, you need to get a ballpark estimate of the entire project cost. There are several factors that affect the costs of installing a solar-powered AC system, such as…

  • The size of the system or your Home’s Air Conditioning requirement
  • Type of PV panels used
  • Type of Solar Air Conditioners (DC powered, AC powered, and Hybrid)
  • Incentives available for the Installation

A solar AC system consists of solar panels, an inverter, wiring, mounting structures, and other miscellaneous hardware. The foremost step toward estimating the total installation cost is to decide how much power you want to generate as per your air conditioning requirement.

4. Tax Incentives for Solar powered AC systems in Hawaii

The federal government and Hawaiian state provide tax credits for solar PV systems. Depending on the type of system you install, you may be eligible for either the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) or the Federal Solar Tax Credit. You can claim the ITC for any type of solar PV system, regardless of whether the system is grid-connected or off-grid. The ITC is equal to 26% of the total system costs, which include installation and other expenses such as buying solar panels or batteries. Other Incentives include

  • Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit (RETITC)- The 35% state solar tax credit
  • Green Energy Money Saver Program (GEMS)- For Eligible renters and low-and moderate-income homeowners

Summing up

Installing a solar AC system is a big decision, and you should make sure you know all the facts before getting started. Carefully consider your AC’s BTU as per energy consumption, and find out the amount of electricity you need to generate. Once you know how much power your system needs to produce, you can estimate the installation costs and find out what financing options are available to you.