Photovoltaics

KAA has incorporated over 250 kW of solar on our projects over the past few years, including a 13.2 kW array on our own office.  Working with 8 different solar companies we have successfully incorporated solar arrays on all styles of projects, from contemporary to traditional, along with everything in between. We have developed details that hide the panels from view if they compete with the desired aesthetic, and also celebrated the technology by integrating them into the massing and detail of the architecture when appropriate.  

One of the many advantages of a solar array is that it essentially locks-in the cost of electricity.  While electric companies continue to increase their electricity rates to meet growing demands, installing a solar array can help protect our clients from these rate hikes. Typically a solar array will pay for itself in around 10 years, meaning from year 11 on the array is producing 'free' electricity.

Another consideration is that most homes we build for our clients are larger than what they are currently living in, with more amenities, appliances, and other electrical draws. With many power companies switching to tiered billing systems this means their power bills may be exponentially larger than what they're accustomed to.  Incorporating solar panels is a relatively simple solution to bring those bills down, or potentially eliminate them completely. And because solar panels produce the most electricity during the peak hours of the day when rates are highest, the solar array is offsetting the most expensive tier.

There are significant incentives and tax breaks that make solar power more appealing from a financial standpoint.  Most solar companies also provide online monitoring, which allows the client to track how much power they're generating on a yearly, monthly, daily, and even hourly basis.  All things considered, solar has become an easy decision for many of our clients.