| Let's say you've made an offer on a new or | | | | inspection. As needed, hire an experienced solar |
| retrofitted solar home. It may be a passive solar | | | | electrical contractor to do or help you with the |
| design or it may have a solar electric system or both. | | | | inspection. If an agreement has been signed to supply |
| How can you make sure it works as advertised and | | | | power to a local utility, ask the utility to send an |
| you are getting what you paid for? | | | | inspector so you can check things out together. |
| First, you need to know what's in the solar system. | | | | What should you look for as you inspect a solar |
| The seller should disclose to all buyers exactly what | | | | power system? |
| solar equipment is included in the sale. It must be in | | | | - If the system is new. Check all the building permit, |
| writing. If it's not clear, ask for a specific list of solar | | | | owners manuals, and other solar system |
| equipment from the seller or through your real estate | | | | documentation to make sure its complete. |
| agent. You may want to have the seller or agent | | | | - If retrofitted to the house, inspect all building |
| show you each component included on the solar | | | | permits to ensure that installation was completed |
| power system list. Or you may want to hire an | | | | according to local electrical codes. |
| inspector or solar power expert to check out each | | | | - Follow the system from where it starts (PV |
| component. | | | | modules or heating coils) to its end (main power |
| Remember that passive solar power systems are | | | | panel or hot water heater), asking questions and |
| nothing more than properly placed south facing | | | | looking at condition. |
| windows with a roof overhang for summer shading | | | | - Verify that the output is what the owner says it is; |
| and something inside to soak up the heat, often a tile | | | | that is, check the amount of current and voltage or |
| or cement floor. There aren't any "components" to | | | | the hot water temperature delivered to the solar |
| passive solar power systems other than | | | | home. |
| solar-conscious design. | | | | - Make sure the system has adequate safety |
| In most states, real estate law says that if it is | | | | equipment such as ground-fault interrupters (GFIs), |
| attached to real estate, it is real estate. And if it isn't | | | | lightning arrestors, fuses, and circuit breakers. |
| attached, it's personal property. Personal property | | | | - Look for obvious problems such as birds' nests |
| included in a real estate sale must be listed to be | | | | around PV modules, damaged cable or wire, broken |
| included. For example a refrigerator is personal | | | | frames, inoperable gauges, or other conditions that |
| property, buy an installed door is real estate. That | | | | can impact operation or safety. |
| rule suggests that any attached solar power | | | | - If the system includes other power sources (grid, |
| equipment sold with the home is probably considered | | | | wind, water, generator), carefully inspect the |
| part of the home. However, to be safe, make sure | | | | equipment and interconnection. |
| that it is specifically listed in your offer to buy. | | | | - Make sure that you are knowledgeable about the |
| Now that you know what's included in the solar | | | | system and comfortable with its safe operation |
| home system you're buying, you can inspect it. Use | | | | before purchasing a home with a solar power |
| the sellers list of what's included as a guide in your | | | | system. |