b"Conventionalc stalline-siliconPV-glass-module,rack-and-post b an h revenue stream and tax creditrce, depen ng on investry ecomeot ersou dimoun s temtedys s.ment packages the contractor or solar integrator has set up with financialNon , c posite-panel crystalline-silicon PV modules, surface- andinvestment compan . glass om iesslope-mounted.It isr to e in the tax benefits, state utility rebates,r nimpo tantxpla pe forma ce ProtectiveMembrane (PMR) self-ballasted PV tile systems.incentives,renewablergyits to the owner tohis real cost Roofandene cred showThin-film PV la nated single-plyand metal roof assemblies.plus the monthly energy savings and payba period for hisinv tmenmi membraneckes t.Proprieta elastomeric coatings with th andite ryin-Himcrystalline-compos Commercialown are starting to focus more on comm l leases or erserciasystems fora -b eddroof. asph lt as an single-plysystems powerPPand leases al low the ownerget purchase agreements (PPAs).AstoBallasted roof-m tems. ounted sys in solar without upfront costs or cash o In m y instanc , the toutlays.an es new roofandsolarsystemcanbepack together.Pub Iagenciesand agedic Costschoo prefer these financialtions because the c isier toand lsop osteas fund The designde rocess timeline forand selling PV roofit is notin the capital outlay bu b rather in the gen lan sal s-p specifyingcovereddgetutera operatsy is longermo complex than that forroof systems. PVing budget. Options: stemsandrestandardincludee.averagecomme Direct Purchase: Owners purch thesystem by u internal cash systems are expensiv Theinstalled cost of arciallowasePVsing sloped PV roof system before tax credits and state incentives c averageflow and utilize the tax credits, s telocalutility rebates, and anta andrebates, between $50 and $150 per sqft,depending on the power density of the PVRECs by go to th existing lending/leasing in itutions. ingeirstsystem.solar industry uses cost-per-watt pricing.credits and state TheTax Fin Lease: Th is like ank loan,ow (the lessee) is anceisba and thenerconincentives are priced as dollars perThe average cost per watt for solar watt.sidered theof the equipment foraccounting and tax purposes. ownerboth $8 Operating Lease: T lessor is considered theer for the tax credits, arrays installed on low-sloped commercial applications is betweenand heown12 perdepreciations, a rebates.lessee istinge/equipment $ watt DC, excluding the cost of the roof. ndTheren th roof and Governmentalbodiesandutility com offer performance-basedc write off the cost of the lease. paniesan incentives,government tax credits, and rebates to make solarogrants,aff rdT -E t Lease: This lease type can m t the n of schoo uniax xemp ee eedsls, able. Unfortunately, there is no uniform, state-to-state system of tax cr its, ed versities,state and local governments.pu agency p for the andTheblicays incentives, and programs. For the next eight years, the federal governmentcost of the roofPVmutility costs.lessor, depending andfro currentThe ill provide atax creditfive-year accelerated depreciation on 30-percentandstr cture,efitsnd,someases1 on the lease packageu takes the tax ben a inc , andSeveralcan h am on the earned intercommercialresidential solar installations.states now mandate avetax-exe pt packageest. that aof utility companies' electrical power production is generpercentage P rrch Agreemen An outside inv tment groupa operowe Pu aset:es ownsnd ated from solar and other renewable sources,ility companies are and more ut ates the solar equipm and sometimes theTheownentroof.buildinger starting to offer solar incentives.pays the solar array owner for the electric y produ by thearray. it cedsolar While the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) reduces arcentage of pe T array owner in effect is a m i-utility compan Thener hein y.array ow may solar's cost, what makes asystem affordable are the additional state, PVsell back surplus po rnet meteringthe local utilitym . we bytoco panylocal, and utility credits,and per incentives. Many rebates,formance-basedThese are very complex finan agreements, and it is important to stay cial incentive programs arethroughout the U.S. Some statesr arge offeredoffe la within the IRS g delines to ensu alle ITC b are ob ined. ui reth enefitstanumber of options from different agencies and utilities, so that a program cost m be calculated by ZIP code. Twelve states still have no net-meterustPreliminary Rooflnfonnation Collection ing laws. Perhaps less than half of the states have a ractive enough incentt Designing a low-slope-roof and PV system starts out likea designing tive programs for solar building to make real econom sense. More s tes icta c ional system. Incase of a re f,following information w l onvent theroo theilareto adopt renewable-energy programs.Database of State InstartingThebe n e to determine ifbuildingaitablendidate for a BIPV ec ssarytheissu cac for Renewables and E ciency (DSIRE) is the best source totosystem: entivesffi use look up state tax credits and incentive-based progr . It can be found at New construction, re f,existing roof. ams roo or www.dsireusa.org. T existing roof(s). ype of Determining what financial optio available to the buildingNumber of existing roofs. ns areowner is an important part of the solar design and sales package. AfterI, while a Age of roof(s). al 100-kW 300-square roof may cost $200,000, asolar array before tax creditsDeck type. and incentives can easily$800,000 to $900,cost000. Structural-load capacity. Insulation type. Financing Options Perim rils. ete detaItis important tounderstand andidentify anown solar financing Core cuts. er's options. Apart of selling PVs is h access to established leasing keyavingPhotos of roof and major roof elem and site conditions. ents ~ograms from leasingcapital investment groups. Capital leases andMoisture survey (possibly). and \\.'Jnd options are very important options for selling to state and local gov Existing roof coating, test foriondtibility. adhes an compaernments, school districts, and other public agencies. Theseleases can Continued on page 14 13"