FAQs

Commercial

The amount of solar needed depends on annual KWH usage with your local utility provider, the capacity of applicable roof/ground mount options and the % of the power bill that each individual client is trying to offset with solar energy. Once the above items are determined EGT Solar will work up the most cost-effective and efficient solution available to each client.

Yes, EGT Solar has specific roof flashing and components for every style of roof to ensure no long term leaking or issues over the system life.

General

This is a very common question we are seeing specific to Idaho as many companies are not profitable enough to use third-party accredited solar software programs to ensure accuracy. Furthermore, roof directionality plays a key role in proper design and in recent months we have seen several proposals with false or misrepresented azimuth calculations which skew the number of panels needed. This is why EGT explains to clients that solar is not a price war but rather absolutely is a quality war. If your solar company cannot show you specific reports outlining the design assumptions and associated output projections, then they are probably not a great fit.

EGT was founded in Idaho by Idahoan’s and does work only in Idaho. We have a large showroom and warehouse location in Meridian and a training facility located near Sun Valley to provide the best education possible to our valued clients. Rest assured we are just as invested in Idaho as many of our clients are and truly respect and appreciate serving Idaho residents and keeping their hard-earned dollars here in our local communities. We also strive to give back to our local communities by supporting local charities for children, military veterans, elderly, and many other community events and causes. EGT also has been the catalyst from both a time and a cost standpoint in fighting net meter reform here in Idaho and will continue to fight to keep Idahoan’s right to install solar and get equitable terms for an excess generation with Idaho Power.

A well installed solar system using top of the line components will require very little maintenance over time. Typically the only item a home or business owner needs to address over the system life is simply keeping the panels clean to maximize production. This involves simply spraying the panels off with water pressure and usually can be done from ground level in times of dry weather seasons or if in a heavy agricultural area during harvest season or times of the year where dust and dirt are continually being stirred up. EGT handles all system performance issues that may arise as we are alerted instantly of any mechanical or system error codes through advanced web-based monitoring on every system installed to ensure a problem is addressed and fixed as quickly as possible to avoid production losses.

EGT was founded in Idaho and we are very proud to serve most regions of Central and Southern Idaho. With office and showroom/warehouse locations in Meridian, we cover roughly a 500 Mile radius to provide Idahoan’s the best solar solutions and installations in the marketplace.

Absolutely yes! The National Association of Realtors statistics is on average 17% higher value and 20% faster sales cycles for net-zero vs. non-solar homes. Idaho has seen consistent value from appraisals over the last 2-3 years at a near dollar for dollar value based on the retail system costs within the first 5 years of the system life. EGT has had many clients sell their homes with solar and have all had very positive feedback about how they felt the solar helped not only get added value but sell faster.

Many utilities are famous for painting a long payback period for consumers exploring installing a system. If the payback was actually what they advertised Idaho would not have one of the fastest growing solar markets per capita in the US. Idaho has exploded with solar growth over the last 5 years as consumers are weighing a solar investment vs. other traditional forms of investing and quickly realizing that even with very conservative estimates of utility rate increases solar beat all other forms of investing and carries virtually no risk as the sun will always come up vs. markets fluctuating and often crashing with other investments. Pricing of the solar system and assumption of the utility rate inflation of the 25-year system warranty are the key numbers to determine relative payback period. EGT’s customers average 7-9 year to payback assuming they can fully utilize all available tax incentives discussed above.

Most every component EGT installs is warrantied for 25 years from the manufacturer. If solar is installed correctly a client should have no worries of it producing power for 30+ years. Most consumers don’t realize how mature the solar equipment market is and that it is not substantially changing from year to year like computers or other electronics consumers use daily.

No! We are a fully licensed electrical contractor and pride ourselves in our workmanship on all projects. This is becoming a very important issue in our industry as many out of state companies are hiring a myriad of electrical contractors (most of which have not installed much solar) to pull the appropriate permits and do the installation. This model is being watched closely as many of the industry problems are most often associated with this outsourced model where there are many inconsistencies from install to install and ultimately the contractor usually does not understand that they are now liable for the entire retail project costs legally as their name appears on the permit. Be very cautious of companies that are not internally licensed to do their own work.

Residential

Nearly every home EGT’s visits have options when it comes to installing solar. EGT’s offers many system mounting styles not just roof applications in an effort to allow every homeowner to save money with solar. Upon EGT conducting the SmartSolar evaluation, we will ensure our design will maximize the system output for long term savings. In rare instances does a home simply not have solar potential but if that is the case your EGT representative will be the first to tell you that and not push a solution that simply would not be worth the client’s investment.

The amount of solar needed depends on annual KWH usage with your local utility provider, the capacity of applicable roof/ground mount options and the % of the power bill that each individual client is trying to offset with solar energy. Once the above items are determined EGT Solar will work up the most cost-effective and efficient solution available to each client.

Yes, EGT Solar has specific roof flashing and components for every style of roof to ensure no long term leaking or issues over the system life.

There is a myriad of different flashing and mounting in the solar industry which is certainly not all created equal. EGT’s uses only the top-rated flashing and racking to ensure long term integrity. Our particular roof flashing is stamped to not void new or existing roof warranties and we will educate you on the different styles and the vital importance so you fully understand why it simply will not create leaks or other issues. Visit us at our showroom to learn more about this very important topic.
This is a confusing topic in our local industry as solar companies from neighboring states have flooded into the Idaho market and with that has come quite a bit of misleading statements regarding the available incentives. Here in Idaho, a homeowner who installs solar is qualified for a 30% federal tax credit (based on retail project costs and is dollar for dollar against owed liability) which is structured on a 5-year carryforward basis to allow a consumer to reap all value from the credit within 5 years on their federal tax filings. This tax credit can be increased up to 50% if the facility and components meet added requirements per the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The state of Idaho also offers up to a $20,000 state income deduction. This deduction typically equates to a cash value ranging from $1,200 – $2,000 on their state tax filing with a fixed 40/20/20/20 structure to recapture that value. Essentially this recovers the taxes that are included in the project over a 4-year period based on the consumer’s tax bracket. The state of Idaho nor Idaho Power currently offers any rebates for solar installations so if that is a message you are hearing from a prospective contractor be very cautious. The US Department of Energy provides all consumers with an easy guide to all available incentives at dsireusa.org.
No. Solar installations both from Federal and from the state of Idaho are exempt from property tax assessment.
For most jurisdictions in Idaho, the permitting will take 1-2 weeks to complete. Once EGT has an approved permit we schedule the install within 3-5 day thereafter. The install typically takes 1-3 days depending on system size and other electrical upgrades necessary to keep the system to code. Following the completed installation, the client can expect 1-2 weeks for the inspections and net meter install required to turn the system on and produce power. From start to finish EGT averages roughly 6-7 weeks to full completion and commissioning compared to the national average at over 120 days.
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EGT Solar

Jed Thomas

Jed has been an integral part of the EGT team since 2017 and is a tremendous asset to our project management and installation crews. His knowledge of electrical code and experience with Solar and battery systems allows EGT to take on any challenge from complex residential projects to large-scale utility farms and sizable commercial and agricultural installations. Jed assumed the role of lead foreman in early 2020 and has played a significant role in the immense growth of EGT in the last few years. From project management to planning and preparation Jed takes part in each and every project, giving our installation crews and team of electricians the direction they need to execute work at the highest level of quality and care.

Jed is highly respected by his team and our staff as well as every client he comes in contact with. His willingness to pursue all client requests, however complicated they may be, is just one of the many reasons Jed has received so much praise from our clients and from the local jurisdictions/inspectors. Jed’s unmatched knowledge and on-the-job experience with Solar and complicated electrical work makes it easy to see why EGT has had so much success over the last several years and will continue to drive the Solar market in southern Idaho for decades to come.

Austin Quapp.

Austin Quapp

Austin is EGT’s most tenured and experienced employee having joined the team in 2015. As service demand rapidly increased with accelerated growth Austin was a key part of EGT’s success in the early years. Austin is extremely knowledgeable and experienced with the majority of Solar systems on the market and is currently accredited with over 10 different battery manufacturers. With his extensive experience in all things Solar Austin manages all client interactions for service needs and system monitoring, is in constant communication with system and battery manufacturers providing them with much-needed feedback on the true results of product performance and assists all other departments with insight and expectations to make sure our messaging is consistent and accurate throughout the entire process.

Austin is regularly a client favorite and usually the last face our clients see to complete their projects which is critical to protecting the overall client experience and future referrals. His sincere demeanor and empathy for our clients’ needs is why Austin has grown to be a true leader within EGT and will be a tremendous asset and resource for many years to come.

Caitlin Trojacek.

Caitlin Trojacek

Caitlin Joined EGT in 2023 after three years of managing internal operations for one of EGT’s well-known competitors. Caitlin brings a vast amount of experience to our team with knowledge of each aspect from sales and customer acquisition to project processing and installation. She is proficient in project planning, resource allocation, and risk management, ensuring seamless project execution from inception to completion. Caitlin is well-versed in industry best practices, regulations, and jurisdictional and utility requirements. Her work ethic and incredible organizational skills have simplified and expedited much of the day-to-day tasks for project processing and scheduling, allowing EGT to take on more projects and maintain the standard of service that has been paramount to EGT’s continued success. As she develops and implements structured processes for our electricians and installation crews and provides fine-tuning of the flow and management of internal and external communication we know that our clients, our partners, and our staff are receiving the best possible experience. 

Caitlin is known for her bright spirit and collaborative leadership style in fostering teamwork and communication. She believes in building strong relationships with our internal and external stakeholders to ensure a harmonious working environment and successful project outcomes. Her attention to detail, organization, and ability to navigate complex challenges is why Caitlin will be a critical factor in EGT’s continued growth and success.

Dan Bennett.

Dan Bennett

Dan left his twelve-year career in the spring of 2022 as General Manager of one of the largest furniture retail locations in the country to take on this role as Director of Sales, Marketing, and Design for EGT. Dan’s extensive experience in managing sales, service, and operations ensures integrity and a customer-first commitment in all facets of project processing. As consistent, honest, and transparent messaging is vital to the Solar industry Dan has developed and implemented a rigorous training regimen for our sales and design consultants to effectively and accurately provide information to our clients and the Solar community in southern Idaho. Dan has undertaken the study and execution of all internal and external processes to better understand an ever-changing Solar market affected by innovation, legislation, utility-level policy, and financial targets of our consumers. Dan uses this continued education and research to provide our clients, staff, and the southern Idaho Solar community with information regarding new product offerings, proposed changes to policy, and potential effects of incoming legislation that gives our base a unique advantage in battling for-profit utilities and mitigating inflation whilst generating clean, green solar energy for themselves their families, employees and neighbors.

Dan is committed to the growth and development of EGT Solar and we are pleased to have his level of dedication and work ethic shine through in our education, sales, and marketing efforts now and for many years ahead.

Rob Black.

Rob Black

Rob started in the solar industry with EGT in 2015 and quickly became a huge asset to the team, leading the charge for revenue growth and providing education to our community; Rob was tasked with learning all facets of this industry and implementing core procedures into the daily operations of EGT Solar, including but not limited to internal processes from permitting, finance, design, and battery integration as well as sales management and project intake. Rob was promoted to Vice President in 2019 and was responsible for all internal operations while maintaining a robust sales portfolio. Shortly thereafter Rob married his wife, Adrienne in 2020. Adrienne has provided a solid foundation of support and understanding, allowing Rob to make the sacrifices an INC. 5000 company demands of its executive management and key revenue producers.

Rob’s financial background prior to joining the solar industry has been a remarkable benefit to our clients as he continually strives to keep the cost to install solar as inexpensive and fruitful as possible. EGT Solar would not be where we are today without Rob’s tremendous dedication and work ethic and we are pleased to have Rob take on the CEO position and lead this company and this industry in Southern Idaho towards the tremendous growth we are sure to see in years to come.

Bryan Lawley.

Bryan M. Lawley

Bryan founded EvenGreen Technology Inc. (DBA EGT Solar) in 2010 when alternative energy products had a very small market in southern Idaho; with a mere fifty-four (54) Solar installations in the state.  Bryan knew the latest changes in technology would allow for growth in demand. As his intuition became a reality and the market started quickly growing in 2013 Bryan made a commitment to his community and his staff that above all else, honesty and transparency in all facets is the mode of operation for this company. This foundational culture quickly lifted EGT to the top-rated solar company in Idaho and it is still in this position today.

Bryan, born and raised in southern Idaho, has a true commitment to the strength and longevity of the Idaho solar market. Bryan is proud to offer a truly local option for Idahoans and prioritizes giving back to local community charities each year. Because of how he chose to operate EGT Solar, Bryan was nominated Idaho CEO of the Year (2016) and again in 2018. He is truly committed to his employees and ensures that EGT is an unbeatable company to work for. EGT has 5-star ratings on all social media platforms and is BBB A+ accredited since 2015. EGT has been named a Top 500 Solar Contractor 2015-2022; one of the only single branch operations to carry this accolade and the only Idaho-based solar company. In the last two years, EGT Solar has been listed among the INC. 5000 fastest-growing companies nationwide and continues to grow to this day thanks to Bryan’s continued commitment to his employees and this community.