Every SBZSolar project starts with rigorous engineering — not a sales pitch. We model production, analyze shading, design electrical systems, and prepare complete permit packages before a single panel is ordered. Accurate engineering means your system performs as designed, every day, for 25 years.
From the first site visit to the final utility approval, our engineering team manages every technical dimension of your solar project with precision and professional accountability.
A thorough evaluation of your property, including roof geometry, available mounting area, compass orientation, pitch angles, and any physical obstructions that may affect panel placement or system performance. Site data is collected with precision instruments and drone imaging to ensure our layout reflects actual field conditions rather than satellite map estimates.
Hour-by-hour shading analysis throughout all seasons using solar pathfinder data and 3D modeling tools. We identify which trees, chimneys, dormers, and neighboring structures cast shade on your array at different times of day and year — and optimize panel placement and inverter selection to maximize annual energy production despite any shading constraints.
Detailed annual energy production modeling using PVsyst — the industry-standard simulation software used by engineers worldwide. We input your site's GPS coordinates, roof geometry, shading data, equipment specifications, and local historical irradiance data to produce a month-by-month production estimate that reflects what your system will actually generate under real Pittsburgh weather conditions.
Complete electrical system design using AutoCAD, including string sizing, inverter selection and placement, AC/DC disconnect locations, conduit routing, grounding design, and interconnection point to your existing electrical panel. Our electrical drawings meet NEC code requirements and are stamped by a licensed electrical engineer when required by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Engineering assessment of your roof structure to confirm it can safely support the additional dead load of solar panels, mounting hardware, and snow accumulation. We evaluate rafter size, spacing, and span — and design a mounting layout that distributes load properly across rafters, ensuring long-term structural integrity without modifying your roof framing.
Preparation of a complete permit package including site plans, system diagrams, electrical schematics, structural calculations, and equipment specification sheets — formatted to meet the specific requirements of your municipality. We submit directly to the Authority Having Jurisdiction and manage the review process through to permit issuance, so you never have to navigate the permit office yourself.
Complete management of the utility interconnection application process with your local distribution utility — whether Duquesne Light, West Penn Power, or another regional provider. We prepare and submit all required interconnection documents, coordinate the utility's technical review, and track the application through to approval and Permission to Operate — ensuring your system can legally and safely export power to the grid.
Many solar companies provide proposals based on satellite imagery, standard assumptions, and quick sizing tools. The result is a system that may be over- or undersized, installed on a structurally inappropriate mount, or configured in a way that does not account for your site's actual shading conditions.
SBZSolar's engineering-first approach means every proposal is backed by real data — your site, your shading, your load profile, your roof structure. The outcome is a system you can trust to produce what we promised, year after year.
We use the same software and tools deployed by commercial solar developers and engineering firms — applied to every residential and commercial project we take on, regardless of system size.
PVsyst is the world's leading solar energy simulation software, trusted by engineers, utilities, and developers globally. We use PVsyst to model hour-by-hour production across an entire year, accounting for panel degradation, inverter efficiency curves, temperature coefficients, irradiance data, and site-specific shading — delivering a production estimate accurate to within a few percent of real-world performance.
All electrical system designs are drafted in AutoCAD, ensuring the precision and readability required by building departments, utilities, and inspectors. Our drawings include complete single-line diagrams, three-line diagrams for larger commercial systems, panel schedules, site plans with equipment locations, and all labeling required by NEC Article 690 and local amendments.
We deploy drones for aerial site surveys, capturing high-resolution imagery and measurement data of roofs, ground-mount areas, and surrounding terrain. Drone data feeds directly into our shading analysis and structural evaluation workflows, replacing guesswork with precise measurements — particularly valuable for complex rooflines, multi-building sites, and commercial-scale installations.
The difference between a generic solar proposal and an engineered solar proposal shows up in real performance data, project outcomes, and long-term financial results.
An oversize system wastes capital. An undersized system leaves money on the table. Engineering-correct sizing means your system produces what you need, qualifies for the right incentives, and delivers the projected payback period — without surprises in year two or year five.
A permit rejection or revision cycle adds weeks to your project timeline and erodes trust. Our permit packages are prepared by engineers who know exactly what Pittsburgh-area building departments require — and we do not submit until we are confident the package will be approved on first review.
Before committing to any solar investment, you deserve a clear, data-backed picture of how a system will perform and what it will return financially. Our engineering team uses advanced simulation tools to model your building's energy dynamics and forecast solar output with industry-leading accuracy.
A comprehensive simulation of your building's energy consumption — modeling heating and cooling loads, internal heat gains, occupancy patterns, and equipment usage across all seasons. This baseline tells us exactly how much energy your property needs before we design a solar system to offset it, ensuring accurate sizing from the start.
Site-specific production modeling using historical Pittsburgh irradiance data, roof geometry, panel orientation, tilt angles, and confirmed shading obstacles. We generate a month-by-month production forecast showing expected energy output across all four seasons — so you know exactly what to expect from your system throughout the year, not just on a sunny day in July.
Detailed mapping of your energy consumption patterns — identifying peak demand windows, off-peak usage, and opportunities to shift loads for maximum solar self-consumption. Load profile analysis is essential for sizing battery storage correctly and for understanding how time-of-use utility rates affect your solar ROI under different system configurations.
A complete financial model for your solar investment — projecting annual savings, cumulative returns, payback period, net present value, and internal rate of return over 25 years. We factor in your current utility rate, Pennsylvania's average 3% annual rate escalator, the 30% federal Investment Tax Credit, and any available PA state incentives to produce a realistic picture of your financial return.
Energy modeling is valuable for any property owner making a significant energy investment — from homeowners evaluating solar for the first time, to commercial operators planning large-scale installations, to builders and architects designing new construction to meet energy performance targets.
Get a proposal backed by real engineering data — PVsyst production modeling, AutoCAD electrical drawings, structural analysis, and a complete permit package. No guesswork. No inflated estimates. Just engineering you can build on.
