ETM Solar Works Inc
300 North St, Endicott, New York, United States

ETM Solar Works specializes in solar energy systems. When we were founded in 1988 by Dr. Gay Canough (current CEO), we actually started out doing aerospace consulting work! (That’s where the “ETM” in our name comes from – it stands for “Extraterrestrial Materials”.) Our main claim to fame in the space business was the conceptual design of the Lunar Prospector, a small robotic spacecraft that orbited the moon from 1988-1999 looking for water at the lunar poles. In 1993, we decided to start focusing on solar panels. Since then, we’ve installed over 2 megawatts of solar panels in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. That’s enough to power 2000 homes! More recently, we have branched out to do even more in terms of sustainability, including offering offering ductless heating and cooling, electric vehicle charging stations, battery storage solutions, and permeable pavement.

Take control. Go energy independent.

Whether you’re looking to take control of your electric bill, increase the value of your home, become energy independent, or just do something good for the environment, ETM Solar is here to help you go solar, every step of the way. We have been in business for over 30 years, and doing solar for almost as long. If you’re looking for a trusted, reliable family business that will be around for the life of your solar system and beyond, ETM Solar is the one for you. But don’t just take it from us – check out our customer testimonials and accreditations.  solar panels in a yard - Solar Electric We typically install “grid-tied” systems that have no batteries. These types of systems send electricity to your electricity-using devices (also known as “loads”) or to the grid (selling it back to the utility for use elsewhere). In most states, your utility is obligated to buy back the excess. Solar electricity will always power your loads first, before getting sent back to the utility, since that is the path of least resistance.  What does this mean? Well, basically, it means you can have solar electricity without the need for batteries. However, we do recommend batteries (or a generator) if you want to have electricity during power outages! If you have frequent power outages, battery backup is a good idea. If power outages aren’t as frequent for you, then it will be more cost-effective to get a generator instead, along with a pure grid-tied solar system.

Ductless Heating & Cooling

Modern ductless, mini-split air source heat pumps (ASHPs) run 2-3 times as efficiently as traditional ‘resistive’ electric heat. Simultaneously, they provide air conditioning using half the energy as traditional window or central air conditioning systems.  Best yet, instead of – by installing a solar electric system to power the electric consumption of the heat pumps, you effectively have a solar space heating system. Your solar array will generate credits in the summertime (when it is sunniest) which allow you to run the heat pumps in the wintertime (when it is coldest). Your system will effortlessly generate all the ‘fuel’ it ever needs from clean, abundant sunshine!

Eliminate runoff, recharge groundwater, & keep it cool.

Here in Binghamton, NY, we live in a valley at the intersection of 2 rivers. When it rains, all the water flows downhill to the rivers. This makes it imperative for us to pay attention to how the water gets to the rivers, reduce it, and slow it down.  Non-permeable surfaces, like traditional asphalt, send water off the pavement to elsewhere. Given all of the existing pavement we have, this means way too much run off, which aggravates flooding. It’s true that we have to live with flooding, being as close to rivers as we are. However, there are ways we can reduce its impact.  Permeable pavement helps water get into the soil. If more water is absorbed in the soil, then less water gets to the rivers, and the water that does get to the rivers will get there more slowly. Since we live in this flood-prone area, permeable pavement is all the more important to us – especially given the fact that the frequency of flooding is increasing!  But, it’s not just about the “big-picture” environmental benefits. Permeable pavement requires much less maintenance than asphalt, will not crack like concrete, and stays flat over time. It’s also much less likely to become icy in the winter, because snow melts right through it. And yes, it can be easily plowed just like any other pavement. It can be installed with gravel or grass, and the install cost is about the same as concrete for a driveway!