Community solar can allow all households and businesses to access the benefits of … Contact online >>
Community solar can allow all households and businesses to access the benefits of
Before deciding on the best way to use solar electricity at home, assess the
Learn how to assess your home''s solar potential, options, and needs for going solar. Find resources, tools, and tips for choosing and installing a solar system that suit
Is solar technology a good fit for the 21st century homeowner? Here''s an overview of traditional and DIY solar options.
It’s no secret that solar power and other renewable resources have seen a spike in interest, as consumers begin to embrace the technology and local and national governments incentivize its growth.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the total capacity of residential installations in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2016, while the average installation price per watt has decreased 27 percent in that same period.
If solar is on your radar but you’ve got questions about whether to take the plunge, read on for an overview of solar technology and whether it’s a sustainable strategy for the modern homeowner. You can also visit findsolar to find out if solar power makes financial sense in your individual situation.
It seems like every year brings new technological or environmental changes that accelerate the acceptance of residential solar energy. Industry experts such as Jeff Barnes of Modernize Home Services have witnessed a seismic shift in the industry.
Today, Barnes says, customers opting into solar have reasons “Ranging from ‘It’s the right thing to do,’ to ‘I want to get off the grid,’ or ‘I want to save money.’ ” The majority are drawn by these benefits in particular:
While there is a carbon cost in producing solar panels, renewable energy is the most environmentally friendly way to power your home. And if your utility company has the capability, you can even contribute to the grid, reducing your community’s use of fossil fuels.
Properly sized and installed solar technology will pay for itself over time. Exactly how long depends on factors like what you pay for electricity, available green energy incentives, and the duration and intensity of sunshine throughout the year. Most residential solar installations after the initial cost pay for themselves over several years and become a net gain after that.
A solar array can potentially provide critical functions such as refrigeration during blackouts, much in the same way a gas-powered generator can. But generators are expensive. The recent improvements in battery technology mean that your solar array can keep your power on all day and into the night. In fact, solar power helped Babcock Ranch—a town in Florida—experience minimal damage during Hurricane Ian.
Clearly, properties with more sun exposure and more room for panels will benefit more from solar, and the return on investment will vary by purchase price and utility savings. But you may be surprised to learn that three of the top 10 solar-producing states are in the Northeast — New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York).
We’ll look at this element in more depth below, but it’s worth mentioning that some cities and states have additional incentives to encourage homeowners to adopt solar technology.
The higher the local energy prices, the more dramatic the savings from solar panels. A solar system will pay for itself far faster in an area with cloudy skies and high prices than in an area with sunny weather and low energy prices.
The other local policy that has a big impact on solar systems is net metering. With this technology, when a home has excess energy from solar panels, it can feed that excess back into the local power grid. The utility will actually pay the homeowner for consumed power. So excess energy isn’t wasted, and your investment will pay for itself faster.
If you don’t have net metering in your local market, consider investing in battery storage to provide backup coverage. “Batteries are becoming more and more sophisticated,” says Barnes.
It’s perfectly reasonable to wonder if a solar system on a residential roof can be truly energy efficient. The answer ultimately depends on your goals.
If you want to be completely off-grid, you’ll need a robust solar system in place. But if you simply want to supplement your energy consumption and reduce your electric bill, even a modest solar solution should work.
When determining if solar can be an effective option for your home, be sure to factor in any incentive plans offered by the government and utility companies. Normally offered as tax rebates or equipment subsidies, these programs can make a real difference in your budget.
Besides the federal incentives, many states and municipalities offer additional incentives. Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency for programs that apply to you.
Local utility providers also have a strong motivation for encouraging homeowners to adapt solar power. Every home that embraces solar means less strain on the local utility grid, and that makes life easier for the utility providers. Many utilities offer buyback programs, rebates and education to bring more homeowners into the solar fold.
Mint Images/ Tim Pannell/Getty Images
Simple solar panel installation is surprisingly straightforward. Depending on your local regulations, a licensed electrician may be required to make the connection between the panel array and your home. Tying into the grid is generally best left to an electrician anyway.
And yet, DIY models are extremely user-friendly. While you will likely want at least one assistant, it doesn’t take a huge crew to do most home solar installations.
The exact cost of a solar installation will depend on the location, the panels, the slope of your roof, your existing roofing material and whether you’re using batteries or tying into the grid,
For an average 2,000-square-foot home with typical electrical usage, expect to pay $7,000 to $10,000 for panels. Installation will likely cost another $6,000 to $10,000, depending on the roof height, material and slope. If your installation is on the ground, the labor cost should drop significantly, though the materials costs may rise.
When planning a solar install, always take your roof into consideration. If it’s almost time to replace your roof, do it before installing the panels. Also check what impact the panel installation may have on your roof warranty. “You are likely altering the warranty of the shingles on your roof,” Barnes says.
Having the panels professionally installed may keep the warranty intact. Or you can replace it with the solar panel warranty.
Solar systems have little ongoing/maintenance costs. Plan on an annual inspection of the panels, much like the annual inspection of your roof and gutters. Look for evidence of damage from animal nests or falling debris, or any loose wiring.
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