Solar power is a sustainable energy alternative, but it isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking to install solar panels on your home, there are a few questions you should know the answers to before you talk to a contractor.
Here’s what you need to know before converting your home to solar so that you can tell whether solar energy is right for you and your home.
Is your home a good fit for solar power?
A few qualifiers make a home a good candidate for solar power. From a standpoint of immediate savings, your area should have a high solar energy bill, as homes that don’t use a lot of power or that don’t have high energy bills won’t see big returns on their investments. Also, if shade covers a lot of your roof for most of the day or if you don’t have a south-facing window, solar power may not be the right option for you. Too much shade won’t allow your panels to gather enough energy, and if your panels aren’t on a south-facing roof, you’ll need to purchase more solar panels to garner enough power.
What will you do in case of a power outage?
In some areas, regulations don’t allow the use of solar panels when a power grid is down. In this case, you’ll need to turn to an alternative form of energy or forget panels altogether. However, if your power grid does allow solar usage during outages, you’ll need to cross-reference how much power you’ll need with how much power your panels can produce and store. But if you can’t decide whether to use a generator or solar system, there are hybrid options.
Can you afford solar panels?
There are ownership packages that offer cash or loan financing and leasing deals, but with these options, you don’t own the panels yourself, and you’ll need to call the solar company that installed your panels instead of a utility company. In addition, a solar panel system that completely takes care of your solar needs will cost around $20,000 dollars on average. As we stated, the value of your solar investment depends on how much you’re currently paying for electricity. Most solar companies will give you an estimate based on your previous electricity bills, but you don’t have to install solar panels that take care of all your energy needs. But once again, the pricing will depend on how much you currently pay, how much power your solar panels will generate, and how much energy you need.
Now that you’re more confident in what you need to know before converting your home to solar, you can shop without worry. Get a quote from your local solar contractor today and see if solar conversion is the right option for you.
