Solar Panels For Your Home

Solar Panels For Your Home

What’s the best way to get solar panels for your home? What important things do you need to consider (types of panels, high vs standard efficiency, finding a solar installer, how the systems work, rebates and incentives, etc).

Solar panels are an energy-efficient way to reduce standard power consumption at home which helps to dramatically cut households utility bills and carbon emissions. Installing solar panels is often quite a simple process and although the initial installation fee might be on the high side, the savings potential over the life-cycle of the panels is much appreciated.

The amount of power generated from a solar energy installation depends on the overall size of the system which is most often limit by the available free space on the roof and the amount of money you are willing to invest. Other factors such as roof structure, shading and orientation might also need considering when planning a solar installation. It is possible to generate almost 100% of a home’s energy requirements from solar panels, although in most cases, solar systems on residential properties are ‘Hybrids’, which means that part of the produced energy comes from the solar panels themselves and part from the utility companies. The larger the solar panel installation, the more power and clean energy is produced.

Schedule an appointment with a qualified solar installer to help with custom designing a solar energy system which should be based on your properties structural design and individual electricity needs. A residential installation varies from one or two days to a week or longer, which all depends on the complexity of the installation and size of the system. A professional solar installer is able to consult with you in order to establish your electricity savings goals and electricity needs. And from that initial consultation, a solar companies in-house engineer is often apply to supply a written proposal, which should detail the size and type of panels, location on roof, pricing, services included, and a financial analysis. With this type of detailed report to hand it is a lot easier to decide on the right set-up for your particular needs.

A standard-sized solar energy system (5kW) is often believed to generate savings in the region of $35000 to $40000 over the course of 25-years. A well-installed solar panel system is able to cut the cost of electricity bills for the life of the panels, which means that energy bills stay at a more stable and affordable rate for decades. And unlike many home improvement ventures, which often depreciate in value after a period of time, the solar panels are able to retain their value as electricity prices are only likely to increase in the future.

Remember to apply for the right permits, tax credits and rebates. It is often necessary to coordinated with the local power company and city authorities to establish which of the incentives are applicable to you. A solar installer can also help in this matter, and certain rebates can be applied direct to the cost of installing the photovoltaic (PV) equipment to help with lowering the out-of-pocket expenses.

Making a home energy-efficient now is a perfect way to hedge against future increases in utility rates. Even if you don’t intend to live in a property for the complete life-cycle of the solar panels, they are still a good investment, and can make a great selling point.