Home solar power might seem like such a major decision, you might not know what questions to ask when just starting out. Every solar panel installation is a unique project with a different design, price, and performance needs. Even if you know how solar works, or this isn&#;t your first time with a home solar panel system, you might have a lot of questions. Going solar means committing to a product with a 25-year or longer lifespan. You&#;re right to want confidence before making any type of commitment.
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To achieve the best possible experience when you go solar, let&#;s play a game of 20 questions that you can ask at your next solar consultation.
One of the most common questions solar companies are asked is, &#;What type of panels do you install?&#;
Although having premium panels is certainly a critical aspect of going solar, it&#;s not so important to get hung up on any specific brands or wattages. Product developments and supply chain factors mean most companies vary the exact panels they sell and install over time.
So long as your installer can promise solar panels 350 watts or higher, with efficiencies of about 20% or more, you can know your home solar system will be made up of premium residential equipment.
Asking your installer about available incentives is important to maximizing the value of your investment. Whether or not you qualify for the federal solar tax credit and other local solar incentives may significantly impact the return on investment of your energy system.
Around the country, solar incentives vary greatly by state and region, with some cities, counties, and utilities offering their own programs, tax credits, tax exemptions, rebates, and more.
In recent years, some solar companies have gone out of business Working with an established, experienced solar company could help you avoid picking a company that&#;s going to go out of business.
A company able to answer all your questions in a helpful way without putting pressure on you is a sign of a partner you&#;ll be able to work with and depend on for a long time.
Before you sign a contract, understanding its details is an absolute must. In the early stages of your home solar project, consider whether you will buy or lease a solar system based on your personal preferences, financial goals, and available options.
Buying means the system is your property and, in most cases, you will experience more significant monthly savings right after installation. A lease or power purchase agreement, such as Palmetto&#;s LightReach Energy Plan, will give you solar power from a home system with no upfront cost and manageable monthly payments.
Unless you&#;re able to pay for your panels upfront or are leasing them, you may need to finance your through a loan. While you are always welcome to explore your own financing options, many reputable solar installers will bring their own programs into the conversation.
By working with a company with multiple financing options, you are more likely to find a solar loan structured to fit into your budget that can unlock your long-term savings on electricity.
You will likely have multiple solar warranties (product, performance, installation) associated with your energy system.
Before signing on the dotted line, talk to your installer about exactly what each of these warranties covers, how long the coverage periods are, and if you can extend the policies during the lifetime of your solar panels.
Along with warranty coverage, you should talk to your installer about the likelihood of system damage and what repair or maintenance procedures will be, even if solar panel maintenance is typically infrequent.
If you&#;re covered by a maintenance and monitoring plan, your installer will have a dedicated customer service team that can field your request and repair the part as soon as possible, ensuring your system will be back up and running without excessive time offline.
There are many reasons why your energy demand may increase after installing solar panels, like purchasing an electric vehicle or growing your family. If you anticipate you may want to expand your solar energy system in the future, talk to your installer about this possibility and what an upgrade may look like.
Depending on system setup and available space, it may be a better idea to oversize your system initially rather than add panels later. Or, your installer may make expanding easier by designing a microinverter-based solar system.
Any salesperson can throw out an empty promise, but a company that sets an installation timeline (and has the past projects to prove it) is more likely to deliver a good end result. When talking to your solar installer, ask them about the anticipated installation schedule.
Although they may not be able to tell you a precise interconnection date during your initial conversation, reputable companies should be able to provide a breakdown of your solar installation timeline, including permitting, equipment delivery, and actual construction.
If your installer has a referral program, it&#;s a strong sign they are used to delivering good customer experiences. As the best advocates for any company are its customers, many solar companies will compensate those who refer new business in bill credits or cash.
If a solar contractor gives you a price and doesn&#;t explain how they arrived at that number, it&#;s a red flag you may not be getting the best deal possible. Although the average cost of solar panels varies across the country, the total price of any solar energy system can be broken down into hard and soft costs, including expenses associated with hardware, permitting, labor, and business overhead.
There are advantages and disadvantages to string inverters and micro-inverters. As every home solar project is different, talking to your installer about how each technology relates to your unique property can help you maximize your system performance and return on investment.
If you purchase or finance your solar energy system with a reputable solar installer, they should be able to forecast an approximate break-even point at which your system will have &#;paid for itself&#; in savings.
In general, solar panel payback periods average somewhere between 7-10 years, depending on your location, the size of your system, and many other factors. A solar installer should be able to break down the expected performance of your system as it relates to the price of electricity in your area over time.
Honest installers will tell you that you still pay an electric bill once the panels are up and producing electricity. Although some advertisements may stretch the truth to say that your panels will completely wipe out utility costs, in reality, your electricity bills after going solar will still exist, but should be lower (especially with net metering).
Ask your installer about utility company service charges or fees that will still need to be paid. In most cases, you will be billed for utility transmission and grid upkeep. The seasonality of your solar power production may also impact your monthly electric bills.
Today, most solar panels are installed with smart components that report system performance directly to a digital landing page. The Palmetto App, for example, allows you to track your solar panel performance alongside your electricity consumption (with a supported meter).
Even though it may be 20-30 years or more into the future, asking your installer about the end of your system's lifespan can help you avoid unwanted surprises later on.
Solar companies that plan to be around for decades are sure to have an answer for you when you ask about the decommissioning process. Critically, the end of your contract may differ if you are buying or leasing your system.
If you are a senior or a member of the armed forces, you may be eligible for discounts with some solar installers. At the same time, some companies don&#;t provide point-of-sale discounts for customers and instead try to deliver the lowest prices possible to all customers.
Going solar can be a great time to also electrify your home with a heat pump or other efficient, electric appliances, install an EV charger, add battery storage, or replace your roof. Combining projects could save you time and money, especially if you use the same company, and let you stretch your solar electricity farther.
When weighing your solar options, you should feel free to open up the discussion and allow installers to explain exactly why they deserve the job. Although any company hoping to stay in business will inform you they are the best option, few installers have the tools, resources, and reputation to show it. A professional solar expert should want to give you all the info you need rather than stick to a sales pitch and make you feel forced into a decision.
In a high-pressure sales scenario, you may start to feel a solar installation company is pushing you to sign a contract right there, right now. If you feel rushed, asking for some time to make your decision will quickly show whether or not the company is acting in your best interest or is simply out to get your money.
Occasionally impending policy changes mean you need to rush, but even with those caveats, a reputable company should be happy to do follow-up calls and help you feel confident in your choice.
The right solar company should answer all your questions and concerns today and seem like a partner you&#;ll want to work with for 25 years or longer. Before, during, and after installation, is the solar installer listening to you and your needs? Or pressuring you into a specific plan, design, product, or deadline?
Your new home solar power system should deliver savings and reliable, clean, and renewable energy. It should be easy to understand and operate without extra work or stress.
Interested in seeing what it's like going solar with Palmetto? Or still have questions about solar in general? Get started today by finding out how much you can save with solar or contact a Palmetto solar expert.
How do you prepare for a solar installation?
Before you go solar, get to know your energy usage and current utility bills. You can check your property&#;s suitability for solar, including your roof&#;s health and shading, and confirm that tax credits, net metering, and other incentives apply to you.
How do you find a good solar installer?
It&#;s ok to interview and ask many, and even tough, questions of a solar installer before committing to a major project, a substantial amount of money, and years of working together. You are looking for a person or company that&#;s knowledgeable, experienced, professional, and helpful.
Can solar panels really save you money?
Millions of homes in the US are saving money with home solar panels. While solar panels aren&#;t a fit for every home, they can lower energy bills and generate long-term savings. A reputable solar company will be able to explain the savings potential of solar at your home, including when it&#;s too small to be worth it.
About the AuthorAndrew GiermakWriter and EditorAndrew joined Palmetto in Charlotte in August . He&#;s been a writer in journalism, then in business, going back to almost the 20th century. He&#;s lived in Indiana, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia again, and now North Carolina for the last 12 years. He likes golf. Is he good at it? Not so much.
If you have been considering installing a solar roof, there is plenty of good news for you. It was a little under a decade ago, when U.S. Statesman Ken Salazar cheekily proclaimed, &#;I think the future of solar energy is bright&#;. His words have turned out to be astonishingly prophetic, not just for the United States, but all around the globe.
By the end of , global cumulative installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity reached about 512 gigawatts (GW), and global PV installations for the year reached about 121 GW. These are massive figures by any standard, and the numbers only continue to rise exponentially every year. Here, countries like China, the U.S., and India continue to lead the pack, as they deploy systems to generate solar power, not just for residential and commercial buildings, but also for widespread solar farms, using distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. These are large enough to power state-wide landscapes.
For the future, experts proclaim that these impressive numbers will more than double over the next four years, to a whopping 700+ gigawatts of solar power, as more countries commit to making the most of clean, renewable sources of energy. In fact, they even predict that solar PV and wind power will account for 70% of the total global power expansion projected over the next five years, with a large chunk coming from distributed solar PV.
The scenario is even more upbeat in the United States, as generation of solar power continues to enjoy incentives, sponsored by both the federal government and various state governments. Coupled with lowering solar roof installation costs, both residential property owners and commercial business owners are increasingly tempted to switch to solar power for their basic energy requirements. The solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) first introduced in , and Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) goals of individual U.S. States, are particularly noteworthy in this regard.
Here is a quick summary of how solar power deployment has transformed in the U.S. in the past few years.
The solar boom is not just about energy.
In summary, the industry expects to see another surge of solar power deployments over the next 2 years. This is more so across residential buildings, as the federal government gently tapers off tax credits by . But of course, this can only mean that state governments will then take on the sole responsibility of providing incentives, in order to keep their residents happy and aligned to solar power.
Note: If you live in the state of California, you may no longer have a choice about including solar energy to power your building. This year, California becomes the first U.S. state to mandate solar power as a source of energy. As per this, all new buildings under 3 stories tall will need to include a solar PV system to generate solar energy to power their building.
The mandate became effective as of 1st January . Experts consider this a path-breaking development in the U.S. renewable energy landscape, as more states are soon expected to follow suit.
If you own a residential property in the U.S., there are several reasons you should consider investing in solar-powered energy.
At present, residential property owners have 2 choices to go the solar route with their homes.
Here, solar power roofs continue to remain the popular choice, largely due to their higher efficiency in generating solar energy. They are also considered more versatile in terms of installation and aesthetic dynamics, and thus garner easy finance options to lower the burden of initial installation and solar roof cost. Basically, solar panels installed on the ground need to be connected to the grid, making them redundant if you are planning to stay off the grid.
For all these reasons, the rest of this primer will focus solely on solar roof options to make the most of solar power in residential buildings.
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This may be shocking to some, but not all roofs are suitable for solar. For instance, if you live in a gated community, its housing development society may have its own rules and regulations, including limitations contributing to the aesthetics of the roof. Also, if an integrated solar roof is a possibility for your residence, there may still be limitations on the number of panels you are allowed to install on your roof. Similar constraints may apply if you rent/lease (and not own) your residence.
In the absence of these limitations, here are other key factors that will determine the type of solar roof technology best suited for your roof.
Despite all the benefits provided by a solar roof installation (including higher energy efficiency and lower energy bills), there is no denying the financial setback posed by the initial installation cost. (However, these can be addressed by various finance options with no upfront cost to you.) Based on present industry dynamics, experts claim that this cost is offset over a period of 2&#;5 years. Furthermore, it may take (at least) a similar amount of time for you to completely offset the cost of the solar roof (panels, tiles or photovoltaic shingles).
For this to be economically viable for your residence based on your energy requirements, you should have a monthly energy bill upwards of $70&#;$75 in order to get financial savings from a solar roof installation.
The type and material of your roof can directly impact the type of roofing and solar technology you use. For instance, solar panels are best suited to strong roofing materials (such as cement, asphalt) with an even surface in order to efficiently generate solar energy. Or else, you may want to consider Tesla roof shingles or solar roof tiles.
The geography of your location and its local climate will determine the amount of sunlight you receive around the year. In turn, this will directly impact the number of solar roof panels you require in order to comfortably meet your monthly energy requirements.
The design and elevation of your roof, combined with its surrounding topography, will impact the amount of shade you receive during the day. For instance, the right side of your roof may be close to an empty street with tall trees, thus receiving more shade than other portions of the roof. Accordingly, certified solar energy contractors can determine the best design for your solar power roof. They can also increase the amount of sunlight received by altering the angle at which each solar panel is installed on your roof.
Based on the age and condition of your roof, if you foresee a roof replacement in the short term (like 5&#;10 years), it may be more financially viable to take this up along with your solar roof installation. For instance, high-quality solar roof tiles can have a lifespan of up to 40 years. Hence if you hold off on re-roofing after solar roof installation, there is a possibility for the panels to be damaged when the actual re-roofing happens in the future.
Another possibility is to use solar roof PV technology&#;like Tesla solar roof shingles&#;as your primary roofing material. This will further reduce the total cost (re-roofing + solar roof installation).
The capacity of a solar roof is determined by:
This is often the primary determining factor to impact the amount of solar energy you can generate through your solar roof system. How much are you willing to spend upfront, either through cash or through finance options, on a solar roof system (installation + solar roof cost included)?
Here, keep in mind that there are 2 types of tax rebates offered by the government, to lower this burden.
At present, this is at 26% of your total installation cost (available until ), for new buildings/installations, and can be availed as a deduction in your income tax over a 2-year period.
Again, this is not a cash credit and varies across US states. Here, REC goals are state-specific, and determine the amount of energy to be generated/imported/exported by the state for the yearly period. Based on the situation every year, your state may choose to offer renewable energy incentives to residents, in the form of additional tax credits or rebates on your electricity bill (based on the total solar energy you generate).
Finally, there is also the possibility of &#;selling&#; extra (unused) solar energy generated by your roof to your electric company on a monthly basis, provided you are connected to the grid and have net metering enabled. In this case, the electric company may again choose to &#;pay&#; for this energy, either through cash or through a specified wattage or electric energy you can use when there is no solar energy available. This too can be used to offset your initial set up cost, over a period of time.
The monthly savings you expect and your total solar roofing capacity have a direct relation with each other. Depending on which item you choose to keep constant, the other item can be accordingly altered.
In fact, certified solar roof contractors can even provide a yearly projection of the savings you can expect, along with expected cost, spanning the entire duration of the solar roof material&#;s lifetime. Make sure to ask for this along with the initial quote, as this can be a key determining factor in your choice of roofing technology/contractor.
If you are installing a solar roof on top of an existing building/roof, then a portion of your roof may be sufficient to generate the monthly savings you expect. This is particularly useful for solar roof panels, or even solar roof tiles/Tesla solar shingles (when used as secondary roofing material). In this case, a proficient contractor can help determine the premium area in your roof (based on the amount of sunlight/shade received during the day), in order to generate maximum savings for minimum cost.
On the other hand, if you are installing a solar roof as part of new construction or a re-roofing project, then you have the option of using solar tiles/best solar shingles as the primary roofing material. In this case, the entire roof will be able to generate solar energy. (There may be variation among the solar energy generated by individual tiles/shingles, based on their placement on the roof.) The total cost of re-roofing + solar roof installation can be offset with this choice.
At present, there are 3 solar PV technologies available for a solar roof system.
Solar roof panels remain the most popular, simply because of their higher efficiency in generating solar energy from sunlight. They come in dark-blue/black color choices, intentionally designed to absorb the maximum amount of sunlight. They can be installed on an existing roof (or even on the ground, like a terrace), using mounting and racking systems.
While newer technologies attempt to mount/rack them as close to the roof as possible, they are considered less aesthetically appealing than other options. On top of this, they can also be installed on a part of your roof that receives the maximum sunlight during the day, in order to reduce costs without impacting efficiency.
Pros of solar roof panels:
Cons of solar roof panels:
Solar roof tiles are individual solar tiles, that can either be used as primary roofing material, or installed over an existing roof. In this sense, they are more versatile, as they also double up as a roof.
Pros of solar roof tiles:
Cons of solar tiles:
Solar roof shingles are similar to solar roof tiles, in terms of their installation as part or full roof. However, they are sleeker in design, as they are an evolved technology. In fact, Tesla roof shingles&#;also known as Tesla solar roof&#;was introduced by Elon Musk&#;s company in , and may soon turn out to be the most popular among the three. Although it has limited installations as of date, is touted to be a pathbreaker in roofing and solar projects for the future.
SEE ALSO: Solar Shingles: Make Your Roof Solar-Powered (5 Brands)
Pros of solar roof shingles:
Cons of solar shingles:
The cost for a solar roof depends on the total wattage required for your monthly energy needs and is hence reflected as dollar per watt ($/watt). Based on your budget, you may choose to generate your entire energy through solar power, or use it to offset a portion of your monthly utility bill. Either way, the three technologies (panels/shingles/tiles) are fairly competitive in terms of dollar per watt pricing. Here is an example for solar roof installation in the U.S..
A small solar roof system can generate 4 kilowatts of power, and costs about $15,000/-. This is typically enough to power a small house (less than 900 square feet in size). A larger system, generating double that wattage can cost $29,000/- and able to power a 2,000 square feet home. The average household system will fall somewhere in between the two (needing 6 kilowatts of solar power generation).
When you break down the total solar roof cost, it will come down as follows:
The cost of the equipment will differ based on the type and size of the equipment. Here are some notes.
In comparison, a premium Tesla solar roof for the average 6-kilowatt household can cost up to $44,000/-. This may seem superlatively expensive on its own. But if you consider the cost of roofing (up to $60,000/-) + solar, it suddenly appears temptingly economical!
The sunny (pun intended) news is that there are several financing options to consider, so you do not have to shell out cash upfront. This includes:
You may be surprised, but the first step in installing a solar roof begins not with a contractor, but with YOU! Yes, you will first need to understand the energy requirements of your house, before you even make the first call. Here are the steps to get your solar roofing project completed, quickly, and easily.
A solar calculator can be easily downloaded online, and a good one will link you to at least a couple of local, accredited contractors to take on the job. Here, Google is indeed your best bet, since it will scout for solar calculators sponsored by certified contractors within your geographical location.
The solar calculator will help you understand your monthly energy requirements&#;including the typical number of electrical equipment connected in your house (such as microwave, fridge, lighting equipment, etc.)&#;and thus calculate the total wattage you will require to power your house on a daily basis. A smart solar calculator may even list out the total number of solar panels you will need on your roof, in order to meet your daily wattage requirements. A magnificent solar calculator will lead you to at least one certified contractor within driving distance of your house.
Here, consider using the rule of 3 to scout out the very best. Work with 2&#;3 solar calculators (as may consider different options), to find at least 3 competitive contractors within your community.
Once you have a better understanding of your energy requirements, prepare to call the solar contractor. He or she will want to know more about the following, before they schedule the first visit to your house.
In turn, make sure you find out more about the following, so you have some ideas of your total expenses/output.
This step is usually covered over the / .
At this point, you might have already zeroed in on a contractor. Accordingly, he or she makes the first visit to ascertain the state of your roof, your electrical panel and wiring, and thus determine the best roofing option for you. At this point, you may also require an additional visit from a building inspector to sign off that your existing building is up to quote, and solar roof installation can begin. In some cases, the solar contractor/installer may have his or her own engineer to address this.
What you can expect from this:
This is where the certified solar contractor comes up with the final solar panel design. This includes:
The permit process can take anywhere from a couple of days, to a couple of months. During this time, your contractor can also choose to order any material, depending on how confident he is of obtaining the permit. Once these are complete, the roof is ready for final installation. This can take 1&#;3 days, and includes roof preparation, re-wiring, and upgrade or electrical (as required), installation, and final connection to the power panel.
The installation may indeed be over, but you still need a city-certified engineer to connect your solar roof to the grid. Unless you are living completely off the grid, your solar panels can be useful only when they are connected to the grid. For this, the engineer will complete a final safety and code inspection, before flipping the switch that connects you, finally, to the local power grid.
Again, the time for this process is variable (1 week to 3 months) based on your state.
Hurray, as you are finally done with the successful installation of your brand new, cost-saving solar roof! You may want to partner with your contractor for up to a year, so they make monthly/bi-monthly to check the efficiency of your solar roof. This will ensure that you are indeed getting the monthly savings you expect and deserve, as they take care of any tweaks to ensure the same. Congratulations!
Solar roof panels are more economical than panels installed on the ground, since they will most likely receive more sunlight on top (unhindered by trees). In addition, they can also work off the grid, which is uncommon for solar panels installed on the ground. Finally, if you are considering new construction or a re-roofing project, installation of solar tiles/solar shingles can reduce the total cost of a reroofing + solar project. So basically, solar roofs are preferred over solar panels on the ground, since they also take up less space apart from the actual building.
With evolving technology, almost any roof is suitable for solar, barring any constraints laid upon by your building/community. It is a question of which solar technology suits your building best, and not if solar technology suits.
Yes. You can install all 3 types&#;panels, tiles, and shingles on an existing roof. For a new roof, you may want to lower costs by choosing solar tiles/ shingles as your primary roofing material. This is a bonus!
Not if they are installed properly, by a certified contractor. Also, solar panels are installed at a distance above the roof, in order to avoid scratching and gain maximum sunlight. Moreover, they can be cleaned easily, further protecting your actual roof.
Yes, provided there is daylight. In fact, you will find a significant number of solar roof installations working mighty effectively in Seattle&#;the rainiest city in the U.S.!
In closing, the best time to invest in solar roof power is NOW, especially considering that federal rebates are likely to go away in the next two years. Also, we are at a time where solar technology has been tested, and is therefore a stable yet constantly evolving science.
With the U.S. government&#;s increasing commitment to generation of energy through renewable sources&#;at individual state level if not at the federal level&#;home owners can be assured of government-sponsored rebates and incentives to offset initial costs and make long-term solar power a financially tempting option.
All in all, Ken Salazar was right because the future of solar energy in the U.S. continues to be exceptionally bright!