Solar Power For The Home: Benefits
A significant benefit to PV installation is a lower energy bill, but the magnitude of this benefit depends on the amount of solar energy that can be produced given the available conditions and the way in which utilities charge for electricity.
The first consideration is the solar irradiation levels available in the home’s geographical location. When it comes to using solar panels, being closer to the equator is generally better, but other factors must be considered. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory produces maps for the U.S. showing solar irradiation levels the tools on its website provide detailed solar information for specific locations within the U.S.
Similar maps and data are available in other countries as well, often from government environmental agencies or renewable energy organizations. Equally important is the home’s orientation for rooftop arrays, a south-facing roof without trees or other objects obstructing sunlight maximizes the available solar energy. If this is not available, panels can be mounted on external supports and installed away from the house, incurring additional costs for the extra hardware and cables.
The final benefit is the potential effect on a home’s value due to the addition of a solar array. In general, it is reasonable to assume that solar panels would raise the value of most homes.
The Question Of Warranty
Many buyers will also want to know about the warranty on the solar package, especially if theyre not incredibly thrilled to be stuck with solar in the first place. Zaragoza mentions that you should always ask your solar provider what will happen to your warranty if you decide to sell the home. Knowing that you can transfer the warranty to new owners offers them a big peace of mind, and if this isnt possible, then this might be a reason to reconsider the purchase or lease agreement.
How Much Does It Cost To Add Solar Panels To Your Home
Depending on the efficiency of your panels and where you live, just the money saved while using solar energy can offset the cost of installation. Not to mention the additional value earned with the added value to your home.
At 365 Solar Energy, you have financing options for solar panel installation. We also have different packages to choose from, such as:
Contact us today to learn more about our different packages and financing options to choose which fits your needs best.
Theres a reason we have a 5-star rating on Home Advisor: we make the process stress-free and simple for you. Not only will your wallet and home enjoy your new addition, but you can rest assured that your panels will be installed properly. Our professionals will keep communication clear and do the work for you, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your new solar energy system.
Don’t Miss: Are Solar Panels Worth It In Oregon
Are You Considering Solar Pv
Whether your home is suitable is the first thing to determine if you’re considering installing solar PV. You’ll need a mainly south-facing roof with little or no shade. A roof that faces southwest or southeast is also usually fine, but you may get less power from the system – so would save less on your electricity bill.
How much energy you could produce, and how much money you can make depends on:
- the tilt of your roof angle and its orientation
- where you live: south west England gets more sun than the north, for example
- the size of your system
- the FIT rate you can get .
Solar panels will reduce the amount of electricity you use from the grid, help lower your electricity bills and reduce your carbon footprint. If you signed up to the government’s cashback scheme while payment rates were good, you could also make money from your panels.
Find out more about solar PV installation, and watch a video to see what’s involved.
Solar Panels Add Home Value
Installing residential solar panels is a sound investment. Whether youre upgrading your home for a future sale or making it your forever home, your property value will significantly increase. This added value makes payback periods less of a concern.7 You can recoup your investment at a later sale and come out ahead.
Put the sun to work for you. Adding Sunrun solar panels and a Brightbox home battery to your home may not only raise your property value, it will give you control over your electricity usage, protect you from power outages and help the environment.
Solar is as reliable as the sun. See why over 250,000 Americans have added value to their homes with Sunrunget a free quote today to get connected with our expert Solar Advisors.
Sunrun
You May Like: Do I Qualify For The Solar Tax Credit
How Can Homeowners Begin Solar Panel Installation
To get started with a solar panel installation, a homeowner must first contact a reputable solar panel installation company. That company will come out to the house, gauge the home’s power needs and measure the home’s roof. The solar panel company will then determine the best solar panel configuration based on the information collected. Representatives from the company will also discuss payment options and price, and answer any homeowner questions.
Homeowners should talk to multiple companies to get quotes from each company. This will help the homeowner to decide which company is best for his or her needs. It’s important to remember that price is not the only factor to consider when trying to pick a solar panel company. Reputation, company longevity and customer reviews are all factors that homeowners must look into when trying to decide which company to use.
Once a West Kelowna Estates homeowner has decided on a company, they will need to sign a contract, then the solar panels must be assembled and installation scheduled. All in all, it can take several months from start to finish before solar panels are finally put into place. Homeowners who put in the time to find a company that will work well for their needs may find the solar panel installation process to be more satisfying.
Local Solar Installation Prices
Another geographic factor is the cost of getting a new system in your region. Let us be real here, do not settle for mediocre installation services! You will need to find high-quality solar installation providers who know their job.
That said, note that the cost of installing solar panels is not cheap if you hire a company that knows how to do the job well. That all adds up to the home value that solar panels add.
Buyers find it affordable to buy homes with already installed solar panels. It saves them the hustle of engaging installation companies and supervision and making common solar shopping mistakes while shopping for solar.
Don’t Miss: Where Is Solar Energy Stored
Reap The Rewards Of Green Energy
Solar panels are a great decision for many homeowners. They increase the value of a home and provide clean, renewable, and affordable energy. If youâre considering installing solar panels on your property, now is the time to do it. The cost of installation has come down in recent years, and more incentives are becoming available all the time. For homeowners primarily thinking of resale value, research the local market and talk to your real estate agent to get an idea of the local demand for solar panels and other home improvements.
Dave Kotler
Does Tesla Solar Roofing Need Cleaning And Maintenance
Yes. Unlike any other solar roof, there is a time when you have to clean the solar roof to improve its efficiency. The dust and dirt would stick to the solar panels surface, blocking the direct sunlight from reaching the membrane.
You should clean the solar roof once a month on the summer days and rainy days. It doesnt require much cleaning as rainwater may clean the glass.
Tesla has claimed that the Tesla Solar Roof is made of dust-free material, so they are less prone to attract the dust to the surface.
They are designed in a way that nothing will block the surface easily. However, it is still recommended to clean in whenever you get time.
Tesla Solar Roofing business is in its early phase of innovation, and there will be more efficient solar panels designed in the future that may produce more energy than the current tiles do.
Read Also: How Many Solar Panels For 1500 Kwh
Do Solar Panels Ever Lower Property Values
Theres very little chance that solar panels will lower the value of your home, but even if solar systems add value to your home, this value can be undercut by a number of different factors. According to EERE, one of the reasons that solar-equipped homes tend to sell for so much more is that solar panels are considered upgrades to ones home. And just like a pool or finished basement, the inclusion of solar panels represents a significant investment on the part of the homeowner.
If those panels are leased by the solar company or third party, the seller might have to purchase or return the equipment. If they purchase the equipment, it could put a lien on the house, which would not improve the price point at all. Local electricity rates and solar electricity prices could also affect the overall value that solar panels add to a home, as can the relative understanding of those looking to purchase the home.
If home buyers dont understand the benefits of solar energy, they might see the panels as just another piece of furniture theyre going to have to replace or get rid of. According to Homelight, not every person sees solar as valuable, some see it as a hassle, and they dont want the added responsibility of worrying about solar panels. Thus, the added value incurred by solar panels can only really be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Calculating A Ballpark Range For Home Value Increase
Assume our calculator above estimates a 6kW solar panel system would be best for your energy bills of $120 a month.
- You could quickly estimate a $30,000 home value increase from the Lawrence Berkeley Labs formula .
- From the Appraisal Journal article citation, $120 of monthly utility bill savings is $1,440 annually. Multiply that by 20 and you get an expected market value increase of $28,800.
- Finally, using Zillow and the National Bureau of Economic Research study, consider you have a Zestimate of $550,000 for your property. A 4% increase in home value would be $22,000.
In this way, your ballpark estimate for a 6kW would be anywhere from a $22,000 to $30,000 increase in home value.
Also Check: What Makes Solar Panels So Expensive
How Much Are Solar Panels
A solar panel array for a typical family of three in the UK costs between £4,000-£6,000.
This is a large investment, but it enables you to save up to £390 per year on energy bills, all while doing your part to help the climate.
And when you consider house prices, the cost of solar panels pales in comparison.
As of January 2020, the average house price in the UK is £231,185, according to the Land Registry.
So on average, youll be paying a measly 2.1% of your homes value to get solar panels an excellent investment that will quickly produce returns.
What Are Property Tax Exemptions For Solar
Many states, especially those with renewable energy targets, use property tax exemptions as one tool to encourage the development of solar energy.
The way these work is pretty simple. In states and muncipalities that have a property tax exemption for solar energy, the addition of a solar energy system to your home doesnât increase the assessed value of your home. As a result, your property taxes donât go up. Great!
Read Also: How Many Kwh Does A Solar Panel Produce
Do Solar Panels Add Value To My Home
As a homeowner, you may have a mile long list of improvements that youd like to make to your home. If your electric bill is high or if you simply want to do something positive for the environment you have most likely considered adding solar panels to that list.
There are many benefits to using solar energy and its a great feeling to produce your own power and not have to rely on the grid. Like any home improvement project, its important to research and see if going solar will make sense for you.
You have probably asked yourself, Do solar panels increase the value of my property?
Potential buyers, savvy homeowners and appraisers all know that solar panels and battery storage can increase your homes value on the real estate market. A solar homes selling price is typically 3.74% higher or more than comparable properties without solar.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy says that a solar energy system will likely increase the value of your home. They also mentioned that buyers across the country have been willing to pay a premium for a home with an average-sized solar array. Due to every home being different, the specific numbers can vary depending on your energy consumption.
How Much Do Solar Panels Increase The Value Of A Home
Installing solar panels onto your home is a sizable home renovation. Any responsible homeowner would want to know how much of a return on investment they would receive from a solar panel installation.
Solar paneled homes also tend to sell at a faster rate than those without solar panels. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory discovered that homes with solar panels sell 20% faster than similar-sized houses that depend on an energy grid.
NREL research also suggests that solar panels translate into overall better value for your home. The Lab found that every dollar that a solar system saved on energy costs increased home value by $20. This means that an energy system that saves the average homeowner $400 per year, would add a value of $8,000 to your home.
Its important to note that the added value to a solar-powered home is not as cut-and-dried as most homeowners might hope. This is because buyers have differing opinions on whether solar energy is indeed a valuable addition to the home, or if its just an additional cost. The final sale price of a solar-paneled home depends on a variety of factors explored in the following section.
Also Check: What Are Solar Panels And How Do They Work
Solar Panels Increase Home Value By 41%
The popular online real estate marketplace company, Zillow, also undertakes economic research. In a recent study, they calculated solar premiums for homes listed and sold between March 1, 2018, and February 28, 2019, by comparing prices reached for homes with and without solar energy systems.
Interestingly, even though California is generally considered the state leading the solar revolution in the U.S. , the Zillow research found that New York City reached a solar premium of 5.4%. This was not only 1.3% higher than the U.S. average of 4.1%, but higher than the three Californian metro areas included in the study.
The research shows that San Francisco has a sales price premium of 4.4%, Los Angeles 3.6%, and Riverside 2.7%. Orlando, Florida boasts a premium of 4.6%.
For the average home, 4.1% translates to a sale premium of $9,274. In New York, the extra value amounts to $23,989. These are less than the premiums reported in Appraising Into The Sun, but substantial nonetheless.
Are Solar Panels Worth The Investment
While $9,274 — the payoff based on the national median home price — is a significant amount of money, it’s unlikely to offset the purchase and installation cost of solar panels entirely. But it does cover a big chunk of the cost of buying and installing home solar panels.
According to green energy marketplace EnergySage, the average home solar system costs $18,300 before tax credits and $12,810 after tax credits in 2019. That projected cost is likely to change in the future as material costs vary and the federal tax credit winds down.
When you’re considering solar panels for your home, it pays to learn about all the different factors that influence whether solar panels are worth installing. Is your roof the right shape? Is your area sunny? Are energy costs cheaper, or more expensive, compared to the rest of the country?
For a snapshot of how your home might fare with solar panels, check your address on , which estimates solar savings based on factors like weather patters, roof shape, electricity rates and more.
Recommended Reading: How Many Kilowatts Of Solar Power Do I Need
Financial Incentives Available To You
All American homeowners are eligible for the federal solar tax credit. Still, many states and municipalities have added rebates, low-interest loans, and other financial incentives for their residents as well. So make sure that you save and gain.
As we finalize, wed love to take you through some of the Frequently Asked Questions on solar panels increasing home value.
How Solar Panels Could Add Value To Your Home:
It may not be surprising, but, the main reason solar panels could add value to your home is probably the same reason you got them installed in the first place. Cheaper energy.
Everyone wants to find ways to save on their energy bills. The requirement for properties listed for sale to have an Energy Performance Certificate , makes energy efficiency a key consideration for many people.
By having solar panels, youll gain a better score on your EPC and your property will become more attractive to buyers. Not only that, theyll get the benefits immediately without any of the cost or hassle of installing them.
For this reason, it seems like a no-brainer. Having solar panels adds value to your house, right? Well, possibly, but its not quite as clear-cut as that.
Recommended Reading: How To Switch From Sole Proprietor To S Corp
