Take The First Step To A Sustainable Future
Installing solar panels offers benefits for your budget and the environment. Beginning immediately after the installation is complete, you will reduce your carbon footprint and your monthly energy bills. Our certified professionals can explain your options, recommend the best type of solar panels for your home, and provide custom installation to minimize energy production.
We can help you explore the options and provide a free estimate for your installation. Check our website for additional information about financing options for ground mounted solar panel systems, including solar loans and NYSERDAs Green Jobs Green New York. This program offers solar loans for New York residents at reduced interest rates.
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Final Thoughts On Ground
Ground-mounted solar panels can provide a number of advantages over standard rooftop panels. The extra energy they’re able to produce can make them well worth the price. Do some research on your own, and talk to your local solar installer to find out how ground-mounted solar panels can best help you meet your home’s energy needs.
Assess Your Options For Using Solar
Purchasing and installing a system that you fully own and maintain is no longer the only option if you want to go solar. Even if you rent your home or don’t want to purchase a rooftop system, there are many programs will enable you to still benefit from solar electricity.
Below are some of the options available for using solar energy at home check with local installers and your utility for programs available in your area.
Purchasing a Solar Energy System
Purchasing a solar energy system with cash or a loan is the best option when you want to maximize the financial benefits of installing solar panels, take advantage of tax credits, and increase the market value of your home, and a solarize program is unavailable or impractical.
The solar installer will connect the system to the grid, and receive an interconnection permit from the utility. When the PV system generates more power than the homeowner requires, the customer is often able to sell excess electricity to the grid, and when the homeowners electricity needs exceeds the capacity of the system, the home draws energy from the grid as usual. Learn more about grid-connected home energy systems.
Purchasing a solar energy system is a good option if one or more of the following apply to you:
Community or Shared Solar
Consider community solar if one or more of the following apply to you:
Learn more about community and shared solar.
Solar Leases
Solar leases are a good option if one or more of the following apply to you:
Read Also: How Does The Solar Credit Work
Solar Power For The Home: Costs
Solar power is capital intensive, and the main cost of owning a system comes upfront when buying the equipment. The solar module will almost certainly represent the largest single component of the overall expense.
Other equipment necessary for installation includes an inverter , metering equipment , and various housing components along with cables and wiring gear.
Some homeowners also consider battery storage. Historically, batteries have been prohibitively expensive and unnecessary if the utility pays for excess electricity that is fed into the grid . The installation labor cost must also be factored in.
In addition to installation costs, there are some further costs associated with operating and maintaining a PV solar array. Aside from cleaning the panels regularly, inverters and batteries generally need replacement after several years of use.
While the above costs are relatively straightforwardoften a solar installation company can quote a price for these for a homeownerdetermining subsidies available from the government and/or your local utility can prove more of a challenge. Government incentives change often, but historically, the U.S. government has allowed a tax credit of up to 30% of the system’s cost.
Heating Your Home With Solar Thermal Collectors
Solar thermal collectors directly capture the suns energy as heat and tranfers it to a hot water tank in your home.
Unlike solar photovoltaic panels which use semiconductors to turn sunlight into electricity, solar thermal collectors are relatively simple devices. They work by using a dark colored collector to absorb the suns rays. The collector warms up, and the heated fluid inside travels along a loop to a heat exchanger that dumps the heat into a hot water tank. A system like this can supply the hot water needs for a home, or the hot water can be used for radiant space heating.
Heres a great video from This Old House that shows the system in detail:
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How Many Years Can I Claim Solar Tax Credit
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Filing requirements for solar creditsIf you end up with a bigger have income tax duea $3,000 on a $2,500 tax bill, for instanceyou can‘t use the to get money back from the IRS. Instead, generally, you can carry the over to the following tax year.
Similarly, what is the solar tax credit for 2020? The Solar Investment Tax Credit, or ITC, is available for solar panel systems on both residential and commercial properties. After this year, the tax credit drops to 26 percent for projects that begin construction in 2020 and 22 percent for projects that begin in 2021.
Secondly, how many years can you carry over the solar tax credit?
Unfortunately, the 30% ITC is not a refundable . However, per Section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code, the ITC can be carried back 1 year and forward 20 years. This means that if you had a tax liability last year but don’t have one this year, you can still claim the .
How does the 30 percent solar tax credit work?
2016 2019: The tax credit remains at 30 percent of the cost of the system. 2020: Owners of new residential and commercial solar can deduct 26 percent of the cost of the system from their taxes. 2021: Owners of new residential and commercial solar can deduct 22 percent of the cost of the system from their taxes.
Wires Between Battery Bank Size
Battery bank wires are larger than those used by the solar panel or charge controller. Because they are often used with the inverter, power demand is high. The most common battery bank wire size is 1/0. The wire and gauge have to be the same in a battery bank. if not this could cause malfunctions later on.
This also brings up the question of whether a fuse should be installed between the battery ad charge controller. Usually it isnt necessary as the wire has to produce the maximum current it can. A breaker is recommended however. Just to be sure you should check the manual that came with your system.
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Is It Possible To Install Too Many Solar Panels
Believe it or not, its not always beneficial to install as many solar panels as you can possibly fit on your roof. Adding extra panels that arent needed just increases the cost of your initial investment, and if you dont have a way of capturing or getting credit for the extra energy that youre generating but not using, then you’re not getting a good return on that investment.
A good solar installation should offset as close to the exact amount of energy that you use as possible. Thats why we typically ask for samples of previous power bills when designing a system. These power bills help us estimate your power requirements, and design a system that matches your specific needs. Some months you might use more energy than your system produces, and some months you might use less energy than you produce, but at the end of the year, the goal is to generate about the same amount of energy as you use.
That said, there are some instances where it makes sense to install more solar panels to generate more energy than you plan on using. The first is if you plan on installing an energy storage system to capture that excess energy. Solar battery storage lets you use the energy you generated during the day to power your home at night, and also gives you a backup source of power in case you have a blackout or other issue.
In general its not possible to install too many solar panels but there just might not be a significant advantage to doing so.
Assess Your Solar Potential
Before deciding on the best way to use solar electricity at home, assess the potential solar energy that can be produced at your address. Because PV technologies use both direct and scattered sunlight to create electricity, the solar resource across the United States is ample for home solar electric systems.
However, the amount of power generated by a solar energy system at a particular site depends on how much of the sun’s energy reaches it, and the size of the system itself.
Several mapping services and tools are available to help you determine your homes solar energy potential. Some of the services also offer information on the estimated system size, potential costs and savings, and local contractors.
These tools are an excellent starting point and can help you determine whether your home is suitable for solar, and if not, the best path forward for still benefiting from solar. While these tools are helpful, they don’t account for all of the variables that need to be considered for your particular system. For that, you will need to work directly with a solar installer who can provide an accurate assessment of your solar potential as well as detailed recommendations, estimates, and equipment expertise.
Consider the following:
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How To Calculate The Solar Potential Of Your Roof
There are a few rules of thumb you can follow that can offer a general idea of how much roof space is needed for solar panel installation. These guidelines can also help determine how much roof space you have available to put solar panels on.
Generally, every square foot of roof space has the potential to generate about 15 watts of solar energy. Thus, a solar panel installation on a small home might only need around 200 square feet of roof space, while a larger home can require more than 1,000 square feet of roof space to properly offset electricity usage.
To offset an average amount of energy usage by the average American home, youll typically need around 18 to 24 panels to be effective. That is, of course, if everything about those panels is ideal, where the positioning is optimal, the panels are of a standard rating, and the location gets adequate sunlight year-round. If you change any of those variables, the number of panels you need is going to change as well.
If you want to get a sense of how many panels a roof can support, you don’t need a fancy solar panel square footage calculator. Heres an easy calculation you can do: Multiply the square footage of your roof by .75 to account for the required solar setback. Take that number, and divide it by 17.5, which is the average square footage of the standard solar panel size. The resulting number is the maximum number of solar panels you can fit on your homes roof.
Can I Put Solar Panels In My Yard
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. In this regard, is ground mounted solar cheaper?
Ground mounted solar systems tend to be more expensive and labor intensive, but can be more efficient at capturing energy thus saving you more in the long run.
Furthermore, how far from House Can solar panels be? 225 feet
Also asked, do you need planning permission for solar panels?
The installation of solar panels and equipment on residential buildings and land may be ‘permitted development’ with no need to apply to the Local Planning Authority for planning permission. You should discuss with the Local Planning Authority for your area whether all of the limits and conditions will be met.
Where should I put my solar panels?
Direction. In the northern hemisphere, the general rule for solar panel placement is, solar panels should face true south . Usually this is the best direction because solar panels will receive direct light throughout the day.
Read Also: How Do I Get Solar Panels For My House
Solar Panels For A 1500 Square Foot House
The average home in the United States is roughly 1500 square feet. With a home of this size, the typical electric bill comes in around $100 month. In order to cover the electricity for this home, you would need an estimated 15-18 solar panels.
For example, a typical fridge may be rated for 250 watts and runs for 4 hours a day. 250 watts X 4 = 1000W. A 1k watt is equal to 1 kWh of energy in a day.
This, of course, is a general estimate and eclectic usage, sunlight hours, location, and the type of panels can change this amount.
How Much Will It Cost To Install Solar Panels At My Home
Though installation costs are dropping, an average installation will likely run you upwards of $10,000 even after a 30% federal tax credit. For many, the cost alone makes the notion of completely powering homes through solar panels difficult. And thats before you remember that Texas Retail Electricity Providers usually produce electricity much more cheaply than their residential power counterparts.
There is no doubt that solar panels will continue to drop in cost and increase in productive capacity in the future. But the majority of homeowners with solar panels dont use them as the exclusive source of residential power. Instead, they are connected to the utility grid in a process called net metering . Net metering is a fantastic option for people who want to decrease their electricity bill while increasing their environmental friendliness.
This unique billing arrangement follows this pattern:
- A household utility meter monitors how much electricity is consumed by the household and how much electricity is generated by the solar panels.
- On either a monthly or yearly basis, that household is only responsible for paying its net consumption its electricity consumption beyond what was generated by the homes solar panels
- This creates opportunities for the most electricity-conscious households to be compensated by their utility company.
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Max Distance From Panels To Charge Controller
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- #14 AWG cost roughly 10-cents per foot and you need 600 feet or $60 but it will not even remotely work. FWIW #14 AWG in this example is good for about 10 feet 1-way, but you asked for 300 feet 1-way.
- 500 MCM cost roughly $9/ft and you need 600 feet or $5400 to make it work.
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How Much Does A Solar Installation Cost
This can vary depending on the company, but for an average installation, it can run you between $15,000 and $30,000.
Many solar companies offer incentives and financing. There are a ton of other financial benefits that come along with installing your home:
- Electricity rates have risen across the nation and are higher now than they have ever been
- You can save thousands on electricity bills and will only continue to save more over time
- The resale value of your home skyrockets. Many home buyers now are searching for homes that come with a solar system already installed
- The government offers a massive tax credit when it comes to solar systems. Some states also offer a rebate program
- The systems come with a warranty that secures your investment for at least 25 years
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Planning A Home Solar Electric System
There are a number of steps to follow when planning to power your home with solar energy. After choosing which option is best for you to use solar , follow the steps afterward that apply to you. Your solar energy installer and local utility company can provide more information on the exact steps you will need to take to power your home with solar energy.
Can I Put Solar Panels In My Garden
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The installation of solar panels and equipment on residential buildings and land may be ‘permitted development’ with no need to apply to the Local Planning Authority for planning permission. You should discuss with the Local Planning Authority for your area whether all of the limits and conditions will be met.
Subsequently, question is, how do you build a ground mount for solar panels? Standard Ground MountThe process of building this kind of system is similar to putting together a fence. You would first dig several holes that are a few feet deep, then set the poles in, and fill them with concrete. This structure would create the foundation for holding your solar panels.
One may also ask, can I put solar panels in my garden UK?
Non domestic covers any Solar PV installation not on a dwelling, including a ground mounted system in the garden of a dwelling. In the same way as Domestic, it is covered under ‘Permitted Development rights’ as long as the following guidelines are adhered to.
How far away can you place solar panels?
Generally you can place the array several hundred feet from the house. The further you go from the house the larger the wire and conduit you need and therefore the more costs rise. Is there an upper limit to how far away an array can be placed? We would think that 500 feet would be that limit.
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