Tuesday, March 26, 2024

How Much To Go Completely Solar

Energy Independence Can Be Yours With A Monthly Solar Loan

How to Size My Off-Grid Solar System & How Much Does it Cost?

Take control of your energy with a monthly solar loan that puts the power in your hands. Now, you can finance your solar system with low, fixed monthly loan payments, a competitive interest rate, and little to no upfront cost. Keep the tax credits, build equity in your home,1 and claim your slice of the sun with BrightAdvantage.

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    Lets Say That Youve Decided Not Only To Go Solar But You Want To Go All

    If youâve used our solar calculator or looked at the map of solar homes around you, youâll know that going solar is pretty easy and increasingly common. As the price continues to drop, it becomes affordable for more people. But what if you want to go completely solar? What if you donât want to use any fossil fuels at all in your home?

    Yes, itâs possible for solar panels to supply all of the electricity your home needs. The first step is to maximize your energy efficiency with insulation, air sealing, and efficient appliances. Then, move off fossil fuel heating to electric heat pumps, and replace gas cooking and water heating with electric. Once youâve done that, a correctly sized photovoltaic system can be used to power everything in your home. But does it make sense?

    This guide will explain how you can go completely solar in your home. But before we launch into it, letâs clarify what it really means when we talk about making your house completely solar.

    Do you:

    • Want to generate all of your current electricity usage with solar, but leave some appliances, like your stove and furnace, using fossil fuels?
    • Or do you want to move 100% of your home energy use to solar? This is called net zero.

    The Cost Of Solar Energy

    Concurrent with an increase in solar efficiency, the cost of solar panels has fallen substantially. In the last decade alone, the cost of a solar panel installation fell over 60 percent, and many industry experts predict that prices will continue to fall in the years to come:

    Additionally, depending upon where you live, several rebates or incentives for solar power may contribute towards lowering the cost of solar energy even further. Nationwide, the federal Investment Tax Credit is one of the primary incentives available to anyone interested in solar energy, as it allows you to deduct 26 percent of the cost of installing a solar array system from your federal taxes. This incentive won’t last forever – in 2023, the federal ITC steps down to 22%, and then goes away completely for residential solar installations in 2024.

    Many states and utilities offer further incentives in addition to the federal ITC, dropping the cost of solar power even further.

    Recommended Reading: How Much Are Solar Panels In California

    Weize 100 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panel Starter Kit

    WEIZE 100 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panel Starter Kit is a good option for everyone new to the off-grid system. It consists of high-performance Monocrystalline solar cells, which ensures higher efficiency.

    The company claims that it is maintenance-free and highly durable. In addition, it comes with anodized aluminum frames, a sealed junction box, and tempered glass. All this makes the entire kit corrosion-resistant.

    The panel meets the industry standard and is 36.4 x 26.8 x 1.2 in size. It generates 5.3-amp power, comes with a 2.6ft cable with connectors, and can quickly charge a 12-volt battery. You can use it for remote locations that require small power generation.

    It is virtually ready to be installed because it consists of all the necessary accessories, such as a 1*10A charger controller, set mount brackets and screws, one pair of 8ft battery tray cable, one pair of 20ft extension cables. In addition, you can get a power inverter if needed for an additional cost.

    Pros

    • It includes all the essential items to install their off-grid solar system.
    • The panels feature multi-layer and advanced material sheets.
    • It comes with pre-drilled holes for easy installation.

    Cons

    • Customers have complained about the solar controller.

    So Are Solar Panels Worth It For Your Home

    How much does it cost to go solarand how much can it save you?

    As you can see, there are many factors that go into determining if solar panels are worth it for your home. The return on a solar investment depends on where you live, your roofs features, your electric rates, and who installs your panels.

    The easiest way to answer the question are solar panels worth it? is to use our solar calculator to get an accurate cost and savings estimate tailored to your home and energy usage.

    Then you can be on your way to powering your home with clean energy – all while cutting your electric bill.

    Find out how much will a solar system cost you after federal, state, and local incentives in 2021

    Recommended Reading: How Many Homes In California Have Solar Panels

    How Much Do Solar Panels Save

    Switching to a solar energy system could potentially cut your energy bill by 75%. The savings you and your family see will depend greatly on where you live, what the climate is like and your particular energy needs. For instance, an average homeowner in Portland, Oregon, will see total savings of $38,000, whereas a homeowner in Los Angeles could save as much as $90,000 over 20 years.

    Many solar energy companies provide a free calculator tool to help you easily estimate the cost and savings of installing solar panels on your home. Different solar calculators may estimate electricity costs in different ways. Numbers can be based on the national average, regional averages or other information you provide.

    The average American electric bill is between $100 and $200 per month, and the average yearly energy cost is about $1,500. Depending on how much you pay out-of-pocket for the solar panel system, it could take five to 15 years to break even. To calculate how long it will take you to break even on savings versus the cost of your solar panels, first subtract your incentives and rebates from your costs. Divide that number by the amount you are saving on utility bills per year.

    Even if your solar panels generate 100% of your electricity needs, you may still receive a utility bill. However, instead of asking for payments, you will get net metering credits for the month.

    How Does Solar Panel Installation Work

    The process for switching to solar doesnt happen overnight. It may take weeks or even months to decide on a solar provider and an additional several weeks to six months before your system is fully operational. The amount of time it takes depends on a companys availability and schedule, as well as the permitting and inspection processes where you live. The size and type of solar panels you choose can also affect the length of this process.

    In general, though, solar panel installation occurs in five steps: survey, design, permitting, installation and connection.

    Read Also: Can I Use Solar Panels To Heat My Pool

    Residential Solar Panels Vs Commercial

    Residential solar panels are slightly different from commercial solar panels owing to the fact that residential panels are often called upon for slightly less demanding work.

    Here are the main differences between residential vs commercial solar panels.

    • Commercial solar panels are larger than residential solar panels. They are usually 78 by 39 inches and have a total of 96 cells compared to 65 inches by 39 inches and 72 cells for residential panels.
    • Commercial solar panels are roughly 2% more efficient than residential solar panels due to their larger size. This means that a system that consists exclusively of commercial solar panels will be capable of producing more energy.
    • It is significantly faster to install residential solar panels, taking an average of two days. On balance, commercial solar installation usually takes around a month as the size of commercial systems is larger and there is considerably more red tape to cut .
    • Though it is not a rule, commercial panels are typically white whereas residential panels are often black. Customers can request either color based on their preferences, however.

    Despite these solar panel varieties being designated for use in different sectors, it is completely possible and sometimes even more viable for a person to request commercial solar panels for installation on their home.

    Can I Install My Own Off

    How to get off grid with solar | Get Off Grid | realestate.com.au

    The answer is, yes, you can install an off-grid solar kit on your own. But the way to go about it is pretty intensive. Your first step is almost done since you want to go for the off-grid solar system. People often struggle to choose the right type of solar system.

    You already know the size of an off-grid solar system . But, lets dive into the rest of the things that you need to look after.

    Before buying the off-grid solar kit and saving time, you must check your states solar rules and regulations, particularly your location jurisdiction. Note that not every states law will allow you to install an off-grid solar system, particularly for the entire home. This will not be applicable in remote places and unincorporated townships as they will not have local jurisdiction.

    Also, some counties or townships will mandate you to do the installation process by a licensed contractor. If mandated, you will have to figure out whether you will need a building permit. This has to be done before you even start the installation process.

    After all, the paperwork is in place, and you can install the off-grid solar kit you will then have to design the system. Meaning, you will have to figure out the solar system requirements.

    You need to think about the power required from the off-grid solar kit, the number of solar panels required, what about the number of days your home receives adequate sunlight, the shading on the rooftop, and also the solar panel angle, and so on.

    Don’t Miss: Are Solar Panels A Good Investment

    Solar Energy + Battery Storage Electric Vehicles And More

    The rapid proliferation of solar power nationwide and globally has also led to parallel growth in several adjacent areas. Notably, energy storage systems and electric vehicles are two sectors poised to explode alongside solar power by augmenting the benefits of solar.

    Given that solar panels can only produce power when the sun is shining, storing produced but unused energy throughout the day for use at a later time has become increasingly important. For instance, solar batteries store electricity and can be drawn on during periods of low solar production. Whats more, solar-plus-storage solutions work for all scales of solar panel installations and provide many added benefits, from energy reliability to grid resiliency and lower-cost power.

    Electric vehicles are a second product poised to ride the wave of solar energy adoption. With lower maintenance costs, lower fuel costs, and a lower environmental footprint than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles are set to be an important piece of the automobile industry for years to come. With increasing electric vehicle adoption also comes a growing need for electricity to run the vehicles, a perfect fit for solar energy. Distributed solar installations provide cheap and reliable power for electric vehicles directly from the sun. In a world of increased electrification throughout the home, solar power is one of the most inexpensive, reliable, and cleanest ways to fuel our electrified future.

    Overview Of Building An Off Grid Solar System

    Designing your own self-sufficient solar power system must start with your end users needs in mind. Making the effort to follow a proper design process saves you money, time, and makes the process of going off the grid a pleasant one.

    Here is an overiew of the steps Ill take you through over the course of this three part guide.

    Recommended Reading: How To Check Solar Panel Efficiency

    How Do Solar Panels Work

    A solar panel consists of a layer of silicon cells, a metal frame, a glass casing unit, and wiring to transfer electric current from the silicon. Silicon is a nonmetal with conductive properties that allow it to absorb and convert sunlight into usable electricity. When light hits a silicon cell, the light causes electrons in the silicon to be set in motion, initiating a flow of electric current. This is known as the , and it describes the general functionality of solar panel tech.

    The science of generating electricity with solar panels boils down to this photovoltaic effect. It was first discovered in 1839 by Edmond Becquerel and can be thought of as a property of specific materials that allows them to create an electric current when they are exposed to sunlight.

    The photovoltaic process works through the following broad steps:

  • The silicon photovoltaic solar cell absorbs solar radiation
  • When the suns rays interact with the silicon cell, electrons begin to move, creating a flow of electric current
  • Wires capture and feed this direct current electricity to a solar inverter to be converted to alternating current electricity
  • How Much Do Solar Panels Cost

    How to Transform Your Home Into a Solar Powered House

    Switching to solar energy requires an up-front investment in equipment and comes with initial installation costs. But after that initial cost, the only recurring charge is the electricity you use beyond the power your panels generate. Assuming your solar system is the right size for your home and is properly installed and maintained, homeowners typically will see long-term savings on electricity bills and a return on their investment after several years.

    The Solar Energy Industries Association estimates the national average cost of a residential solar panel system at $2.94 per watt.* For context, the per-watt price translates to just under $11,000 for a 5-kilowatt system, which is the average size of a standard residential solar system in the United States.

    The price of solar panels varies by brand and retailer. Keep in mind, however, that solar panels are only a tiny fraction of the total initial cost of setting up a solar system. Installation and ongoing maintenance make up the remaining solar panel system costs.

    The table below gives an overview of solar panel costs by state to help give you a general starting point for panel pricing. For comparison, the Energy Information Administration breaks down electricity prices by state for 2020 and 2021.

    State

    *Based on a June 2021 report

    Get Connected With Solar Installers Near You

    Also Check: What Is Solo 401k For Self Employed

    Do Solar Panels Increase The Value Of Your Home

    A 2015 study showed that a typical solar panel system added a $15,000 premium to the selling price of a home. They did this by studying comparative sales of similar houses with and without solar panels.

    Separately, Zillow released a study in 2019 which concluded that solar panels, on average, added 4.1% to the value of a home, effectively making installing solar panels a worthwhile investment, even if you plan on selling your home in the future.

    Getting Help With Your Solar System Design

    Once we determined what electrical loads our off-grid house would have, we started looking for the most cost-effective way to get our solar components. Even though we had experience with wiring a house and had a pretty decent idea of what off-grid solar components do, we didnt know exactly how to put together a system that would meet our needs AND meet code.

    Recommended Reading: Which Solar Panels Have The Highest Efficiency

    Reasons To Talk To Solar Professionals

    There are many nation solar wholesalers and smaller local companies who are highly knowledgable about all of the solar components, installation procedures, and subtle details that go into designing a system from scratch. They are also committed to helping do-it-yourselfers like us do the best job possible without breaking the bank.

    We ultimately chose a wholesaler called Mr. Solar, for several reasons. Their prices seemed the most reasonable of any companies we checked, and they were able to work with us to design as a system that could meet our needs.

    We worked with our rep for over a year before we made our purchase. He was patient with us, occasionally giving us price updates and advice whenever we asked. Hes also been able to give us great assistance in figuring everything out as weve been installing everything and cooperating with our local electrical inspector. Whenever weve had changes to make, hes been super helpful!

    Why The Cost Of Solar Panels Is Justified By The Value

    Our Complete Solar System Cost With Battery Backup! 10kw Of Power

    When considering alternative power sources, its common for people to first wonder how much it will cost. In the past, alternative solutions such as solar panels were too expensive for the majority of homeowners. However, modern solar solutions make it easy and affordable to choose an eco-friendly option for your home. If youre still on the fence about making the switch, consider these benefits of installing solar panels on your property.

    Also Check: Can I Buy Solar Panels And Install Myself

    Best Place To Find Turnkey Solar Installers

    If youre looking for a company to handle the complete installation process for an off-grid solar system – from system design and procurement to installation and permitting and inspection – then check out the SolarReviews solar companies database.

    Itll show you the best local solar companies in your area based on consumer reviews.

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