Net Zero Admirable But Impractical For Most Solar Customers
Going net zero in your use of power from fossil fuels and grid energy is an admirable goal. But its almost never economic to install solar panels on site to replace 100% of the power from your utility.
The right amount of solar is usually not the maximum number of panels that will cover your roof or available space on the ground.
Until the price of batteries comes down enough to make it worthwhile to replace all your utility power with 100% solar energy, it will always be cheaper to plan to use some combination of grid power and rooftop solar.
A typical mix to deliver the biggest savings on your electric bill, especially if your facility is on a peak demand electric tariff rate, will range from 30% to 70% solar power. With this, the rest of your power will continue to come from your electric utility.
A solar panel company that wants to cover your entire surface area may be only looking for a big sale. They probably wont be looking out for your best interest.
For most customers, the right amount of solar is the minimum number of panels that will give you the maximum amount of savings.
To calculate the right amount of solar panels that will hit the savings sweet spot, you need to analyze your typical power usage over a year in light of your utilitys rate structure.
Are you confused yet?
What To Expect From Your Solar Installation Inspection
Each solar installation requires a home inspection, which helps the solar installer know what rigging system is required and what kind of panels, inverters, energy storage systems, and other vital components you will need. Overall, the purpose of the solar inspection is to ensure all the details are right for your solar panels to work for the next 25 to 30 years.
An extra step you can take to streamline the solar inspection process is reaching out to your local government to vet an installer before having them come to your home. According to Tyler Adams, Astrawatt Solars director of marketing, Your county government can tell you if a solar installer is licensed and is in good standing with the local government. He also recommends contacting your local utility company about going solar. Many local utility companies will provide homeowners with a list of questions to ask a solar installer, Adams says.Any good solar installer will be able to answer those questions and can use those as a guide for what to expect as you convert your home to using solar energy.
Solar installation inspections tend to follow these steps:
Types Of Solar Panels
Before you invite any solar panel firms to give you a quote, consider what type of solar panels you want.
Options include:
Solar panels are typically fitted on top of your existing roof. But you can also choose solar tiles and slates, which better blend into your roof. However these are pricey and may only be practical if you’re replacing your roof at the same time.
Bifacial solar panels also exist.
Find out what’s right for you in our guide to How solar PV systems work.
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Best Solar Installation Companies
Solar energy is one of the most innovative industries paving the future. Luckily, solar power systems have become more cost-effective and accessible over the past few years, meaning you can participate in eliminating carbon emissions and changing the world for the better through renewable energy.
There are many solar companies in the United States, and all of them offer something different for each homeowner. However, these companies also offer a lot of technical information that might be difficult or confusing to follow. That is why we have compiled this detailed and easy-to-understand guide on the best solar companies to meet your energy needs.
Investigate Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Before starting the process of powering your home with solar energy, homeowners should investigate their energy use and consider potential efficiency upgrades. Homeowners should be well aware of their total electricity usage, and consider low-cost and easy-to-implement efficiency measures before choosing solar.
Explore the following resources to reduce your electricity use:
- Home energy audits: A home energy audit can help you understand where your home is losing energy and what steps to take to improve the efficiency of your home.
- Appliances and electronics: Use your appliances and electronics more efficiently, or consider investing in highly efficient products.
- Lighting: Switch to energy efficient lighting, such as LED light bulbs.
- Heating and cooling: If you use electricity to heat and cool your home, your heating and cooling needs will significantly affect the amount of solar energy you need. Weatherizing your home and heating and cooling efficiently will reduce the amount of electricity you need to produce with solar.
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Myth #: Solar Panels Will Damage Your Roof
Solar panels wont damage your roof if installed correctly. In other words, you can avoid harming your home by hiring a solar installation professional for the job.
Solar panels fasten to your roof with aluminum rails and mounts. The mounts have metal feet that screw into the roofing material with lag bolts. The most critical part of this process is sealing around the screws to prevent moisture from leaking through the roof. The technician will also install a water-tight barrier to protect your roof from water damage.
Youll likely want to reconsider panel placement if your roof isnt in great condition. If your roof is old and needs replacement, complete those repairs first before installing PV panels.
Get Paid For Your Solar Panels’ Electricity
Some energy companies will pay you for electricity generated by your solar panels that you don’t use but put into the grid instead. This is called the Smart Export Guarantee , and is backed by the government however, the ‘guarantee’ means only that the price you receive must be above zero.
You won’t get it automatically when you export electricity you’re not using. You’ll need to sign up with an energy company, and your solar PV system must have been installed by a registered MCS installer.
Find out about the Smart Export Guarantee explained, including how much you could earn and which companies offer it.
The SEG replaces the governments Feed-in Tariff scheme, which closed in March 2019. If you’re already signed up to it, read our guide to the Feed-in Tariff.
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What To Know Before You Buy: Solar Panel Owners’ Tips
It has tips and advice on what you should do, plus the questions to ask before, during and after a visit from a solar PV installer.
There is a file available for download. . This file is available for download at .
Which? members can log in to see useful tips from current solar panel owners. If you’re not a member, join Which? to unlock these.
Here’s Why You Should Think Twice Before Getting Solar Panels
The idea that we can gain power through solar is fantastic. We promote solar power and think it is something we should look forward to what future technologies can offer, but the current infrastructure is not conducive for long term solar growth and is creating greater waste, especially when it comes to home solar systems. Lets dig deeper.
This article is intended to educate an otherwise uneducated population that assumes the best of solar panels and the very insistent and persuasive sales people pushing this product.
Were going to look at this from a real estate, roofing, insurance, title, appraiser and lending professional perspective as well as discuss some very serious issues that consumers may be unaware of.
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Top 10 Solar Energy Myths Debunked
Solar photovoltaic panels, or PV panels, are a fast-growing source of clean, renewable energy for businesses and agricultural industries worldwide. Luckily, for homeowners seeking clean energy and big savings, this efficient power source is becoming increasingly popular for residential use. Unfortunately, that popularity summons widespread misinformation and assumptions about solar technology.
This article will debunk common solar energy myths to clarify the truth about this clean energy source. Along the way, well discuss how PV panels operate and fit into modern homeownership.
So Why Solar As An Alternative
The pitch from the Solar firm to Mr. Tosin was pretty simple to make:
- With a 10KVa solar inverter, all his electronics, including refrigerators will be powered by the inverter
- the grid would then power his air conditioners, heaters, electric cookers, and microwave ovens.
- Therefore his generator power bill could potentially drop significantly to close to zero.
The cost of installation was about N4 million depending on the type of panels, batteries, and other equipment he was using.
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- Therefore a payback period of fewer than 2.5 years or less with the rising costs of diesel.
- In other words, spending a one-off N4million would be cheaper than spending N140k on diesel in infinity
What he however did not envisage were some hidden costs that are often excluded when vendors of renewable power make their pitch.
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Myth #: Solar Panels Power Homes During Outages
Solar panels arent typically capable of supplying all of the energy a home needs. For this reason, solar-powered homes connect to the primary electrical grid to fulfill those needs. This grid connection is valuable during low solar production days but problematic during electric grid outages.
Solar systems connect to the primary grid with a solar inverter meter that records how much energy you use. Additionally, all energy systems including solar panels shut down to protect utility service technicians from harm during grid blackouts.
The only way to use your solar power during grid outages is to install a solar battery storage system. These alternatives to traditional generators store excess energy as a backup when the grid is down.
A Better Way To Finance Your System
Of course, we understand why leases and PPAs are appealing. You get the benefits of going solar immediately, like making a positive impact on the environment and locking in a flat electric rate for the next 25 years.
Leases and PPAs let you enjoy the benefits of going solar without the up-front cost. But theres another financing option that gives you a much better return on investment: a personal loan from your bank or another 3rd-party lender.
Solar leases and PPAs are essentially high-interest-rate loans from a solar installer. You tend to get better rates and terms from your bank, especially if youve been a long-time customer.
But the major distinction is that by taking out a personal loan, you are the owner of your system. This allows you to claim the 26% tax credit for going solarwhich can immediately be applied to your loan balance to accelerate the payback schedule, if you so choose.
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The Pros And Cons Of Solar Energy
When it comes to solar energy pros and cons, we’ve heard it all: it’s for hippies, it’s too expensive or it doesn’t work. Yet more solar energy systems are being installed on homes than ever. Here, we explain some key facts about the pros and cons of solar energy and answer the main question for homeowners, are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels are more efficient, affordable, and environmentally friendly than theyve ever beenand the 26% federal tax credit makes solar an even more attractive investment for homeowners through the end 2022. However, like any investment, going solar wont make sense for every homeowner depending on their geographic location, roof orientation, and current electricity usage. A free consultation is the quickest way to see if solar is right for you.
In most situations and areas in the US, solar panels are worth the cost of installation and maintenance, providing a good return on investment and benefits to the environment.
Solar Pros
Solar Cons
Note: Many of these solar cons are applicable to older or less advanced home solar technologies and are no longer an issue.
Understand Available Financing And Incentives
Small solar energy systems are eligible for a 30% federal tax credit through 2019. The tax credit decreases to 26% in 2020, then to 22% in 2021, and expires December 31, 2021.
If you opt for a solar lease or power-purchase agreement, remember that you will not be eligible for this tax benefit, since you will not own the solar energy system.
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What To Know Beforehand
There’s fierce competition in the booming residential solar industry. Companies employ a variety of sales strategies from in-house sales teams or third-party companies. Tesla’s solar arm relies solely on online inquiries. While there are industry guidelines for consumer protection, tactics vary from company to company and, as the report from Detroit showed, can verge on dishonesty. Going in with a strong understanding of some key solar topics can help you spot when a salesperson is flouting those guidelines.
Salespeople are likely to tout the federal solar tax credit. When you install solar panels you receive a portion of the cost back on your taxes. In 2022, the portion you get back is 30% and will stay there through 2031 as laid out in the Inflation Reduction Act.
The tax credit is not a check the government will send you or a rebate. Instead, it’s a credit you can count against the taxes you need to pay each year. In order to take full advantage, you’ll need to pay federal income tax and pay enough of it to match 30% of your system’s cost.
Be sure you understand how your utility compensates you for the electricity you produce before going solar. These rates are not necessarily set in stone. In California, regulators are trying to change net metering in the state, though proposals so far have included provisions to keep established customers on their previously agreed to net metering rates.
If a tree shades your solar panels they’ll produce less electricity
Beware Cheap Quotes And Solar Scam Tactics
Choosing solar systems on price alone is a recipe for a disaster. In the solar industry, margins dont allow for big discounts. Getting a few quotes is a good start to get an idea of a reasonable cost for a quality installation. However, if you are receiving a quote that is much cheaper than others, this could be the sign of a solar scam.
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Solar Panel Cost Calculations
To calculate average purchase and installation costs by system size and electricity needs, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors analyses costs from a variety of sources, including surveys, online quotes and retailer pricing information. It combines these with quotes from specialist subcontractors to give the most accurate average prices.
The prices include everything necessary to carry out the installation. This includes materials, labour, preliminary work, contractor costs, VAT and profit.
Materials costs are based on national average best trade prices and represent typical prices in autumn 2021. Labour rates are based on current industry wage agreements and allowances. Both are affected by the current economic climate and industry pressures.
Data copyright RICS 2021 and reproduced with permission. Prices were correct in October 2021.
*Which? conducted an online survey in June 2021 with 1,116 Which? Connect members who have solar panels.
What’s It Like To Go Solar 5 Things They Don’t Tell You In The Brochure
Are you considering adding solar panels to your home? If so, youre not alone. Interest in alternative energies is on the rise. And its no wonder with climate change concerns, increasing energy costs and new technologies making green energy more accessible and efficient, its easier and more affordable than ever to make the swap to solar power.
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But with all the buzz surrounding solar, it can be hard to parse out clear answers to the questions on most homeowners minds: How much will this cost me? and Is solar worth it? To help you make an informed decision, here are a few things you should know about making the switch to solar.
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Added Value To Your Home
Homeowners often look for ways to raise the value of their homes through upgrades and renovations. However, adding a solar installation could add to the value of your home, too.
The DOE states that homes with solar panel systems sold quicker throughout the country. Buyers are willing to pay upward of $15,000 more for homes with pre-installed solar arrays. Selling a solar-powered home could result in a profitable return on investment.
Finding A Good Solar Panel Installer
We recommend that you get at least three quotes from different installers. This will help give you an idea of the going rate for the type of system you want in your area. Also check our solar panel prices for an initial guide.
As with any building work, compare their quotes and make sure they include itemised details of what you’ll get for your money. Make sure you get a breakdown of how any claimed energy savings are calculated too.
Use our Which? Trusted Traders search tool below to find reliable solar panel installers near you.
Be sure to use an MCS-accredited installation company that installs MCS-certified products. This is often a pre-requisite for government support schemes, and is required if you want to benefit from Smart Export Guarantee payments. You can check an installer is verified on the Microgeneration Certification website.
Also find out whether your installer is a member of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code . This means that they have agreed to abide by high consumer protection standards. RECC also runs a dispute-resolution process if you have a complaint against an installer registered with it.
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