Most solar arrays are built to service on-grid homes, and will feed excess, unused power back into the power grid. The homeowner's energy account gets credited from the energy they sell back to the energy company, and the savings plus the credit can significantly offset the electric bill.
The first question a homeowner must tackle when deciding to buy solar panels is to choose whether to lease or to own. Solar panel installation can cost $25,000 or more before rebates, though rebates can pay for up to 1/3rd of the cost. After considering the upfront cost, homeowners will want to calculate their savings.
Solar arrays take approximately 10 years to pay for themselves in energy cost savings at current energy prices. That time will shorten if energy costs continue to go up, but that is the current rate. Homeowners should also consider that energy efficient homes are more valuable if they have to sell and solar panels are low maintenance so they are likely to last for their 25 year lifetime.
However, if the upfront is still too pricey, homeowners can consider leasing. Lease options require little or no money upfront for installation and the installer maintains the system. Solar leases can also be assigned to the purchaser so that they can be moved if the purchaser moves.
One of the nations leading solar power companies is SunPower. Their website lists their contact number as 1.800.786.7693, or homeowners can chat with SunPower representatives through the site. They offer homeowners free consultations and provide a number of resources to help homeowners choose the right solar array for their home. They also provide a list of SunPower certified installers that can be looked up by zip code. They offer both buying and leasing options but does not offer off-grid options.
Wholesale Solar is a nationwide retailer that provide homeowners with a list of reputable companies that handle solar array installation. Their listed number is 1-800-472-1142 and they can be contacted through their email account at sales@wholesalesolar.com. They work with a number of solar panel providers and their listings are quite comprehensive. They have comparison charts that are organized by price, wattage, amps, volts, power tolerances, and weight
Affordable solar is also an online solar panel retailer. Their contact number is 1-800-810-9939 and they also have an onsite submission form in order to answer any specific questions. They offer also online quotes that help homeowners estimate the cost of installation.
Solar panel installation has never been easier than it is right now. Many of the rebates that help bring down the cost of installation will no longer be available in the next few years as the technology becomes more commonplace. This is a good time for a homeowner to buy solar panels.
Cost of Solar Power
The rising cost of electricity is the main motivation behind installing solar arrays on homes. Home owners can cover their rooftops with solar panels that will help meet their energy needs, and allow them to sell the energy they do not use back to the power grid. This lowers the amount of energy that a home has to draw from the grid, therefore lowering the bill, and even allows homeowners to receive a credit from their power company for the energy they have sold.
The main concern with the switch to solar energy is the upfront cost. Installing solar panels can be quite expensive but there are a number of factors that help bring the cost down. First of all, many states offer rebates to homeowners that install solar panels on their homes. How big the rebate is varies from state to state, but this should be the first factor that homeowners interested in switching to solar power should consider.
In California, rebates can pay for as much as 1/3rd the price of installation. Secondly, the federal government also offers homeowners a rebate to convert to solar power. When last checked, it was in the range of $2000, but that can change from year to year. This is the second consideration.
Lastly, homeowners should look into how long the solar array will take to pay for itself in savings. At the moment, it takes approximately 10 years for solar power to pay for itself in energy cost savings, but that time can go down if energy costs continue to get higher and higher.
Installing solar panels can cost approximately $25,000 before rebates. That number can drop to the low teens or even below $10,000 once rebates are factored in.
Solar power can also be used to run water heaters. Water heaters are the number drawers of energy in any house. The average water heater keeps 40-50 gallons of water heated at all times. Two changes can help reduce the amount of energy that a house uses.
First, homeowners can install an on-demand water heater that will only heat water that is going to be used. Secondly, the water heater can be converted to solar in order to save on energy. Solar ovens are also a possibility for those who have a porch or something equivalent.
A smaller concern when considering solar power is the direction and angle of a house's roof. South facing rooftops get more sunlight, and that gets truer the farther north a house is located. A 30 degree angle is also ideal for sunlight collection. If the roof is not south facing, it would be best for it to be flat in order to gather as much sunlight throughout the day as possible. The more sunlight that can be gathered, the more energy can be harvested and the more energy a household can save each month.
There is no doubt that solar panels will end up saving homeowners a large amount of money over time. The only real consideration is if a homeowner can afford the upfront cost. If they can, then it should be done.
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