Are you planning to install solar panels in your home as an alternative form of energy? Here is an ultimate guide to switching into solar power
How does solar work
There has been an increased use of solar panels in the past decade, attributed to rising electricity costs and the need to control global warming. The solar panels are installed on the roof of a house to turn the sun’s rays into electricity. It generates DC electricity that is fed into a solar inverter to convert into AC electricity. These panels are a vital component of a home solar panel system when mounted on a racking system to produce electricity.
The solar panels are made up of PV cells that absorb the sun’s rays and converts into electricity via the photovoltaic effect. A switchboard then allows the usable AC electricity to be sent to your home appliances, with the solar energy powering the home. When you purchase the panels, you also acquire batteries that store electricity generated by the sun’s energy to save to use later. With this battery storage, a solar system can operate perfectly well when the electric grid is unavailable.
When you install a home solar system, you have to connect it to the grid to be used in your home. The system will automatically switch on during the day and off at night. The efficiency of solar panels means any slight increase in sunshine hours guarantees adequate electricity for your household. In most cases, the amount of electricity generated by these panels depends on several factors, such as the amount of sunlight and the panels’ size.
How do I determine that my home is suitable for solar
Before deciding to go solar in your home, you need to assess your energy consumption measured in kilowatt-hours to determine whether your house is the right candidate. This determination is crucial in ensuring your decision to go solar results into energy efficiency. Hence, you will need to review the electricity bills to determine the annual energy needs in kilowatt-hours, then use them to select the best solar panel size required to power your home.
Secondly, you have to consider what kind of roof you have, with solar panels working best with strong and durable roofing material. In most cases, the composite, asphalt shingle or concrete tile are strong roofs to install the solar panels. If you have a roof that needs replacing, then ensure you have a roof in good condition before purchasing the solar system.
Also, consider how much sunlight your roof receives. Your house should not be close to trees or any structure shading your roof. This is because you will put the panels on the rooftop that require maximum sunlight to generate electricity. The boards use direct and scattered sunlight to create energy but are more efficient with a lack of shades around your home. The amount of power generated by the solar panels will depend on how much the sun’s rays reach it.
How does one save money by going solar?
Installing solar panels can be one of the best ways to save money and reduce electricity bills from the primary grid. The solar PV system is a significant upfront investment for financial returns. It will generate big savings of between $10,000 and $50,000 in electricity cost within 25 years. You are likely to experience the return on an investment after seven years of installing the solar panels by offsetting the national grid dependency.
Simultaneously, the solar panel systems will work all year round while producing a considerable amount of energy for home use. Solar power will offset most of your energy use and reduce your dependence on the primary grid for electricity. While direct sunlight is needed for maximum energy generation, the panels can still produce significant power during cloudy days. This means you are assured of affordable power all seasons.
You are also assured of getting clean, renewable energy with a minimal maintenance requirement with the solar panel system. With solar panels, you improve the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, going solar is one way of increasing your property’s value in case you choose to sell.
How do I finance a solar installation?
You can use the financial options of either buying or leasing solar panels when planning to install at home. In most cases, purchasing the solar panels is more economical than renting them as it will provide maximum energy savings on the cost of solar panels. By buying the solar panels, you stand to benefit from the federal solar tax credit. Simultaneously, purchasing the solar panels gives you full ownership that determines savings, maintenance and returns on investment.
The simplest way of financing your solar panel installation is through a solar loan if you want to purchase the system. There are many solar energy loans available to finance your system’s entire cost and can be secured or unsecured. Getting a loan can save you between 40 and 70 percent on electricity costs over your system lifetime. The cost of installing a home solar panel system has been reducing over the years, making it affordable to hop into the wave.
However, some people choose to lease the solar panels if they don’t have all the money needed to purchase and install the system fully. The solar lease is similar to renting your solar panel system. As a third party installs solar panels on your property, you get in agreement to pay a certain rate while using the solar power.
What are the federal and state tax incentives for going solar?
You can take advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit that is an incentive for going solar. The federal government and other utilities have a tax incentive that focuses on encouraging continued expansion of solar. These incentives can come in handy to reduce how much you pay for installing the solar system, between 25 and 50 percent.
In the United States, the cost of installing the solar panel system depends on the state and available tax incentives. Both homeowners and businesses can get access to the federal tax credit on their solar panel systems. You can also enjoy tax credits for solar panels where you deduct a portion of the cost from the tax bill of your state. In some instances, states offer cash rebates for a limited time to help reduce installing a solar panel system.
Other solar incentives include tax exceptions in some states where solar panel systems’ value is not included in property tax assessments. This means your property tax bill will not increase after installing the solar panels.
Bottom line
Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular as a source of electricity in homes. The panels will take advantage of the availability of natural light to create electricity and power your household. These are sources of free and clean energy for your family that reduces the electricity bill. In the past decade, installing solar panels has decreased drastically as the efficiency of solar panels continues to increase. The best thing about going solar is that they can cover up to 80 percent of your home energy demand.
If you have further questions about a solar installation on your home or business or how you can save money with solar, the best thing you can do is explore your solar power options with a qualified professional. Contact HomePro Solutions today. We have the technical know-how and customer service expertise necessary to ensure that every solar power project is a success.