Solar Installer

Making sure you choose the right solar installer is important when looking at going solar.

A solar installer needs to be certified and trained to go on your roof.

Learn more about and get in contact with your local solar installer.

Solar Cost Estimate

Interested in going solar, but not sure where to start?

Get your solar cost estimate to see how much a solar system will cost you. Its the first step in learning if a solar installation is feasible on your budget.

The solar cost estimate also takes into account rebates and tax incentives you can receive for your solar installation, which can mean huge savings on your system.

Take the no-obligation free solar cost estimate today.

Solar Companies

Take special consideration when it comes to choosing which solar companies you are going to hire to go on your roof.

Solar companies should be licensed to install your solar system, and although properly qualified solar contractors will cost more to hire, it will pay off in the long run.

Also, solar companies with experience and referrals are great to check out, as you can see examples of previous installations and possibly even see how much money other customers are saving with solar.

Read more tips about choosing solar companies.

Residential Solar System

In 2009, government support for residential solar systems was about $600 million, according to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. That is split roughly evenly between federal tax credits and rebates paid for by electricity customers.

In the past three years, the wholesale price of panels has fallen 60% to about $1.70 per watt. As they keep falling, solar power will get more competitive and require fewer subsidies. When they reach $1 per watt, you dont even need a 30% [federal] tax credit for a project in states with the highest electric rates to be economic.

This makes it incredibly viable for property owners to install a residential solar system. With the possibly of reducing your energy bill significantly or eliminating it altogether, there has never been a better time to go solar.

Learn more about investing in a residential solar system.

Solar Home Value

Solar systems do, in fact, increase the solar home value.

Selling a home is easier now than in the darkest days of 2009, but not much. “For Sale” signs still litter yards across the country, fading in the sun.

But out West, theres a glimmer of hope on that front—homes with solar photovoltaic panels installed on their roofs enjoy higher prices and stronger demand.

Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory looked at the prices of more than 70,000 homes sold throughout California between 2000 and 2009. Roughly 2,000 of those homes boasted photovoltaic systems for turning sunlight into electricity.

Read more about solar home value.

Solar Panel Installation

Now is the perfect time to go solar with a solar panel installation.

Besides it being a great benefit to the environment, a solar panel installation can also be a great investment.

After tax rebates and incentives, youll find that your installation cost can be nearly slashed in half, saving you a great deal of money.

And, since you wont have an electricity bill to worry about, all the money you save on utilities can go towards paying off the solar panel installation, which can take several years.

But once the system is paid off, youll find yourself making money from the energy you put back on the grid. The typical return on investment can be anywhere from 12-30%.

Learn more about solar panel installations.

Solar Contractors

Solar contractors should be prepared to explain some of the facts that every customer should understand.

Many homeowners don’t understand the relationship of solar panel size to wattage and energy output – and to cost. 

• The price of the solar panel is related to its size and wattage. Larger panels generate more wattage.
• The main issues are that the solar system has sufficient wattage to power the household appliances and that the panels will physically fit onto the house’s roof.
• The type of solar cell helps determine the size and cost of the panel. Film panels are less expensive than monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels, but they need more roof space
• A 100 watt solar panel will generate 100 watts of electricity an hour while a 200 Watt panel will produce 200 watts per hour. So, a 200 watt panel should cost approximately twice a 100 watt.

Read more about solar contractors or find one in your area.