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Jan 06 2016
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Three Things to Avoid When Installing Your Solar Panel System

By Solar Panel Installation Process No Comments

At Solar.com, we have a lot of experience in the solar panel industry. Every day we help people to install panels on their homes, and we often get quite a bit of feedback from these customers. Sometimes they tell us about how awesome the installation process was, and other times they tell us about what went wrong. If you’re planning to install your own system, make sure to read this article first!

1. Hiring an Inexperienced Installer

While the price of solar panels has been dropping like a rock in the last ten years, the price of the installation itself has only seen a mild decrease. That’s because many of the costs associated with installation, like labor and non-solar materials, have not gone down in price. Because of this, some homeowners may be tempted to reach out and hire the cheapest solar panel installer that they can find. From what we’ve seen, this is often a poor choice

Solar panels are a major investment, and you don’t want to make the mistake of letting an amateur install them. There are simply too many things that can go wrong. For instance, before panels are installed a detailed analysis of your roof needs to be completed. That will tell the installer where the best spot is on your roof, what the best angle is, and if there are any obstructions like a tree or shadow from a barn that would prevent the panels from getting sunlight. If you hire someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing, you may end up losing more money from long term potential generation then you saved on the installation.

2. Buying the Most Expensive Panels Possible

Earlier, we talked about who the best manufacturers of solar panels are. First on our list was SunPower, which makes the most efficient silicon cell solar panel on the market. Many homeowners may be tempted to install this panel, as it would seem to offer their home the most benefit. However, in most situations, this may not actually be the best idea.

SunPower’s panels are very efficient, but they’re also the most expensive. If you have a normal sized roof and can generate enough energy from panels with average efficiency, in most cases this will be a better financial decision. The math simply doesn’t work out, when you compare the high cost of installing the most efficient solar panels, versus the potential savings that they’ll offer you. We usually advise customers that the only time it’s necessary to install the most efficient panels is if they have only limited roof space, or if money is no question and they simply want the greenest system possible.

Related reading: How To Choose Solar Panels for Your Home

3. Not Getting a Wide Range of Quotes

Solar power has taken off in popularity in the last ten years, and now 0.79% of the world’s energy is generated from the sun. It’s especially popular in places like California, which not only receives lots of Sunshine but also has lots of different financial incentives available for would be solar panel owners. With this growing popularity has come a large increase in the number of firms who are installing solar panels. Unfortunately, we see too many people fail to take advantage of this.

Homeowners may hear about a solar installer from their friend or neighbor and use him, without getting quotes from other firms. Or they may look online and choose the solar panel installer with the coolest website. While it’s probably safe to say that you’ll get your system installed, you may actually end up spending thousands more than you need to.

Bottom line

At Solar.com, we’re here to help you get the best possible quote on your solar system. On average, we save homeowners enough on their solar panel installation costs to buy a used car! Contact us and we’ll get you the best quote from a wide range of installers, ensuring that your system is installed on time and on budget. Don’t wait, go green today.

Sources

http://www.motherearthnews.com/green-homes/solar-mistakes-zb01210zrob.aspx

http://constructionpv.ie/5-tips-about-choosing-installers-for-solar-panels/

http://io9.com/solar-powers-epic-price-drop-visualized-510448484

 

Dec 21 2015
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The Falling Price of Solar Power

By How Much Do Solar Panels Save? No Comments

In 1977, a solar panel system cost $76.77 a watt. Imagine that you want to install an average, 2,000-watt system for your home. If you’re in a sunny state like Florida or California, that’s going to give you enough energy to power your home during the day. Furthermore, if you have a battery backup system, it means you’ll be able to use renewable energy almost exclusively around in the clock. To install a system of this size in 1977, the panels alone would have cost you $153,540. Clearly, going solar hasn’t always been a viable option.

A problem that we often see is that people have an outdated price in their head regarding the true cost of a solar panel system. They have the misconception that a solar panel system is a luxury or something that only their neighbor who’s a doctor can afford to install. In reality, this is not even close to the truth. Before we look at how much the price has fallen through, it will use to first look at how much electricity costs when you buy it from the grid.

Paying for Electricity from the Utilities

An average home in California uses about 573 kWh of electricity every month. At about $0.15 an hour, that ends up totaling $88 a month. While the electricity usage rate in California is actually lower than the national average, the cost of electricity purchased from the utilities is about 30% higher. At $88 a month, that ends up costing the average homeowner $1,056 every year.

However, one factor that’s not taken into account in these prices is the long term degradation and harm to the environment. The more coal we burn, the more CO2 is released into the atmosphere, the hotter the planet gets. This is responsible for a wide array of different environmental disasters, which are going to start becoming (and already are) quite expensive. Not only that but in the future we’re going to have to end up paying billions, if not trillions of dollars, to counteract the effects of global warming. None of these expenses are factored into your monthly bill.

The Cost of Solar Power Today

Since 1977, the cost of a new solar system has dropped significantly. A system that used to cost $76.77 a watt, now costs a mere $3.74 a watt or less. That’s an incredible price drop and one that the solar industry is actively working to make consumers aware of. One of the challenges is bringing people up to speed about today’s prices. Too many are still stuck thinking in terms of what it cost in 1990 or 2000 to install a system. Things are radically different now.

If you live in California and you want to install a residential system, after you factor in all the costs involved with an installation, it will now cost about $15,000 to $20,000. However, there are numerous incentives out there to help you pay for the system. These incentives are backed by the federal government, and there are also local initiatives available depending on where you live. In the end, most homeowners end up paying about $10,000 for their system.

Remember in California, most people pay about $1,000 a year to the electricity company? Well, that means that after ten years, the solar panels will have paid for themselves. After that, you’ll be making money. Most solar panels are rated to last 25 years, which means you have the potential to save $15,000 dollars or with your system. If your panels last longer, which frequently happens, you may end up saving even more. These savings also don’t take into account any money you may earn by feeding back into the grid. If your electricity demands during the day are low, and you get paid for your excess electricity, your savings can easily exceed $20,000.

Even if you turn around and sell your home a week after the panels are installed, you’ll still turn a profit. Homes with solar panels sell for a higher price, that more than compensates for the cost of the installation of the system.

With all these benefits, there’s no reason to not invest in solar power. It’s green, it’s renewable, it will reduce the amount of carbon being spilled into the air, and it’s a good investment! To get started, talk to Solar.com about finding the best system for your home. We’re experts at helping you to save money, and we’re standing by to help.

Sources

http://costofsolar.com/cost-of-solar-is-2-100-times-cheaper-than-you-think/
http://solarenergy.net/energy-saving/solar-power-cost/
http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/04/current-cost-solar-panels/
http://www.electricitylocal.com/states/california/
http://energyinformative.org/solar-panels-cost/