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Nov 13 2014
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solar energy during the holidays

The Advantages of Solar Energy during the Holidays

By How Much Do Solar Panels Save? No Comments

When it comes to the holidays, few things are quite as iconic as the Christmas Tree. With beautiful lights shining night after night, entire towns can completely change their character for a few months each year. Unfortunately, all of that beauty comes at a real cost – sky-high electrical bills can transform that holiday cheer into a grimace and a groan. Fortunately, there’s a solution that can work in even the darkest months of the year – quality solar panels which can power all of the holiday lights with juice to spare! The advantages of solar energy are too good to pass up if you want to hang the lights without worrying about your bills.

The bidding process itself is as simple and straightforward as you want it to be. Most solar installers will insist on having a professional come out and inspect a property – but with only so many inspectors to go around, long lines can stop you from getting power when you want it. The easy alternative will just ask a few questions that are designed to guide you through the selection process and understand what you need to know about solar power – and in as little as 10-20 minutes, you could have 3 comparable bids for the project from a network of vetted, quality installers. It really is that easy! Once things are finalized, the only thing left is the installation process itself, which averages about two days for a standard residential project.

Now, what’s the process like without the right partner? Well, first you’ll need to wait for days or weeks to have someone come to visit your home. They’ll probably spend hours looking at things, then trying to figure out how much they can charge you – and you could wind up overpaying some contractors by as much as $15,000. You’ll also have to deal with endless calls from marketers if you invite public bids instead of settling on a specific installer, and all of them will be desperate to get your business. It’s hard to enjoy the holiday season when you’re spending all of your time evaluating bids, especially if you’re trying to do it quickly enough to get a project done before you put your lights up.

Solar panels are a great investment, but the wrong choices really could cost you. Solar.com is a simple, easy, and affordable way to get a bid for the project and find installers you can trust to get the job done right. Visit us online for more information about this process and see just how easy it can be to have solar power in time for the Holidays.

 

Oct 31 2014
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Solar Purchasing Options Got You Confused?

By Buy Solar Panels No Comments

Climate change, social responsibility, tax advantages, saving money—the reasons for going solar are as varied as the homes, families, and lifestyles of today’s solar shoppers. But regardless of the “who” or the “why” of home solar installation, confusion over which finance method to choose is nearly universal—should you buy a system, and if so, should you refinance or get a personal loan? Should you lease it instead? Should you enter into a power purchase agreement? What the heck is a power purchase agreement, anyway?

These are the questions and the decisions that stand in the way of many homeowners going forward with solar installation projects, but they don’t have to be. The solar industry is coming to terms with this market deterrent, and new businesses are cropping up specifically designed to help consumers make the best decision for their individual needs. Solar.com works with homeowners to navigate the choppy waters of solar bidding and financing.

“One of the biggest issues a homeowner confronts when purchasing solar is making apples-to-apples comparisons of bids that offer different finance options,” said Solar.com founder Max Aram. “Most homeowners are looking at the monthly payment number without really understanding the true cost over a period of 10 or 20 years. But the out-of-pocket difference between plans can be significant—to the tune of thousands of dollars.”

Before signing a contract, Aram suggests reviewing the literature regarding different finance plans. Reputable government and academic sites, like Go Solar California (www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov) or the National Renewable Energy Laboratory website (www.nrel.gov), feature unbiased guides to educate the public on solar financing options.

If pressed to make a recommendation, however, Aram does have a preference.

“Whenever possible and appropriate, we encourage our clients to purchase the system rather than lease or enter into a PPA. With a lease, while the per-month cost may be lower, at the end of the term, homeowners don’t own the system—they have the option to either buy it or give it back. For a few dollars more per month, that same homeowner on a purchase plan would own the system outright, and at that point, their energy use would truly be free.”

Leases do have their advantages, though. Go Solar California suggests, and Aram agrees, that leases are a suitable option for homeowners looking to be in a residence for five years or less. Aram cautions, though, that it’s important to review the transfer of ownership terms for the lease so that when you do move, you’re not confronted with any troublesome surprises.

Power Purchase Agreements, or PPA’s, are another option altogether. Here, a third-party provider owns and maintains the system and then sells the energy that the system produces back to the homeowner. “This option is appropriate,” said Aram, “for homeowners or landlords strictly looking to reduce their monthly overhead or create a situation where their utility cost is fixed year over year. It’s important to remember, however, that many of these agreements are based on preset pricing per kilowatt—which means, if the price of energy drops and homeowners are locked into a contract, theoretically, they could end up paying more than if they had kept their traditional utility-delivered energy plan.”

Even after learning the pros and cons of the various financing options, homeowners can still face uncertainty over what path to take. “That’s what a solar marketplace is for,” concluded Aram. “A good one knows the home solar installation business inside and out and should be transparent in its business operation. At Solar.com, we take the time to learn about our customers’ unique needs and make unbiased recommendations that are based on what’s best for them—not what’s best for the bank or the installer.”