Avoid These Mistakes & Myths When Going For Solar!
Top Five Solar Mistakes
So you’ve decided to go solar. Great! But before you proceed any further, it’s important to know some of the more common solar mistakes that homeowners make so you can avoid them. Here are five of the most common ones:
Mistake # 1: Missing out on limited time rebates and incentives.
Nothing’s worse than making the right step towards solar and then realizing that you missed out on a large incentive or rebate. These programs are great for homeowners, but they can have very strict requirements and most expire after a set period. Make sure you know what incentives and rebates are available from the federal, state, and municipal government and your local electrical utility. More importantly, make sure your solar system meets every requirement necessary to qualify for the programs and that these programs don’t expire before you’ve completed your installation. Professional solar installers are intimately familiar with the programs and can make sure that you are able to take advantage of all rebates and incentives.
Mistake # 2: Not using an experienced solar professional to install your system.
The best solar installers undergo extensive training and are able to rely on years of solar installation experience. These professionals know the incentives and rebates in your area and will ensure that your solar system meets the requirements. They also will optimize your system’s position in relation to the sun, which will guarantee optimal performance and the lowest possible electrical bill for you. What’s more, professional installers are unlikely to make the installation mistakes that are common in ‘do-it-yourself’ jobs. Whether it is a leak in your roof or an electrical connection that doesn’t meet county code, there are many ways that a solar installation can go wrong. Finally, professional installers can help you through the mountain of paperwork and permits necessary to install your system and get it online. To top it all off, professional installers can also help you secure financing for your system.
Click here if you are ready to learn more about solar power and need estimates from solar companies. For more information on qualified professionals, you can check out this report on California solar companies written by research analysts at Clean Energy Experts.
Mistake # 3: Forgetting to look at financing and leasing options.
The average solar system costs between $10,000 and $30,000 after rebates and incentives. For most of us, this represents a major investment, comparable in cost to a new car. Financing the solar system can reduce your initial out-of-pocket expenses and make the entire process easier. Most installers will work with you to find the purchase option that makes the most sense and help you get the financing you need. Leasing is another attractive option if you don’t want to pay for the solar equipment or installation up-front. Instead, you simply pay for the electricity that the system generates each month. Both financing and leasing are great ways to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses and still experience the benefits of going solar.
Mistake # 4: Not making your home energy-efficient first.
A good first step toward solar is to check your home’s energy efficiency. You can do a simple home energy audit on your own or hire a contractor to help you. Most homeowners discover that they can reduce their electricity bill simply by making their home more efficient. In fact, the average home energy audit finds potential electricity savings of 30%. Common energy efficiency problems include leaky air ducts, inefficient appliances and incandescent light bulbs. Solving these problems increases the likelihood that your solar system will be able to completely eliminate your electricity bill and that you may even get a check from the local electrical utility every month.
Mistake # 5: Miscalculating your solar savings.
Figuring out exactly how much you can save with your solar panels is a complex process. It involves a careful evaluation of the installation site, the available sunlight and amount of shading on your home, and the characteristics of the solar panels. Most solar websites (including ours) have simple calculators that provide estimates of how much you can save, but these are only approximations. Having a professional installer visit your home to provide a consultation is the best way to get a more precise estimate. With these estimates of costs and savings, you can be sure that solar is an investment that makes sense for you.
Now that you know “what not to do”, you are better prepared in your solar undertakings! Be sure to check our solar consultation page to receive a consultation with a local solar professional.
Top Five Solar Myths You Should Not Believe
With so much information available on solar power, the real facts are sometimes obscured by myths. One of our goals is to dispel those misconceptions so that you can make an educated decision about solar. Here are five myths about solar power you shouldn’t believe:
Myth #1: Solar is only good in warm climates.
The average temperature in a climate region does not have an effect on solar panels. In fact, solar panels are actually slightly more efficient at producing electricity in cold temperatures. Solar isolation, the amount of sunlight that the cells receive, is the critical point. So even if you live in a colder climate that is further north, you still get enough sunlight that solar panels will work. (If you want to learn more abouthow solar panels work, you can click here.) Surprisingly, Germany, a northern country not generally known for sunny skies, is the world leader in solar photovoltaic energy with over 9,000 Megawatts. That’s almost enough to cover the roofs of 2 million U.S. houses! So next time you hear this myth feel free to point out that just because an area is cold or further north, that does not mean that solar panels won’t work well for you.
Myth #2: You still need a back up generator even after you install solar panels.
Residential solar panels these days are almost always connected to the electric grid. The electricity generated by the solar panels powers your house and any extra electricity is fed back into the electric grid. This actually spins your electric meter backward! Most importantly, because your home remains connected to the electrical grid, you can continue to rely on electricity from your local utility at night or on cloudy days when the solar panels are not generating maximum power. So as long as you install the very common grid-tie solar systems, you will not need another power generator as a backup.
Myth #3: Going solar means going without modern conveniences.
You don’t have to give up your modern conveniences to go solar. Your home will remain connected to the electrical grid and your solar panels will simply offset the amount of electricity you need from the grid. Thus, you have all the power you need night and day, don’t need batteries, and can enjoy all your current conveniences without paying for high electric bills. So, you’ll have a more comfortable home AND realize savings.
Myth #4: Solar power is not ready for mass consumption because it is too expensive.
This has probably been one of the most harmful myths as it causes homeowners to wait to install solar. Decades of technological progress and billions of dollars of research have given us solar energy technology that is proven and reliable. Moreover, government and utility-backed programs are available today to make solar adoption very affordable for just about any homeowner or business. A report by the National Renewable Energy Lab shows that solar photovoltaic panels actually payback the energy used to produce the panels in 1 to 4 years depending on the type of panel. If you live in a state with particularly good incentives, the payback period can be as short as two to four years. Just take a look at all the incentives and rebates available for homeowners from the government (both federal and state) and from your local electrical utility. Not only that, because solar panels last at least 30 years, PV systems will provide at minimum 26 to 29 years of pollution-free electricity for your home!
Myth #5: Using solar panels causes more harm to the environment than it helps.
As we stated earlier, a report by the National Renewable Energy Lab showed that solar photovoltaic panels actually payback the energy used to produce the panels in 1 to 4 years depending on the type of panel and the amount of solar isolation available in your region. In addition, solar panels typically last 25-30 years so the net energy savings from other fossil fuel based energy sources is tremendous. Lastly, at the end of the useful life of the solar panels, your solar company typically collects them and recycles their components. If they don't automatically recycle your panels, find out why and see if you can contract for your panels to be recycled as reusing the elements needed to make solar panels is one final step to make solar an even more environmentally friendly energy source.
