Considering switching to solar power in your house? Great, we like the sound of that. In order to make your transition to solar power a happier experience, we asked the folks at Batteries in a Flash for a few tips.
1 – Get Professional Help
This will help you in many ways. First, solar professionals will help you optimize your panel position relative to the sun so you maximize the energy your panels produce. Furthermore, you will avoid any pitfalls and likely complications that you will inevitably run into as an amateur installer. In addition, having a professional deal with the then necessary permits and paperwork will pay for itself, professionals can even aid in getting financing and walk you through all the rebates and incentives and make sure your solar project qualifies.
2 – Consider Financing or Leasing
Solar projects are a major investment so it’s important to understand all the options you have available to you as most solar installations cost over $10,000 even considering incentives. This can help you reduce the initial start up cost and let you benefit from solar power earlier you may have thought. A solar professional would be a good source of information to get your options in regards to financing and leasing.
3 – Do The Math
Understanding what you can make with an investment in solar power is not a simple process and a simple calculation will not do the trick. How much sunlight your solar panels will get is something a solar professional will be able to calculate upon visiting your home. Having a good understanding of the costs and savings associated with solar power should give you the confidence to move forward when everything lines up.
Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.
1 comment
I think point #1 (get professional help) and point #3 are excellent advice, and are not mutually exclusive. A good professional will help you make sense of the numbers. There is a lot of information to take into account and a lot of misconceptions to discount. Things to consider are the location of the panels, the type of solar panel and the balance of system equipment.
One technology that many people are not aware of is solar water heating. Solar water heaters provide an excellent return on investment and with a lower upfront cost, provide a great bang for your buck.
As for point #2, leasing and financing are good options, but beware of their hidden costs. No one is going to loan you money or give you a solar energy system for free.
Mark Bortman
mark@exactsolar.com
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