Are you thinking about getting a solar panel system for your home?
Whether you’re motivated to do so by the lure of big savings on your current electric bill or would maybe just like to support the movement towards a more sustainable & environmentally friendly energy option, there are a number of factors to consider before making the final decision on a residential solar panel system that’s right for you.
Here are 5 cost breakdown questions to ask before choosing the number of solar panels that you will need to power your home and the solar panel company that you will ultimately hire to supply & install your new system.
1. What is your current energy usage?
One of the first things that will need to be determined is the current & future energy needs of your home.
Likewise, the first step that a solar panel installation salesperson is likely to take is to request a copy of the last 12-13 months of your electricity bills.
The purpose for this is to calculate your average monthly kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy usage.
After your yearly energy usage is thoroughly reviewed, the solar energy installer can then recommend a custom solar panel system configuration that should adequately meet or exceed the desired power needs for your home.
2. How much sunshine does your area get throughout the year?
Another factor to consider before deciding on a solar panel system is the availability of sunlight conditions in your local geographic area.
The ability of your solar panels to generate the most sufficient levels of energy production can be largely affected by factors such as limited sunlight conditions, seasonal weather patterns and other environmental factors like cloudiness & dust that may limit the panels maximum exposure to sunlight.
Google’s Project Sunroof is a really cool tool that can help you determine if your current home is a good candidate for solar power energy savings.
Simply input your current home address and if available, the tool will provide you with a detailed analysis of your current estimated yearly energy production & savings potential.
3. What are some possible obstructions that can cause shading?
You may also need to survey your home for existing obstructions that can cause shading.
These obstructions typically include things such as trees and/or adjacent buildings that can possibly block the path of direct sunlight in the desired location of your solar panels.
The shade from these objects can cause a reduction in energy output in certain systems by way of reducing the amount of sunlight that reach the surface of your solar panels.
4. What are the expected maintenance & repair cost?
We all know that almost every electronic system is likely to require some sort of routine maintenance and/or replacement parts at one point or another during its life-cycle.
It is essential that you ask as many upfront questions about the expected cost of any potential maintenance repairs that your system may need over its expected life-cycle.
While certain types of solar panel brands and hardware manufacturers may outperform their competitors over the long term, it is important that you still establish a detailed understanding of how your system is expected to perform over its operational lifetime, especially during periods of inclement weather or other seasonal weather conditions.
Learning about the solar panel system’s hardware, maintenance and repair cost upfront will minimize the likelihood of sticker shock if and when a potential issue arises with an individual solar panel, switch or inverter.
5. What are the available finance options to pay for the system?
With the seemingly large upfront cost that can come along with installing a solar panel system for your home, there are fortunately a number of financing options that can be utilized through the solar energy contractor or other third party finance companies.
This is one of the most import factors to consider before making the decision to purchase your desired system due to the long term financial responsibility that this decision will establish.
It is important to fully understand all of the financing terms that are offered, potential tax incentives that you may qualify for and the total overall cost of funding & maintaining your solar energy system over its entire life-cycle.
Due Diligence
As with any major purchase decision, it is imperative that you conduct a due diligence process for each & every facet of the solar panel buying & installation process.
This includes conducting in-depth research on the durability of the solar panel equipment manufacturers & their ability to honor warranty claims, the experience & expertise of the company that installs the solar power system, legal agreements between you and the solar energy contractor, expected maintenance cost, a thorough understanding of the financing terms and an overall working knowledge of how the solar panel system is expected to function over its entire life cycle.
Likewise, if you live in a homeowner’s association, you may also want to contact the management office to find out what is allowed & what is not for your specific neighborhood.
Good luck on your journey to harnessing the power of solar energy.
