Weatherize Before Going Solar
In order to maximize your investment in solar it is wise to first reduce the amount of electricity your household consumes.
This is why Weatherization makes so much sense.
The first step in the weatherization process is a no-cost detailed energy assessment which your utility company will provide. An Energy Specialists will come to your home and present you with a detailed list of your current energy use along with custom recommendations to help you save energy and make your home more comfortable.
You will also receive a list describing the available rebates and incentives being offered by your utility company at that time. For more information, give us a call or visit our Weatherization tab!
Benefits of Solar
Solar is good for the world
A home with an average sized solar array will avoid producing more than 140 tons of carbon emissions over the lifespan of the system. This is equivalent to planting three thousand trees.
Solar and other clean energy are expected to create three to five million jobs in the United States over the next decade and many more worldwide.
By reducing our demand for foreign oil, solar provides a pathway which one day may lead the United States to total energy independence.
Great Investment
Solar is a great investment with several advantages over traditional investments. Solar on average can deliver returns up to 10 to 30%, on par with stocks and bonds. However, unlike stocks and bonds most of your return on investment is in the form of savings rather than income and is therefore not taxable. Solar is also a relatively low risk investment because your return is equal to what you save each month on your utility bill. It is practically guaranteed.
Solar is affordable
Today solar is affordable for almost everyone. If you can afford your current electric bill you can afford solar. Over the last several years solar prices have dropped over 80% and incentives and tax credits can drive the cost down even further.
No need to spend any money upfront. Flexible financing from solar loans and leases, most with zero down payment options make it possible for anyone to go solar. More often than not your solar loan or lease payment will be less than your monthly electric bill, so you start saving money as soon as the panels are installed.
Solar is easy to live with
Solar systems require little to no maintenance and the individual components which make up the system come with long manufacturer warranties. These systems increase the value of your home and make it more attractive to potential buyers. Studies show that homes with installed solar panels sell faster and usually at a premium over similar homes in the neighborhood.
The Takeaway
Bottom line, you can save big money by going solar. One thing is for sure the price we pay for electricity will continue to go up. The higher the price of electricity climbs, the more valuable you solar panels become. Because with solar, the electricity that you generate is free. Instead of paying the utility company you get to keep the money.
Energy Geeks has made a commitment to saving money on energy. Our holistic approach looks at your entire home as a system. First we provide a no-cost home energy assessments to determine where your energy use is greatest and how it can be reduced. But we don’t stop there, we also install the recommended energy efficiency measures and upgrades listed in the energy assessment. Followed as prescribed, this will reduce your energy consumption which in turn will reduce the number of solar panels needed. Reducing the number of solar panels needed will not only reduce the cost of the system it also reduces the amount of roof area needed to install it.
The time to go solar is now.
Will Solar Work on My Home?
Geographical location
The question on most people’s minds is, “Will solar work on my home”. Usually the answer is a resounding YES! You don’t need ideal conditions for solar to be effective. Although it is true that the more sun the better, most areas within the United States are sunny enough for solar. Solar is really about saving money. And the sunniest locations don’t always have the highest savings. How much money you save is mostly driven by how high the electric rates are in your area. Here in the Northeast the cost for electricity is high and are expected to go higher in the future. Consider this, Germany with its high cost of energy has sixty times more solar systems installed per person than we do here in the United States. Germany gets about the same amount of sunlight as Alaska.
Roof configuration
The perfect roof configuration for solar would consist of a large unobstructed area facing south with a 30 degree pitch. Incidentally, the compass feature on your smart phone works great. Don’t worry if your home does not have the perfect roof configuration. Most homes don’t. Fortunately, there is wiggle room with solar so you can still reap the benefits of having panels on your roof. For example, roof areas that face east and west can be used for solar. A roof with a pitch between 15 and 40 degrees, which includes most roofs, can be used for solar. Most roofs don’t have large unobstructed areas. There may be dormers, skylights chimneys or other protrusions in the way that break up the open space. Generally solar installers can design your array around these obstructions to maximize production.
A big consideration when it comes to all things solar is shade. Are there trees nearby that block the sun? Can they be pruned if need be or removed altogether? If a tall building blocks the sun from hitting your roof that may be a problem.
Energy Geeks has made a commitment to saving you money on energy. Our holistic approach looks at your entire home as a system. We provide a no-cost home energy assessment designed to show where your energy use is greatest and how it can be reduced. Each item described in the energy assessment will include a price specific to that measure. Thus providing a menu-like list where you can choose the entire package or just specific items from it. But we don’t stop there, we also install these energy efficiency measures and upgrades. Followed as prescribed, these measures will reduce your energy consumption which in turn will reduce the number of solar panels needed. Reducing the number of solar panels needed not only lowers the cost of the entire system it reduces the amount of roof area necessary to install it.
The time to go solar is now. Get a Quote on Solar!