Facts to Influence Your Residential Solar Panel Installation
How would you like to spend less of your income on your home energy bills every year? The average home in the United States spends 54% of utility expenses per year on cooling and heating. Should these homes take advantage of solar energy, they can cut down on their total energy bill depending on several other factors that come into play.
Despite the unique benefits of turning to solar energy for your electrical needs, the fact that it is still reasonably new can pose a challenge due to the information gap. Here are three things to factor in as you decide whether solar panel installation is the best decision for your residence.
The Installer’s Certification
Any time you have a contractor who comes to work on your home, you ought to know their credentials enough to be comfortable with them. While hiring a solar panel installation contractor calls for similar due diligence, you need to remain extra vigilant since a solar setup installation combines home improvement with potentially dangerous electrical work.
With that in mind, check to see if the company you’re working with is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Additionally, if you want to get value for your money, compare several accredited professionals.
The Most Suitable Solar Option
There are two types of solar technologies you can choose from when outfitting your home. Thermal and photovoltaic (PV) solar technology. PV solar is the most dominant form in the market today, and it uses cell arrays to convert solar energy into electricity. Thermal solar, on the other hand, takes advantage of sunlight to heat air or water for your domestic use.
For homeowners living in regions where heating energy is more costly than electricity, then thermal solar is the better option. The same goes for homeowners who have hefty heating bills and need a cheaper option.
Grid Connection
As you weigh the decision to take on solar panel installation, you have to ask yourself if you know what your relationship to the grid will look like. For your residential solar energy set up to recoup its costs, you need to connect it to your local power grid. Whenever you generate excess electricity, you can then sell it to the primary grid and in time cover the cost of the solar panel installation.
Connecting your setup calls for logistical problem-solving. Is there any fee you will have to pay? How long will the utility take to connect your solar set up? All these and more are questions you need to answer definitively. Another issue you must analyze is the rebate your utility company will reimburse you for selling excess electricity to them. Many states handle this issue differently, and you must understand how your state offers incentives that make installing solar panels financially viable. Thus, seek to identify all the related federal tax credits, local and state subsidies available to figure out your budget.
Solar energy offers several benefits that households across the United States can tap into. Using solar energy to power your home can be cheaper, but you have to think through all the factors in play to make the best decision for your home.
Call Efficient Home Services today to find out more about our residential solar panel services.
