When it comes to buying solar panels for your home, you want to be sure you have all the facts so you can make the best decision for your family. Ownership of your solar energy system means that you will enjoy all the long-term financial benefits as well as the abundant energy each solar panel produces. Let’s find out more about buying solar panels for your home.
Why buy solar panels for your home?
Unlike traditional energy costs that fluctuate due to changes in fuel prices (oil, natural gas, coal, etc.), your future energy costs with a solar panel system are predictable and already paid for. Investing in solar for your home is a way to future-proof your home’s energy.
Overall, it makes sense to have solar installed on your home from an economic and environmental standpoint. Additionally, with federal incentives, local incentives and statewide rebate programs available, going solar is more affordable than ever. If you’ve been considering solar energy, you’ve come to the right place.
Estimating your solar panel needs
If you want to lower your electric bill*, the amount of solar panels will be determined by exactly how much you want to lower it. If you just want half your electricity use to be reduced, your solar panel system will probably be smaller.
If you want to cover all your electric needs, you’ll probably need a larger solar panel system, which means of course, more solar panels. However, if you have limited roof space you could instead use higher efficiency solar panels. This would mean fewer solar panels, but greater generation rates.
At the end of the day, the size of your solar panel system depends entirely on your energy needs and the wattage of power you need your solar panels to produce.
Average cost of buying solar panels
Thanks to advancements in technology, a growing competitive market and government incentives such as tax credits, buying solar panels is quite affordable for many homeowners. Some states even offer cash rebates after the purchase of a solar panel system.
When considering the cost to go solar, of course the size of your home solar system, the amount of panels, any added battery storage and your state’s solar incentives all factor into the costs. The important part is that you are in total control of your energy usage.
What are some of the key things to know before you go solar? Well, no doubt you’ve heard all about all of the solar savings and environmental benefits this clean energy could offer your home. And if you haven’t, we’ll get into that. Maybe you’re in one of the cities that have set clean energy…
You may be wondering what happens when an ADT Solar Energy Specialist visits your home. If you’ve been considering solar, we understand you may want to know what to expect before booking your free consultation. This is why we created this handy guide of what to expect at your solar consultation. First things first: we…
What to consider when buying solar panels
There are several things to know about buying solar panels. If you’re wondering the best way to buy solar panels, here are some of the most frequently asked questions.
This is one of the first questions people ask about solar. The answer? It’s difficult to determine how many solar panels your home is going to need. The number of solar panels you will need depends on many different factors that are unique to your home and your situation. It’s important to understand all of these factors before you decide on your solar system investment.
Some of these factors include:
- Your home’s electricity usage
- The size of your roof
- The amount of sunlight exposure your home gets
- The types of solar panels you purchase (how efficient they are)
- Solar energy storage options
One of the biggest regrets homeowners have after their install is that they wish they would have installed more solar panels when they had the chance. They see the amount of power produced, and they want even more — especially if it means they can connect to a home battery like the Tesla Powerwall to store excess power or sell it by way of net metering.
Make sure to check with a professional to find the exact amount your home will need for maximum benefits and follow their recommended guidelines.
You may also want to consider investing in a solar energy battery for your solar power system, which will store any excess energy your panels will produce. This will allow your home to run on renewable energy even at night.
If you decide at some point after your installation that you want more panels as part of your solar PV system, it will be complicated and expensive, while adding additional solar panels to the original quote can be surprisingly cost effective.
Going solar is a great investment for your home’s energy costs, but there are even more reasons why solar is a great long-term investment, including financial incentives like the federal solar tax credit**, keeping your home powered during outages and increasing your home’s value.
Buying your solar panels means you could increase the value of your home, and a greater return on investment, should you ever decide to sell your house. In some states, your rooftop solar installation is exempt from property taxes, which means even further opportunity to realize more return on your investment.
Read more about leasing vs buying your solar panels. There are advantages to each and it’s a smart idea to consider the pros and cons for your particular situation. Here we’re going to break it down in simple terms.
There are three ways to purchase solar panels: cash, solar loans and solar leasing/PPA.
The benefits of buying your home solar system include greater long-term savings, especially since your system could pay for itself in typically three to seven years. However, the upfront costs are the highest.
The benefits of financing your solar panels include zero down in some cases, but a monthly payment. The savings after around 20 years is less than with a cash purchase, but still significant. The best part is that your payments will end at some point, and your electric bill will be greatly reduced or eliminated. The trade-off is well worth it.
The benefits of solar leasing or solar purchase agreements (PPA) is that it will be less expensive to install upfront, and someone else will be responsible for maintaining your solar system.1 However, your monthly payment will be relatively high compared to other options and you will have no long-term benefits.
Where to buy solar panels depends on your needs. Are you looking for small scale systems that are DIY? If so, wholesale retailers and websites like Amazon sell kits for smaller scale projects. However, these will not be able to power your entire home. Typically these are used for a few items at a time as a backup source.
If you’re looking for large-scale solar power system installations, then you’ll want to go with a national installer. Make sure to choose a company with a great reputation and warranties. Here are a few pointers.
- Expertise: Your solar installer should have expertise in the solar industry and a bonus company would have experience in roofing. A company with expertise will have been open for more than a few years and have thousands of installations under their belt. Many companies subcontract their installation employees. Companies who have in house installers are much more reliable and experienced.
- Credentials: A reputable solar installation company will have all of the necessary licenses, insurance policies and credentials needed for all areas they operate in. They should be listed on their website and easy to find. A company with all credentials will meet all of the state standards and is certified as a legitimate business.
- Track record and experience: The solar industry is growing and not many companies have decades of solar under their belt. Though, finding a company with a background in solar and years of experience is necessary. They should be able to discuss and show different installations and systems previously installed. They should have hundreds of reviews on their website and social media accounts.
- Reputation: Reading solar company reviews is a great place to start. Keep an eye out for companies that respond to their customer reviews and respond in a professional and timely manner. Companies who care about their customers will be helpful and thankful to their customers. Solar companies that have won solar awards and been named in the top of their industry are great companies to look into.
- Warranties: Warranties are a very important factor when considering solar installation companies. Many solar companies do not have reliable warranties. When buying an expensive system, it is important to know about the warranties and what the company will do for you if something goes wrong.
ADT Solar, a solar company you can trust
For almost 150 years, homeowners have trusted ADT for their security, and now they can have the same confidence in a solar company.
Get behind a company you can trust
ADT Solar has a proven history and reputation for providing quality, dependable solar service. We are proud to offer some of the best warranties you can find in the solar industry and only use products that offer the same. Discover why we’re trusted by homeowners across the nation:
If you’re ready to take the next step, or even if you’re considering what it would take to get you there, contact us to discover all your options. We install solar and roofs across the United States. Contact us today to see if we service your area and get free solar quotes for your particular needs.
1 Beginning 12 months after the date your system is operational and continuing for 25 consecutive years, for each 12-month period, ADT Solar guarantees that your system will generate at least 95% of the annual estimated production for that 12-month period, after accounting for degradation at the rate of .33% per year. If your system does not produce the guaranteed amount for any 12-month period, and you notify ADT Solar within 2 years of the end of the applicable 12-month term, ADT Solar will pay $.10 per kWh of the difference between your system’s actual production and the guaranteed production for that 12-month period. “Actual production” means the amount of electricity produced by your particular system, which is calculated using data provided by the system or an estimate prepared by ADT Solar.