Add Solar Power to Your House – What You Need to Know

You’ve decided to add solar power to your house, but now what? How much will it cost? What are the necessary permits? And will it give you a good return on investment? There are many questions you’ll want to ask yourself before deciding whether or not to go for it. Read on to find out more about installing solar panels on your home.

Installing solar panels

Before you install solar panels, you must first determine your power needs. Survey your home’s roof to determine where you can mount panels. Then, connect the panels to an inverter located outside the home. The inverter will turn the solar power into electricity for your home. If your home is a non-solar one, you’ll need to hire a solar contractor to install your panels.

When choosing a solar panel, choose a roof that receives a significant amount of direct sunlight. The higher the amount of sunlight hitting the panels, the more energy they produce. Make sure you do not have trees near your roof, as this can cast a significant shade and block the sun’s rays. Lastly, make sure the panel is properly installed so that it doesn’t collect dirt and debris. Proper installation will ensure that your solar panels will provide you with clean power for many years to come.

Cost

A 5kW home solar system can cost as much as $15,000 or more, and most homeowners pay between $17,893 and $33,599 for it. This average is not bad for a $1,200 a year home energy bill, but it will cost you at least another $3,500 if you choose to purchase a larger system. The price per watt is based on a national average and will vary according to company, system size, and location. If you choose a large national installer, your cost per watt will be even higher.

Incentives for solar installations vary from state to state. In New Jersey, for example, you may receive a tax credit of up to $1,500 per watt for up to four years. In other states, such as California, the incentive is based on the general retail electricity rate for power generated by a solar array. Property tax exemptions of up to $20,000 are also available. Installing solar panels on your roof can help you save even more money, and you can even sell excess power to the utility for a profit.

Permits

If you’re interested in adding solar panels to your home, you will need to obtain a permit before you can begin installing the panels. Permit requirements vary widely from town to town and state to state, and are dependent on local legislation, codes, and zoning laws. The electrical permit is required to ensure that your solar array is up to code. Local fire departments may also require a certain amount of clearance around your solar array so that they can easily access the roof if the need arises. This paperwork is often handled by a solar installation company.

If you have chosen to use a third party to handle the application process, you can expect it to take a few days. The time it takes to obtain a permit for solar installation may vary from one city to another, but the cost is typically only a few hundred dollars. Depending on the size and location of your home, you can find third-party services that will complete the process for you for a one-time flat fee. Upon completion of your application, your local utility company or AHJ will review it and decide if you can install solar power on your property.

Return on investment

How to calculate your Return on Investment (ROI) when adding solar power to your house? There are several different ways to calculate your ROI. One of the easiest ways is to estimate how much money you will save over the lifetime of the solar panel system. In other words, you can calculate your ROI by summarizing your electricity bills over 12 months. However, this figure is not necessarily accurate, as your energy usage can vary significantly from month to month.

Installing solar panels on your home is a great way to reduce your energy costs. Using the power generated by the panels to run energy-hungry appliances like air conditioning and refrigerators will increase their value in the long run. However, the most effective way to maximize your return on investment is to use the credits generated by the system to reduce your utility bills. If you have surplus power, you can sell it to your local utility company and use them as cash for more energy.