Solar OK, you’ve made the decision. It’s done. Solar. Yes. Let’s move to solar energy.
Now what?
There are numerous benefits to making the move to solar power, from the financial and potential tax windfall, to the personal satisfaction that comes with knowing that you’re making a move toward a sustainable future for all. However, in this fast-growing, rapidly evolving market, there are some potential pitfalls that can arise when making the switch.
Here are 5 tips to help ensure that your decision to make the switch to solar will bring more grins than grimaces.
- Expect The Sun, Not The Moon
Many homeowners look at solar power for a long time, hemming and hawing over whether to make the switch. Many of these same homeowners spend too much time focusing on up-front costs that they might incur, as they look to recoup those costs as quickly as possible.
One key for making a smooth transition lies in managing your own personal expectations in terms of the timeline for realizing the financial benefits of switching to solar. More than one solar power system owner has been disillusioned by not making all their costs back in the first year or two. If you have a more realistic expectation of the benefits over the long term, you’re more likely to be happy or pleasantly surprised, rather than disappointed or impatient.
- A Painter Considers His Canvas
When Da Vinci created the Mona Lisa, he didn’t paint it on a piece of cheesecloth. When installing landscaping, a gardener looks at the soil and weather before planting trees. When a homeowner considers a solar array, he or she should make a realistic assessment of their roof.
There are a number of things to consider with regards to the roof (or wherever the solar array will be installed). Everything from the direction the house points to the slope of the roof to the age of the roof should be taken into account before choosing to install solar panels. No matter the benefits of a system, those benefits will be diminished if the homeowner has to replace the roof two years after installing the panels.
- Ask Questions Before Buying
You did an inspection before you bought your house. You did research before you bought your car. You looked around and asked for recommendations before choosing a dentist. Why should making the jump to solar be any different?
Just as in any industry, there will always be less-than-reputable outfits looking to install the cheapest system on a roof for the highest price, making promises that just can’t be met. The discerning homeowner will ask questions throughout the process.
If you’ve looked at the first two tips above, you know some of the things that should be considered before making the move to solar. Do your research first, then be willing to ask a vendor or an installer about the same things. If their answers fit with the research you’ve done, great. If an installer pushes you to buy despite the 100-foot oak tree that blocks half your house from the sun, it’s likely time to look elsewhere.
- Get What You Need
Once you determine whether or not switching to solar is right for you, it’s also key to make sure you are installing the right size system for your home and your needs. Just because you have a huge roof doesn’t mean you need an industrial system. By the same token, one single solar panel likely isn’t going to make you happy each month with its production.
- Don’t Wait Forever
Solar power isn’t some fad. If you’re doing your research, you’ve found the myriad benefits that can be realized. Each year that a home ages, the benefits of a solar power system can be diminished because of needed upkeep of the house. The longer you have the system, the better the return, both in terms of finances and sustainability.
Want to know more about how making the switch to solar can help you drive you electric bill down to zero? Contact us today for a free quote.