Does Solar Make Sense For Me?

Over the last several weeks we've taken a look at home solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.  We've talked about many of the components of those systems, how they work, and what options exist.  But how can you tell if solar makes sense for you and your home?

For something as important and expensive as solar, it is important that you spend some time reading and learning.  As we've discussed, a well designed solar system is more than a few panels on the roof.  The placement of the panels, inverters used, shading considerations, and how you intend to use the system all alter a design.

Most importantly, if you are considering solar, get three estimates and pick-apart and compare each design.  You'll likely see that some companies simply offer "cookie cutter" approaches that may not be as efficient, while others may offer more custom solutions for your specific environment.

Anyway, lets get started and determine if solar makes sense for you.

The best way to consider whether solar makes sense for you is to consider the main decision points.

First, you have to have some idea of the type of system you want.  Do you want grid-tied or a stand-alone self-sufficient system?  And are battery backups an option for grid-tied systems on your utility?   See Part 1 for more on these topics.

1. Do you have enough cash for the up front costs?

Depending on the size of your system and any rebates you may be eligible for, you may be looking at $2000 to $15000 in up-front costs to own your own system.

Note that most state and federal rebates come in the form of a tax rebate, so you will not see that cash until you file your taxes.

If you cannot afford the up-front costs, there may be financing available.  Alternatively, you can look into a solar leasing program, which I discussed last week.  These programs don't offer as much potential savings, but they avoid the huge up-front costs and will reduce your bills.

2. Does your local city or state provide any rebates?

My city offers a $0.60 per watt produced rebate, with a cap.  This is atypical, but worth looking into.  And many states also offer their own tax rebates, perhaps adding up to $500, $1000, or even $2000 in some cases.

Check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) for information on your own state.

3. Does your local utility provide any rebates?

Utility rebates are often the biggest rebate among federal, state, and local rebates.  In Arizona, for example, $2 to $3 per watt is not uncommon.  Thus, a typical 5 KW system could net $10,000 to $15,000 in rebates.  Better still, these rebates usually are applied up-front.

Check the DSIRE link as a starting point, and if your utility is not listed, contact them directly.

4. Do you have adequate south facing roof space?

Your roof space need not be facing due south for best performance.  In fact, even just a few degrees of southward component may be adequate.

However, this space needs to be unshaded.  Trees and neighboring houses may cause shading for parts of the day, especially in winter.  Also, chimneys and other roof protrusions can have a surprisingly negative impact on efficiency - if one panel is shaded, the entire string of panels must reduce their output to match (exception is if microinverters are used).

Anyway, most panels produce 180 to 240 watts, and measure about 2.5' x 5'.  That should allow you to roughly estimate how many panels would fit - but take care to leave 3' or more clearance around chimneys when doing your rough guess.

5. Do you have any concerns about aesthetics?

HOAs cannot prevent you from installing solar panels.  They often have design 'suggestions', but the bottom line is they cannot intrude on this right.

However, these sorts of issues are often more nuanced.  HOAs can sometimes be very friendly, and sometimes very petty.  You may want to talk about your plans with your neighbors and have the solar company performing your work submit the plans to the HOA as a show of good faith.