Are Solar Panels Worth It? (Professional Guide)

Are Solar Panels Worth It? (Professional Guide)

The advantages and positive aspects of using solar energy are often discussed in depth; yet, the high initial expenses connected with installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system could leave you bewildered. You may be wondering whether or not installing solar panels is financially worthwhile. The team of reviewers here at Home Media has researched the most reputable solar companies in the United States to assist you in determining which homeowners will benefit the most from the installation of a solar system and which solar panels and installers are worth the investment.

When Are Solar Panels Worth It?

When Are Solar Panels Worth It?

Solar panels may pay for themselves in a number of different ways, including lowering your carbon footprint and improving the value of your property. According to research conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the value of houses equipped with solar power rose by $20 for every dollar that was saved on energy costs. That represents a return on investment of twenty times to one (ROI).

However, there are several circumstances in which solar panels could not provide the kind of high returns that you had hoped for. According to Garrett Nilsen, the deputy director of the Solar Energy Technologies Office at the United States Department of Energy, your return on investment (ROI) can be impacted by a number of factors, including the cost of your entire system, the cost of electricity in your area, and whether you pay for your system outright, get a loan, or lease it. It's possible that your payback time will take longer if the compensation arrangements with your local utility company change, or if there's an unanticipated dip in the system's performance. In these unusual cases, Nilsen recommends communicating with your installer to better understand the projected output or why it does not match their estimate.

The following are some considerations that may help you get the most out of your investment in solar energy:

Location

The value of a solar power system is greatly impacted by factors such as the position of your house in relation to the sun. Solar panels provide the greatest return on investment for homeowners residing in parts of the United States that are subjected to a significant amount of sunshine over the year.

Based on an examination of the available data, the website Stacker concluded that the following 10 states in the United States get the most sunlight:

Arizona

California

Colorado

Florida

Kansas

Nevada

New Mexico

Oklahoma

Texas

Utah

Even while locations such as Florida, Texas, California, and Arizona are great places to install a solar system, the installation of solar panels on your house may not be financially worthwhile if trees or other structures often shade it. In addition, rooftops that face south, southwest, or west (in the northern hemisphere) get more direct radiation from the sun, which means that solar panels installed on such roofs will produce more solar energy.

Your Home's Roofing

The dimensions, form, and pitch of a roof are other essential characteristics to take into account. According to Garrett Nilsen, who serves as the deputy director of the Solar Energy Technologies Office for the United States Department of Energy, roof structures may be one of the most significant barriers to installing solar panels.

"Rooftop panels may not be the best choice for you if there are a lot of trees around your house that cast an excessive amount of shadow on your roof," he explains. Solar panels provide the greatest results when installed on roofs facing south and with a slope of between 15 and 40 degrees; however, other roofs may also be appropriate. Installers may model roofs in order to identify whether or not the orientation and slope are optimal for energy production.

Steep roofs make installation more difficult, which may also drive up labor costs or require the purchase of extra mounting equipment. The ideal roofs have a significant amount of surface area and a limited number of impediments, such as skylights and chimneys. Solar panels may still be installed on smaller roofs; however, you should choose panels with a higher efficiency rating, such as monocrystalline panels, which produce more electricity while taking up less space.

Local and Federal Tax Incentives

Local and Federal Tax Incentives

Federal and state governments also provide financial incentives in the form of tax credits and rebates for the use of solar energy. For instance, the solar investment tax credit provided by the federal government grants taxpayers a credit equal to thirty percent of the cost of installing residential solar systems (ITC).

Additional solar rebates and tax credits are available in a variety of states. One example is the Property Tax Abatement for Renewable Energy Property that is offered to homeowners in the state of Florida. This incentive raises the value of your solar installation by providing a property tax exemption of one hundred percent for renewable energy properties located on residential properties and a property tax abatement of eighty percent for renewable energy properties located on nonresidential properties.

We strongly suggest you use the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency to get information on further rebates and solar tax credits offered in your state.

Energy Consumption

Before you go ahead and install solar panels, you should first calculate how much energy you need on a monthly basis. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the typical home consumes roughly 893 kilowatt-hours (kWh) each month. Solar panels installed on a home may generate anywhere from 350 to 850 kWh of electricity per month. As a result, you have the potential to cut your electricity bills by as much as 95%.

If you anticipate that your monthly power costs will continue to rise, switching to solar energy may prove to be a wise investment. On the other hand, if your home's day-to-day operations do not call for a significant amount of energy usage, you could not save enough to justify the expense of the installation.

You should also check with the utility provider serving your area to see whether or not they have a well-established net-metering scheme. The term "net-metering" refers to a billing method in which the electricity generated by your solar power system is sold back to the utility company. In addition, the quantity of energy generated is subtracted from your monthly energy bill, which results in cost savings for you as well as the provision of clean energy for your neighborhood.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?

Solar panels may be purchased from a variety of retailers for a wide range of prices. However, the cost of installing a solar system is far more than just the cost of the solar panels themselves. The remaining expenditures for installing a solar panel system are comprised of on-going maintenance and the purchase of supplementary equipment such as inverters and solar batteries.

It varies from property to property how much the installation of solar panels will cost in total. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, during the course of the last decade, the typical cost of installing a solar panel system in a residential home has decreased by an annual average of more than sixty percent. In 2021, the cost of a conventional 6-kWh system, including professional installation and the cost of the equipment, is between $16,000 and $21,000.

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.