How to go solar without being sold to
The federal tax credit is gone, export rules are changing and quotes for the same house can differ by $10,000. This guide covers every decision in the order you will face it, with the numbers that matter at each step.
Is your home a good fit for solar? Five questions decide itMost American homes can host solar panels. Fewer should. Answer these five questions before you talk to anyone who is paid to sell you a system.
How rooftop solar works, in the time it takes to boil a kettleFour pieces of equipment, one meter and a set of rules. That is the whole system.
How big a system you need, and why the installer may say biggerThe right size comes from two numbers you already have: your yearly electricity use and the sunshine where you live.
Your roof: direction, shade, age and the space that really countsHalf of a roof is often unusable once fire-code setbacks, vents and the north side are taken away. Here is how to judge yours from the ground.
What solar costs now the federal tax credit is goneThe median quote was $2.49 a watt. The median price paid was $3.60. The gap is where most of the money is lost.
How you get paid for the power you don’t useTwo homes with identical panels and identical sunshine can see paybacks five years apart. The difference is one line in the utility tariff.
Batteries: when they pay, and when they only keep the lights onA Tesla Powerwall 3 stores 13.5 kWh and costs $13,000 to $17,000 installed. That buys a lot of peace of mind, and in some places some savings.
Cash, loan, lease or PPA: the arithmetic salespeople skipLoan-financed systems cost a median $4.50 a watt. Cash buyers paid $3.00. Much of that 50% gap is fees you never see.
How to get three quotes and tell which one is honestEvery quote should state five numbers. If one is missing, ask for it before you compare anything else.
From contract to switch-on, and the 25 years afterInstallation takes a day or two. The paperwork around it usually takes one to three months.