6 Tips To Get The Biggest Bang For Your Solar-Electric Residential Buck
Solar electric residential systems don't have to cost you an arm and a leg. Find out what you can do to get the biggest bang for your solar power buck.
Right now you might be considering investing in solar for your electric residential needs.
Below are 5 things you need to know about solar-electric residential costs before you start your solar project.
Solar-Electric Residential Cost Savings Tip #1: Insulate Your Home Before You Go Solar
The price of your residential solar power system can be less, if you make your home more energy efficient before buying your system.
This might seem logical, but many people haven't replaced weather-stripping, installed additional insulation, considered programmable thermostats or taken other energy saving precautions.
These additional steps save you money and qualify you for additional residential solar energy tax credits, these additional steps to save energy can mean that you can save on the size of solar panel system you will need to power your home.
Solar-Electric Residential Cost Savings Tip #2: Analyze Your Electricity Bill
Estimating the right sized solar-electric residential system saves you money.
- Analyze your monthly energy bill to figure out what residential solar systems size you need,
- This step, along with making your home more energy efficient means you can buy a smaller solar panel system, which costs less.
Solar-Electric Residential Cost Savings Tip #3: Check On Net Metering
You can get a solar grid tie system and sell excess power back to the utility grid.
Most places allow you to apply for a reverse meter, when installing a solar panel system.
- When you are generating more power than you are using, this excess power allows your meter to spin in reverse.
- This "credit" on your energy bill can apply to the times when you need to utilize the utility grid for running water heaters and other appliances that might be too big for the 110 volt power that your household solar panel system generates.
- This can give you a negative utility bill, or at least offset the costs of the power you require from the utility bill. This energy savings helps pay for the solar panel system much quicker.
Solar-Electric Residential Cost Savings Tip #4: Get A Solar Panel Kit.
You can get a more affordable solar panel system by building your own system from residential solar panel kits.
The solar panel kits have all the components you need to build and install your own solar panel system.
Many people opt for the solar panel kits because the cost can be half of those solar panel systems that are installed by professionals, but they are just as effective.
While you might need the help of an electrician to complete the installation of your solar power system, the costs are considerably less and the solar panel kits have the step-by-step instructions to help you complete the majority of the project by yourself, or with the help of a couple friends.
Solar-Electric Residential Cost Savings Tip #5: Determine where you will place your solar electric residential system
Proper site selection is crucial in getting the optimal energy output from your solar panel system.
It is especially true if you clear any tree branches or other obstructions that might partially shade your solar panel system.
While an average of six hours full sun is recommended, there are some parts of the country where you can get a couple more hours than this average.
Solar-Electric Residential Cost Savings Tip #6: Consider Solar Shingles.
When it comes to solar panel systems for your home, there are options that are quite attractive.
Solar power shingles are popular for those that don't like the look of the rooftop solar panels or don't have a roof that provides the right tilt or enough space.
Solar power shingles are attractive option, if you need to replace your roof.
You can get tax credits for upgrading your roofing or installing a solar panel system.
Solar panel shingle systems are quite attractive and provide the same amount of protection from the elements as regular roofing shingles do.
- This allows you the best of both options and provides you with an attractive roof-line, while fixing a leaky roof.
- The solar panel shingles come in a variety of styles and colors, so you can be sure to find exactly the look you want.
Solar-Electric Residential Cost Savings - The Bottom-Line
Regardless of what options you consider for your residential solar power system, there are plenty of ways you can save on your residential energy system.
- Finding the best option for your situation is possible when you understand all of the surprising facts about a residential solar power system and the benefits they can offer you.
Here's to finding a way to bring more solar power into your family!
P.S. Here's a few more tips to help your solar power projects go smoothly...
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