residential solar options
Lower your electricity costs with solar energy
Solar photovoltaics (PV) systems reliably maximize efficiency and performance to power your home with green energy. Current solar technology has a life span of 25+ years, so you can depend on your solar panels for years to come.
residential solar options
Lower your electricity costs with solar energy
Solar photovoltaics (PV) systems reliably maximize efficiency and performance to power your home with green energy. Current solar technology has a life span of 25+ years, so you can depend on your solar panels for years to come.
Is my home right for solar?
After you’ve had a home energy assessment completed and it’s determined that your house is suitable for solar panels, you’ll need to contact a contractor to review and discuss installation options. Something things to consider while sizing your system:
- Size and shape of your roof: A typical home system may require about 400 square feet of space to install solar panels.
- Direction of your roof: South-facing roofs are best, though east- and west-facing roofs can still be effective.
- Slope of your roof: If your roof is sloped, the best angle is between 25 and 40 degrees. Systems on roofs that are flat or ones that are mounted on the ground are fine, as long as the system is mounted between 15 and 40 degrees and tilted to face south.
- Shading of your roof: It is important that your roof isn’t blocked by tall trees or other obstructions to maximize electricity production.
Is there financing available to help me pay for solar?
Low-cost financing is available through a Smart-E Loan. You can even finance roof replacement if it’s necessary before your solar installation.
How much will I save?
Your potential savings depends on a number of factors:
- Roof size
- Exposure to the sun (and therefore how much energy your
system produces) - How much energy your home consumes
- The rates you would have paid if your electricity came
from your utility - Incentives
- Tax credits
As an example, let’s say your electric bill is typical for an average U.S. home: about $1,200 each year. And let’s assume your solar system produces 100% of the electric power you need. That’s $1,200 saved in the first year and potentially each year in the future – money that can be used to offset the monthly payment associated with the financing option you select for your solar system, as well as the remaining $15-$20 monthly utility fee for grid connection.
For an estimate specific to your home, you should work closely with your installer to understand how much energy your solar PV system should produce each year and how much it may save you on an annual basis.
Are there incentives for solar?
You may be eligible for the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Program, which was launched by the Public Utilities Regulatory Agency (PURA) in 2022.