Solar power is green energy that not only helps the environment but also saves you on your electric bills. Solar power, however, is not right for everyone. If you are thinking about converting your home to solar power, take a look at the following information.
Do you live in a location that gets a lot of sun, such as the sun belt, California, Texas, Florida, etc.? If you live in overcast Seattle, solar may not make as much sense for you to install.
Do you spend a lot of money on electricity, at least $125 a month on average? Is your rate per kilowatt hour at least 14 cents? If not, the amount of time it will take you to pay back your new system in savings may be too long.
Does your area or local power company offer incentives for converting to solar power? You may be eligible for tax credits, rebates and even grants to encourage you to convert to solar power. You may wind up cutting the cost of solar installation by up to 70 percent in some cases.
Is net metering available in your area? This is when your power company allows you to sell back some of the excess energy that you are generating. This would reduce your electric bills even more and may even net you a profit that you can put towards paying off your new solar system.
Do you have the right kind of roof to install solar power? Ideally, your roof should face the south with very minimal shading from trees and other buildings. If you live in the middle of a forest or a major city, you probably won’t be getting much out of your solar panels. You also want to make sure that your roof is in good repair and doesn’t have to be replaced anytime soon.
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