Are you ready to go solar? Transitioning to solar power will drastically reduce the cost of your energy bill, reduce your carbon footprint, and will make your home or office energy independent. Take advantage of NEM (net energy metering) and the ITC (Federal Investment Tax Credit) before they expire to reduce your solar cost!
What are the steps you need to take in order to transition your home to solar power?
Step # 1: Efficiency is Essential
Take the time to start making your home more efficient by changing out the simple things like old incandescent lighting for CFL or LED bulbs. Energy-efficient bulbs not only consume less energy, they last longer. To find other ways to save money on your home energy bill, consider looking at a home energy guide to identify appliances and other things that consume a lot of energy.
Step # 2: Meet with a Solar Contractor
Once you make the decision to convert to solar power, you need to meet with a qualified solar contractor to discuss your options. A qualified, licensed solar contractor will be able to provide you with a free home evaluation and help you select the best option for your home. Obtain multiple quotes to ensure you are getting a fair deal. A trustworthy solar contractor will not only offer quotes, they will focus on telling you about solar rebates and incentives to help save you money. One great place to start is with the California Solar Initiative Database. The database includes a list of eligible contractors in the area that have met quality standards.
Step # 3: Solar System Installation Protocol
Solar panel installers will design, engineer, install and provide finance options for your system. From the signing of your solar contract to Permission to Operate from the utility, you can expect that it may take 4 – 12 weeks.
What are the most common reasons for delay? City Plan/Inspection approval timelines, HOA approval timelines (Home Owner Association), and utility approval timelines can often cause delays. The actual installation of your solar system will take 1-3 days. The contractor will manage the installation process from start to finish. The system is sized to your home consumption for the previous 12 months and will need to meet the typical energy loads for your property.
Step # 4: Net Energy Metering
A net energy meter is a great way to measure your solar energy and determine if you measure excess energy that can be put back into the grid. If you generate excess solar energy, placing the energy back into the grid will provide you with credits on your bill. Talk to your solar contractors about signing up for a net energy meter.
Solar energy is the future and the time to invest in solar energy is now! With tax incentives, solar energy conversion is affordable and is the ideal way to finally reduce your carbon footprint.