Solar Panels for Your Home

Interested in solar panels for your home?

Solar panels for your home are a great investment to make, both to help lower electricity costs and improve the value of your residence.  Did you also know that its a great time to install solar panels, given the significant tax credits and rebates currently being offered?

Whether you want to build your own DIY solar panels, put together a solar panel kit, or purchase a solar array, it is much easier to find residential solar panels than it was a decade or so ago.  This means several things: (1) you can get a better price, with more competition, and (2) you can find more reliable solar contractors.

If you’re considering solar panels for your home, you are definitely not alone.

Many types of residential solar panels on the market

Depending on the size of your roof, your budget and aesthetic preferences, you can install a photovoltaic panel array, or even invest in solar power roof shingles to help generate clean, free solar energy.  You may also want to consider solar thermal panels, which can defray your hot water bills each month.

The upfront cost of solar panels – prior to government incentives – varies from $200 to over $20,000.  Again, this will depend largely on the type of panels you install (PV or thermal), the size of the system, and the extent of work that you will put into the project, from construction, wiring, installation, etc.  How quickly you recoup your investment also hinges on the amount of your electricity use, the rising rates of grid-based electricity in your region, and the increase in home value that many see from a correlated drop in annual utility bills.

Many solar financing options are available if you are serious about solar panels for your home.  You can elect to buy or lease solar panels, and may want to take advantage of a no-money-down program, or even financing through local governments and/or utilities themselves.

Take a look at your monthly electricity bills and estimate both your current and projected annual utility costs over a 5-year period.  It may make sense for you to move forward with residential solar panels, with most payback periods ending within 10 years.  Plus, how great will it feel to see your electricity bills drop 200-300%, or more (one homeowner now has monthly bills of $18, down from over $200). That’s not something you can put a price on!

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