Home heating and cooling are responsible for emitting over 441 million tons of carbon dioxide into the environment each year. One small way you can reduce your environmental impact is to use renewable energy. These can be anything from hydropower, geothermal energy, wind power, or solar power.
In fact, installing solar panels can be one of the most accessible ways to introduce renewable energy into your home. Installing solar panels can be one of the best decisions you make for your budget and for the environment.
But because you have so many buying options there are a few questions you need to ask yourself before you take the leap. If you want a complete list of things you should know before you install solar panels then check out our guide below.
There Might Be Federal or State Incentives for Installing Solar Panels
Solar panel installation can do more than save more money on your energy bill. In fact, if you’ve put solar panels in place by December 31, 2020, you may be eligible for a tax rebate of up to 26% on the solar panels cost. These rebates drastically cut into the cost of solar panels.
Though there are some restrictions like you must owe more in taxes than the amount of the rebate. Although you can spread the amount of the rebate out over several years the amount of the rebate will
There are also state tax incentives and rebates. For example, in California, there is the DAC-SASH which offers upfront rebates to single-family homeowners that install solar panels.
How to Pick the Right Company to Install Your Solar Panels
Choosing the correct solar installation company is the most important factor to consider before installing solar panels. Before installing your solar panels check that your company has years of experience and thousands of installations under its belt.
Solar Panels Require Maintenance
Knowing how to install solar panels is only the first step in maintaining solar power in your house. You need to be sure that you are aware of how to keep them clean so that they work effectively.
Solar panels are relatively low maintenance. To keep them clean you mostly need to brush or wipe them clean every couple of weeks to keep them functional.
The only other maintenance to watch out for is the solar panels losing power. If you encounter this issue then you may experience a sudden increase in your power bill. Any maintenance system needs to include a focus on monitoring the panels to ensure they are still generating power. If you don’t monitor the amount of power being generated you may lose the benefits of solar panels.
Know the Best Place to Install Solar Panels in Your Home
Though a roof may seem like the most obvious choice and for most people, it is the best option. This is typically the most cost-effective to install but may not be the best if your roof isn’t structurally sound.
There may also be cases where ground mounting may be better because they have better access to sunlight.
Want the Most Updated Tech in Your Home?
Before installing solar panels, you should know what kind of federal and state incentives there are, maintenance, and what kind of warranty you should get. Using renewable energy can be one of the best ways to make your home up to date on the latest technology.
If you want to make sure that your house is high-tech then check out some of our other articles.
