More and more homeowners are discovering the benefits of going solar. Not only does it allow you to use the free resource of the sun for your electric needs, but it helps save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over the course of the years in energy costs when you run things like your HVAC system.
Still though, people are sometimes hesitant about going solar, especially when they look at the initial cost of installation. It’s not always the easiest purchase for most homeowners. The good news is, there are federal and local incentives to going solar, plus as we just mentioned, going solar will save you by way of energy costs.
We’d like to help ease your mind by answering some of the most common questions we hear about solar panel installation and using solar energy. Read on!
Q: How Much Do Solar Panels Actually Cost?
The short answer to this is, “it depends.” Fortunately, you live in sunny California. So you can’t really be in a better spot to utilize solar panel. In addition to location though, the cost will depend on your personal energy usage, energy costs in your local area, and the size of the solar system and number of appliances you’ll need the solar panels for.
When you’re considering a purchase like this, it’s important to be prepared with both your initial budget and long term budget. The initial costs will include:
- The Solar Panels
- Mounting Materials
- Inverters
- Conduits
- Labor and Permits
Q: Do Solar Panels Work in Inclement Weather?
Like we said, you’re in a great state for using solar, but still we do get cloudy, inclement weather on occasion, and that can definitely reduce the penetration of sunlight. But your solar panels will actually produce much more electricity that you might expect, no matter the season or weather conditions.
The solar panels draw in power and store it. Plus, you can purchase additional battery storage. This means there will be residual power to draw from even on the darkest, rainiest days. Solar panels are still plenty functional in the winter as they are in the summer.
Q: How Do Solar Tax Credits Work?
Have you heard about the federal solar investment tax credit? A.K.A the ITC, it makes it more affordable for Americans to make the switch to solar energy. Plus in California, there are programs and incentives for lower-income households, including The Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes program and the Multi-Family Affordable Solar Homes program.
Q: What Direction Should Solar Panels Face to Be Most Effective?
First, we want to start off answering this question by saying you should only ever have your solar panels installed by a trained and experienced professional. The reason for this is first for safety, but secondly to make sure that they are installed correctly.
That said, your panels should face south. It doesn’t matter where you’re located in the U.S., the solar panels should always be south facing in order to utilize the free energy of the sun. Depending on the positioning of your home and your roof, this can be a challenge, but not an insurmountable one. We also install ground and pole-mounted solar panels for homes that are restricted in this sense.
If you have any other questions about solar panel installation or solar energy in general, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
If you’re ready to learn more about solar energy in Calistoga, CA, reach out to Jonas Energy Solutions today!