Hey Readers!
It’s one thing to say you’ll do something, but most of the confusion and “giving up” actually happens in the process stages. They say the most meaningful lessons are in the journey, but everyone’s bus, so today I tackled keeping your solar process as simple and clear as possible! Essentially, there are 4 steps to getting solar.
- Home Audit & Finding Potential and A Location
- Meeting with an Installer & Financing Solar
- Reaping the Benefits of Solar & Incentives
- End of Solar Lifetime & Next Steps
Step 1: Home Audit & Finding Potential and A Location
The good thing about this first step is that most of the struggles are pretty solvable, especially right now. The first step to getting solar is checking your roof’s potential, and there are a couple of ways to get that consultation.
- Utility: The first way is to go through your local utility. Not all utilities offer consultations, but a considerable number do. For example, Dominion Energy has a webpage and sector called Dominion Energy Solutions that provides energy advisors, consultations, personalized quotes, and installations.
- Solar Co-Op Purchasing Program: There are solar co-op purchasing programs that are available throughout the country. In Northern Virginia, 2 programs have just opened their availability. These are group-buying programs which means they offer free solar assessments, bulk discounts on solar systems, and qualified solar installers. For many people, the convenience and guidance these programs offer make them the best choice, however, they have registration deadlines!
- Solarize Virginia (April 15th to July 15th)
- Switch Together (Fairfax County – unspecified deadline)
- Online Resources: If you are thinking of going with a private company/contractor or are just curious, using online resources could be a great way to assess your house’s potential. For residents in northern Virginia, using the Northern Virginia Solar Map can help you get an idea. For residents in other parts of the nation, using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Calculator can help you get an idea of different projects.
Step 2: Meeting with an Installer & Financing Solar
The next steps after finding a location and assessing your house’s potential are to work with an installer, choose your panels, and finance the solar. If you have already started working with an installer or a solar co-purchasing group, then half the battle is already done and they will guide you towards the next steps. Whether you have an installer or not at this point, here are some important tips to keep in mind from different experienced advisors.
National Vs. Local Installers:
There are a lot of solar options out there from bigtime national companies like Tesla & SunPower, or local companies.
- Some buyers choose to get a Power Purchase Agreement or Solar Lease to help pay for solar, which National Companies are more likely to offer
- When it comes to quality and issues, it’s hard to generalize, but local companies can be easier to get in contact with
- When comparing, discuss the timeline because from local permits to financing options, there is a lot that goes behind the actual installation. Different companies have different advantages.
- National Companies are more likely to use subcontractors. This isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s important to look into their quality of work as well.
- Smaller local companies may have fewer financing options or a higher interest rate, while national companies may have a higher upfront cost
Important Questions to Ask the Installer & Keep In Mind:
- Any reputable solar company should have references for you to contact
- How many years they been in business
- Do they have local experience?
- Make sure they have the right certifications. Some states even require their own licensing. (Most popular is the North America Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Solar PV Installation Professional Certification)
- What is their installation timeline (some companies have larger crews, quicker build times)
- Do they offer monitoring services? Some companies like Tesla & Dominion offer apps for you to monitor your panels in case anything goes wrong, while others monitor for you
- What is their manufacturing certification? Many reputable solar manufacturers have certifications and tier programs (gold, silver, platinum) that indicate specialized training or whether the installer consistently meets the manufacturer’s standards
Scams
Be Aware! There are scammers right now that are soliciting and offering Solar Programs. Always ask to see their county-issued license before engaging and never provide personal information (birthdate, social security number, etc.).
Solar Laws:
When it comes to installing, some people face the most trouble here. Make sure to know your laws. For example, in the state of Virginia, residential customers may install systems up to 20 kilowatts” & homeowner associations (HOAs) typically cannot prohibit solar installations.
Read more here: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/environment-energy-coordination/going-solar
Solar Incentives & Financing Plans To Be Aware Of:
Typically, installers will be updated on these and even have their own, but here are some important ones to keep in mind:
- 30% Federal Tax Credit from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act
- State Incentives & Local Tax Exemptions (Fairfax County has a 5-year solar energy equipment tax exemption, for example)
- There are multiple solar financing plans including paying upfront cost, fixed monthly payments, or lease/power purchase agreements.
Step 3: Reaping the Benefits of Solar & Incentives
Once you’ve gotten solar, it’s important to remember to reap the financial benefits. There are multiple programs to do so.
- Make sure to submit the correct forms when applying for taxes and utilizing your tax credits.
- Many local energy utilities offer net monitoring or SREC programs where you can receive rebates or monetary compensation for the extra energy your program generates. Different states have different rates on how much you can earn. Different utilities also offer their rebates when you join their program. For example, Dominion Energy offers different Renewable Energy Programs.
- Make sure you have a way to monitor the solar either through an app or your installer in case there are any issues..
Enjoy, and get in contact if there are any questions to anna@savemoneyreduceemissions.com !