Leap into Solar
The last few weeks, we’ve been outlining solar energy within a consumer framework - touching on a colleague’s recent experience as a customer, must-know incentives for the solar-curious, and reflections on enhancing the entire consumer process. The goal of these previous write ups, of course, have been to encourage you - our readership - to make the leap into residential solar and set yourself on a path to energy independence, savings, and carbon neutrality. All told, however, some folks need that extra nudge - we hope that this Powered by Facts entry will serve that very purpose. The following is a list of concrete steps you can take right now to start you on your solar journey.
Find out the solar-suitability of your roof (or property) utilizing online mapping services. Some sites, like Sun Number, use satellite footage and solar radiation in your area to gauge your roof’s solar potential, while also giving you the opportunity to connect with local regional solar providers. Other sites, like EnergySage, allow you to input your home address and receive competing quotes for pre-screened solar providers in your area.
If your home is not suitable for solar or you don’t own the roof over your head, there are other ways to get involved. A growing number of electric cooperatives, or co-ops, across the Commonwealth are tilling “community solar gardens”, subscription-based opportunities to benefit from solar power. While you won’t get the benefits of owning your own array, like increased property values or battery backups in case of blackouts, community solar options are an excellent way to shift to a solar-powered lifestyle by subscribing to a “block” of solar. Community solar gardens replace the “grid power” that co-ops would have normally been purchased to service a co-ops customer. Most of these projects are currently rooted in rural Virginia, such as Central Virginia Electric Cooperative’s robust community solar project, serving 14 rural counties, or BARC Electric Cooperative’s solar plan, serving several Northwestern rural counties. Reach out to your local electric co-op, and inquire about community solar projects! For our renting readership, you can try to convince your landlord to go solar - arm yourself with Powered by Facts knowledge!
Join (or organize) a local Solarize campaign. “Solarize” campaigns - or community group-buy efforts (not to be confused with community solar gardens) - have been sprouting up in popularity. Solarize is a way for an entire community to save money on solar by encouraging as many people as possible in their neighborhood to purchase solar panels from the same provider. Think of it as a Costco approach, as many solar providers offer discounts for high-volume purchases. Notable campaigns currently exist across Central and Northern Virginia. Consider organizing your own if none exist in your area - the Department of Energy has even cultivated a guidebook for the initiative!
Vet your provider. After plugging yourself into the sales funnel using mapping services, you’ll likely begin to receive solicitation from various solar providers. Find out what other customers have said about working with them by simply running a Google search on them. When you feel comfortable engaging with a company, be sure to ask the following five questions in your correspondence:
1. How much will you pay up-front? Generally speaking, the more you shell out up-front, the more you will save in the long run. Depending on your situation, however, this may not be the best case scenario. Payment structures vary significantly - some options ask for $0 down, while other options offer hybrid options. This will help frame the following question.
2. How much money will you save (over 20 years)? Having a set period of time in mind makes it easier to make meaningful comparisons between how you may want to pay for your panels - with cash, with a solar loan, or with a power purchase agreement.
3. Does your provider design and install the systems themselves or do they subcontract to local companies? You want to make sure you know who you’re dealing with at every step of the process ahead of time to avoid any confusion down the line. If subcontractors are involved, be sure to ask if they are licensed.
4. Can they provide you with customer reviews, testimonials, references, and examples of their other installations? Seeking further credentials of your solar provider’s handy-work can serve to further validate any reviews you may have read online.
5. What warranties cover your system’s components, who is responsible for ensuring such warranties are serviced in a timely manner, and is your roof also covered? While most solar energy systems require little maintenance over the course of their productive lifespan (25+ years), take the time to familiarize yourself with your solar provider’s repair procedures and warranties entitled to your solar array and your roof.
For many, purchasing solar panels is one of the most meaningful - not to mention economical - investments one can make. The sheer saturation of information at our fingertips, however, inadvertently sideline many from making the first step. We hope this write up will serve as a little nudge to get you through the door and engaging with a solar provider! Happy solar hunting!