If you are like a considerable number of people, you have an interest in alternative energy resources, and likely have that interest for a number of reasons. First, you like many individuals, you may have real concerns about the environment. Second, you may also be interested in finding ways in which you can save money on your residential energy costs.
Like many individuals considering solar energy for your residence, you may find yourself with a variety of questions. A primary question is likely to be how you go about getting solar energy for your home. There exists what essentially is a seven step process of getting solar energy for your home.
Ascertain Your Home’s Current Energy Efficiency
The first step in the process of getting solar energy for your residence is ascertaining your home’s current energy efficiency. You need to know where you are starting from to clearly understand how installing solar energy can be an improvement. Unless you already live in an amazingly energy efficient residence, the introduction of solar energy into the property is going to boost overall energy efficiency. The key is to see how much.
Once that is ascertained, at least generally, you can do a cost and benefit analysis to determine if the investment in solar energy will make sense for your premises. Be sure to access experienced professionals to assist you with this initial phase of moving towards getting solar energy for your home.
Assess the Benefits and Possible Limitations of Solar Energy for Your Home
When considering the installation of solar energy for your home, you need to make a perfectly old-fashioned list of plusses and minuses, a list of the pros and cons of installing solar energy at your residence. For example, in the plus column, you can put enhanced energy efficiency and environmental benefits. On the con side, there is going to be at least some expense involved in installing solar energy at home.
Assess Different Residential Solar Energy Options
Long gone are the days when one type of solar panel represented the only real option a residential property owner had in the realm of solar energy. In this day and age, their are a pretty broad number of options for a residential property owner when it comes to installing a solar energy system. Indeed, there are even different types of panels.
With professional assistance yet again, determine what all of your potential options may be for solar energy at your home. Research these various options, obtain solid advice for experts, and make a determination as to what option will be most suitable for your home and your needs.
Determine Your Residential Solar Energy Needs
Speaking of solar energy needs, you need to identify precisely what they are. As mentioned a moment ago, you must select a solar energy option for your home that meets that meets your unique, specific needs. This represents another area in which consultation with an expert is necessary.
Keep in mind that you likely will be able to access skilled, experienced specialists who can assist you in ascertaining your residential solar energy needs at no cost. Even if there is a fee, it is not likely to be particularly significant. Indeed, paying someone to assist in amassing this data will be a wise investment in the overall scheme of things.
Obtain Site Assessments and Bids from Contractors
Once you have undertaken these preliminary steps, you are ready to obtain a formal site assessment of your residence from qualified contractors. As part of that assessment, you will also obtain bids from these contractors.
There is not hard and fast rule about how many bids you should obtain from contractors in regard to the installation of solar energy equipment at your home. One is really too few, over three is probably too many. In addition, depending on where you live, there may be some limitations on the number of qualified contractors.
Investigate Available Incentives and Financing
While the assessment and bid process is underway, you need to explore fully what is available to you in the way funds, financing, and incentives to install solar energy at your home. This includes an examination of your own financial resources as well as what financing you might be able to obtain.
Keep in mind that there are different incentives available to people who install solar energy in their residences. These include tax credits on the federal and state level, in many cases. In some municipalities, there are also local incentives available to residents of a particular community.