When paying cash for the whole system up front, your average R.O.I. on solar is about 6-8 years. Although, with the programs available today, most people are swapping their utility payment for a lower solar payment and saving money DAY ONE!

NO! The government is giving you relief on the Federal Income Taxes you’re currently paying through the form of a 30% Federal Income Tax Credit called the Solar ITC. The average credit is about $8,800 for most Americans who go solar.

While the sun is working for you more than ever, you are also pulling power from the grid almost the exact same way you are now. The only difference is you’re producing enough clean energy in to offset what you pull out of the grid for power.

The big incentive is certainly the 30% Federal Income Tax Credit, but some states do have programs available to help incentivize home and business owners to go solar.  No two state programs are the same unfortunately, that’s why it’s so important to deal with a representative local to your area.

In short, upwards of 90% of the materials in many solar panels today are recyclable. There are even companies out there who will come remove and properly dispose of the panels for free at the end of their lifespan (usually about 40-45 years). This is however one of the more pressing issues manufacturers are working to solve today.

In most cases the roof will be your most economical solution to residential solar. Being higher up allows the roof to receive more sunlight in most cases and also allows for less zoning restrictions and planning permissions. However, depending on the amount of panels needed, per how much power you’re using and what type of space you have, a ground mount could be a better option. Best to request a site survey to get an assessment for your individual situation.

Many condo associations and HOA’s don’t allow rooftop or ground mounted solar depending on their individual restrictions. On the same token, renters can’t install solar panels as they usually require a long term commitment. Community solar though, allows renters, condo owners and people who live within a community with an HOA to easily save on their utility with little to no commitment! Click the arrow to see how.

As a general rule of thumb you should consider re-doing your roof with solar if your roof is 15+ Years old. All installers we work with will come inspect your roof at no additional cost before any panels are installed – for your safety, and ours! We also have installers we work with that will offer 30 year puncture warranties with each roof installation ensuring the homeowners peace of mind. If your roof is questionable or you don’t know how old it is, it’s best to have a professional do an on site inspection before your installation takes place.

In most cases when you finance or lease your solar panels there will be a UCC-1 (Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statement) “Fixture- Filing” on the panels themselves.  This filing safeguards the bank’s asset (solar panels) until the homeowner fully repays the solar loan, appearing on the property title to notify potential title searchers about the panels. It prevents the bank from claiming separately-owned property in case of default or foreclosure.  Most banks will typically lift the UCC-1 filing during the underwriting period if the homeowner refinances or sells their home.