Be wary of ads that say "free anything". There are unfortunately lots of advertising claims out there about "free solar", "no-cost solar", or similar claims. The truth is that solar does cost money, but lots of things reduce that cost and make it very affordable. Federal Tax Credit Yes, the government does help reduce the cost of your solar. No, they don't give away entire solar arrays for free. The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a federal income tax credit. Currently it's set at 30% of the total cost. The way this incentive works is based on the total price you pay for solar, and how much you pay in taxes, so it's different for everyone. Financing You do have the option to pay the full cash price for solar if you want. But loan rates are great right now across the board. Lenders such as Goodleap, Sunlight Financial, Dividend, and Mosaic are excellent options to finance your solar array. You may have the option to pay nothing upfront (you might see "no out of pocket" ads) and have your payments be equal or less than current electricity bills (hence "zero cost" ads). When the loan is eventually paid off, you've got free electricity - or as close as you can get to it.

Not long at all! The solar installation itself, where our install team comes and puts the panels on the roof, only takes one or two days. The process from signing a contract to having the system turned on takes a little longer than that, but we are proud to be in the top 5% of the country for our speed to completion (confirmed by multiple industry sources). The longest wait times during the project are generally due to permitting departments at your local city or municipality, or inspectors from the city or the utility. You will get updates from our project team regularly throughout the process, so you never have to wonder what's going on.

It depends on the type of inverter system, the roof space & structure, and the utility, among other factors. Inverter Constraints Inverters are built to handle a specific amount of power from solar panels. With SolarEdge or similar central/string inverters, the main unit will be rated in kilowatts (kW) and the number of solar panels that can be attached is capped by that number. For example, a 6 kW inverter (6000 watts) could handle a total of 20 panels rated at 300 watts each. If your panels are 320 watts, that same inverter could only have 18 attached. If you wanted to add more, you'd need to buy a whole new inverter unit. If your system uses Enphase or other microinverters, each panel has its own inverter unit attached. This means that, in theory, more panels can be added to a system more easily because they aren't constrained by the upper limit of a single primary unit. However there may be other electrical system or design constraints. Roof Space & Structure If you're lucky enough to live under a big roof without a lot of people underneath, you might be able to fit more panels than your home would ever need. But every roof is different, and there are many building codes that solar arrays must conform to. The installer can't just go sticking panels willy-nilly at odd angles to squeeze a few more up there. Every array has to be designed and installed carefully, and considerations for weight/structural stability, internal wire runs, and aesthetics are all key parts of a good solar installer's job.

Solar panels work best when they are soaking up direct sunlight. But you don't have to worry about the solar working every minute of every day. The excess energy generated by your panels during sunny hours will offset energy that you use at night and other times when your system isn't operating at full capacity.

While solar panels require little to no maintenance it is recommended to clean your panels at least once a year. With smog, dust, or dirt, you may see a dip in your production over time that can be remedied by cleaning your panels.

Even if you go solar, you may not always have enough power for your home. A solar-panel system, for example, doesn’t generate electricity at night, when the sun is down. During that time, you’ll need the grid to supplement your renewable system.

Solar can be installed just about anywhere! The benefit of using the roof of your home is that the existing structure provides support for the array. If you want to put solar somewhere else in your backyard or on your property, you can do that too. But it will need some additional materials to make the project work. Here are some ideas: Ground Mounted Solar Arrays It is common to see utility-scale ground-mounted solar farms in wide-open pastures or broad stretches of desert. These often have a sun-tracking system to achieve maximum production. For residential applications, most ground-mounts are fixed structures. The solar panels can be set to any angle, which means they can achieve slightly higher efficiency than when set to the same angle as a roof slope. The downside is twofold: you need a large enough piece of property that you will lose access to, and the cost is higher because of the jungle-gym-like support structure and running wires underground to reach your main electric panel (a.k.a. "trenching"). Awning or Pergola A more attractive approach favored by some homeowners is setting up an awning, pergola, or covered patio that the solar sits atop. Again, you need a piece of property large enough, but you no longer lose access - instead, you have a nice shady spot to enjoy a summer barbecue. Costs can be slightly higher, but a bump in property value may follow too. Solar Shed The most utilitarian dual-purpose application is a "solar shed" or accessory unit. If you need more storage space, this is a great option because you can put a solar power plant right on top. Sheds will need to be well-built, with construction materials sturdy enough to support the solar array. As mentioned above, solar on the roof is generally the most cost-effective and straightforward approach, and the array will protect the shingles underneath from the elements. But we hope you find these alternatives intriguing!

Buying a solar energy system will likely increase your home’s value. A recent study found that solar panels are viewed as home improvement upgrades, just like a renovated kitchen or adding a swimming pool, and home buyers across the country have been willing to pay a premium of about $15,000 for a home with an average-sized solar array. Additionally, there is evidence homes with solar panels sell faster than those without. In 2008, California homes with energy efficient features and PV were found to sell faster than homes that consume more energy. Keep in mind, these studies focused on homeowner-owned solar systems.