There are many ways to maximize your solar savings, from optimizing your energy usage to leveraging the available incentives. For those considering the switch to solar, it's helpful to know that installing a solar energy system typically ranges from $10,980 to $19,978, depending on system size and location. But that's not the whole story – you can recoup 30% of those expenses with the Residential Clean Energy Credit.
To help you understand the intricacies of solar and ensure you're getting the most out of your system we turned to Ben Zientara, Solar Policy Analyst from SolarReviews. In this "Expert Talk," Ben answers your most pressing solar energy questions, providing the expert insights you need to unlock the full potential of your solar investment.
Understanding Solar Energy Savings and High Bills
1. Why is my electric bill so high when I have solar panels?
There are a few possibilities if you have solar panels and still have a high electricity bill. If you have had solar panels for a while, and your bill used to be lower, you can check these things:
Is your system outputting power?
Check the inverter to make sure it’s working.Are your panels physically covered or in shade throughout the day?
Have your electricity usage patterns changed?
Sometimes people begin using much more electricity after they get solar panels installed, because they no longer feel the need to carefully conserve.Are seasonal changes affecting your solar power output and/or energy usage?
Solar panels perform best during the sunniest parts of the year, so if you heat your home with electricity in the winter, you may discover that solar output during that part of the year isn’t enough to keep up with your power consumption.
2. How much will a 6.6 kW solar system save me?
“How much will solar save me” is the question everyone asks, and unfortunately, the answer depends on a lot of factors that will be personal to your situation. But since we have a system size in this question, I can give you a ballpark estimate using averages!
If we assume the system is installed on an ideal roof (remember azimuth, tilt, and shading!) in the United States, it will be able to generate between 9,000 and 14,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy in a year, depending on the state. Let’s go with 11,000 kWh as an average.
With U.S. electricity prices at an average of about 16 cents per kWh, the total average savings would equal about $1,760 per year.
The best way to determine how much solar could help you save in your specific situation is to get several competing bids from solar installation companies near you, and then do your research! Read customer reviews of the companies you're considering, learn about solar incentives you’re eligible for, and double check the estimates of energy production from the bids you receive.
Optimizing Solar Performance and Efficiency
3. How can I optimize solar energy savings through efficiency improvements and system monitoring?
If you have net metering, optimizing your savings is as easy as making sure your panels are working properly and not shaded throughout the day. If you don’t have net metering, that means you could be sending excess solar energy to the utility company for much less than the retail cost of buying energy at night when the sun isn’t shining.
In this case, you can maximize your usage of solar energy in two ways:
Changing your energy usage habits so you are using as much energy as possible during the daylight hours when the sun is up.
Storing the energy in batteries for later use. Some locations have time-of-use pricing, in which electricity costs are more expensive in the evening hours when most people are using electricity. A home solar battery can be charged up during the day and discharged during this time to help you avoid buying any electricity from the grid at these peak prices.
4. What roof factors optimize solar energy capture?
The three main factors in maximizing solar energy capture are azimuth, tilt angle, and shade.
Azimuth is the cardinal direction your solar panels face, measured in degrees of a circle, with north at 0° (or 360°), east at 90°, south at 180° and west at 270°. For panels mounted to a fixed platform, 180° azimuth is ideal in the northern hemisphere, 0° in the southern hemisphere.
Tilt is the angle between flat ground and your panels, also measured in degrees. Most home roofs are titled between 18 and 37 degrees from flat, which is generally fine for solar panels. Solar panels on fixed ground mounts should be tilted based on your location’s latitude, so they are directly perpendicular to the sun in the sky at noon on the equinoxes.
Finally, controlling shade is incredibly important, because shade on part of a solar panel can affect the output of the entire panel. It is best to avoid all shade throughout the day.
Read more: What is the best direction for solar panels to face?
5. What are the best practices for solar panel maintenance to ensure long-term solar savings?
Solar panels themselves require very little maintenance, but it is important to monitor their performance regularly to identify any problems like a failed inverter or microinverter. If you live in a dry, dusty region, you should have your solar panels cleaned at least once a year to ensure their performance isn’t diminished by a thick layer of dust.
6. How can a solar installer's home energy audit help improve a property's efficiency and identify potential savings?
A home energy audit can identify opportunities to improve how the home uses energy. The audit can identify the impact of any older, less-efficient appliances and also look for ways to improve insulation to prevent your home’s HVAC system from working too hard.
7. How can homeowners leverage smart home technology to optimize electricity consumption and solar energy use?
Smart home appliances like connected water heaters, laundry machines, and especially EV chargers can be set to turn on whenever conditions are right. Depending on your needs, that may be when the sun is shining and your panels are producing the most solar electricity, or overnight, when grid energy prices tend to be cheaper.
Coordinating Solar with Home Renovations and Upgrades
8. If I'm planning a roof replacement, what's the best way to coordinate it with solar panel installation to save time and money?
Having solar panels installed right after a re-roof is a very smart move. SolarReviews research shows that 25% of solar installers now also offer roofing service, and having both jobs under one company can be a huge benefit when it comes to planning a solar installation. Some of these companies can also combine financing for both projects together, making it easier and more affordable to pay. Just be sure you get all the facts about the principal and payments for any loans and talk with a trusted financial advisor before making any financial decisions.
9. Are there any specific home renovations that make a house more suitable for solar panel installation, such as upgrading the electrical panel or reinforcing the roof structure?
Getting solar panels installed often requires a new main electrical panel or roof reinforcements, but it’s best not to do those things until you have to. Having these upgrades be a part of the installation process reduces costs because it avoids separate visits from multiple contractors. The best thing to do before installation is make sure your roofing materials are relatively new and leave plenty of space for the installation crew to work around your main electrical panel and electrical meter.
10. Can I combine solar panels with other renewable energy systems like geothermal or wind power as part of a larger home renovation project?
A geothermal HVAC system is a great way to bring efficiency into your home’s heating and cooling, and can be an excellent way to reduce your energy usage before or after installing solar panels. Unfortunately, home wind turbines for electricity generation aren’t a thing that works, unless your home sits on many acres of relatively clear farmland. Even then, their cost and space requirements are too high to make much financial sense. Wind turbines are best at large scales!
11. What are some aesthetically pleasing alternatives to traditional solar panels?
I’m one of those weird people who loves the look of a solar installation on a home’s roof, but I get that I’m in the minority in that opinion.
If you have a complicated roof or would simply prefer a nicer look, you have a few options! The best looking one (in my opinion) is the Tesla Solar Roof, which looks a lot like a premium slate tile roof and can be custom designed to integrate a surprising amount of solar generation into even the most complex roof.
Another option is the GAF Timberline nailable solar shingle, which is installed in exactly the same way an asphalt shingle is, minus a small raised channel on one side where the wires are connected. The result is an ultra low profile solar installation that some people like the look of fast better than traditional panels.
Finally, if you want to make a design statement on a more modern building, you can get solar glass tiles from SunStyle that are installed in a diamond pattern and look like glistening dragon scales on your roof. The look won’t be for everyone, but I think they’re really cool.
12. How do solar panels affect property value, and what makes them an attractive addition for potential buyers?
Solar panels that are fully paid-off can be a great selling point for a home! A solar installation that was professionally done and in good working order provides a homebuyer with certainty that energy costs will be lower than for a home without solar panels. SolarReviews research finds that homes with solar panels tend to sell for about 6.8% more than non-solar homes.
13. What should homeowners look for when choosing a solar contractor?
I think the best solar installers are those who:
Have been in business for at least 5 years
Have excellent customer reviews
Employ their own sales, installation, and maintenance staff
Have staff certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
Offer one or more of the top brands of solar panels
Offer a third-party warranty product to protect customers in the event of a closure or bankruptcy
Make you feel like a valued customer and communicate effectively throughout the installation process, and after
Solar Savings Summed Up
Solar power is a proven way to save money on electricity, and understanding key solar energy facts can help you maximize your savings. When installing a system, if roof repair is needed, consider hiring a single contractor who can manage both tasks, as this might reduce your costs. Work with your installer to determine the optimum location for panel placement. This will ensure the best azimuth, tilt angle, and shade level - all important factors in maximizing power generation. If you don’t have a battery storage system, make it a habit to use as much electricity during the daylight hours to reap the benefits of the panels while minimizing your usage at night when you may need to purchase from the grid.
A home energy audit will help identify anything that might be using more energy than expected and give you a chance to ask any solar questions you might have. If appliances need to be replaced, consider upgrading to smart appliances that can be programmed to run when the sun is at its peak. Of course, maintaining your equipment is as important as anything else! If you live in a dry, dusty area, be sure to periodically clean panels so they can absorb the maximum amount of sunlight and check that other equipment is operating as expected.
From 2015 to 2020, Ben led the team responsible for producing the annual State Solar Power Rankings Report for the Solar Power Rocks website. The rankings were widely referenced by a diverse range of policymakers, advocacy organizations, and media outlets, including The Center for American Progress, The Institute for Local Self-Reliance, the Solar Institute at George Washington University, PolitiFact, and The Guardian. In 2020, Ben joined SolarReviews, where he now contributes his expertise to projects such as the annual Solar Industry Survey, the Top Solar Manufacturers list, the Top 10 Solar States list, and various articles and pages across the site. Ben earned a B.S. in Scientific & Technical Communication from the University of Minnesota, with a focus on Environmental Science and a minor in Sustainability Studies.