Solar panels are becoming more and more popular among homeowners throughout Arizona. However, most people who purchase solar panels are first-time buyers, meaning they don’t know exactly what they should be looking for, or what they need to know about their own home before making a purchase.
With this in mind, here are some tips about things you should know before you get solar panels for homes in Scottsdale, AZ.
Is your roof capable of supporting the panels?
This is crucial—if your roof cannot support the solar panels, you’ll need to find somewhere else to put them on your property, and you may or may not have enough room to do so. If your roof is covered in shade most of the time, there probably isn’t enough of a so-called “solar window” to justify purchasing the panels. The design of your roof might also not be conducive to the use of solar panels.
While there are other options for you to set up panels on your property, most people choose to do it on their roof, so it’s important to know if that is actually a feasible possibility before pulling the trigger.
What type of solar panels makes the most sense for your needs?
There are two primary solar technologies people choose between when installing solar systems at their homes. The first is photovoltaic, which uses cell arrays to transform sunlight into electricity. The second is thermal, which uses sunlight to heat up air or water that gets used inside your home.
If you use a lot of energy for heating or air conditioning, you’re likely to break even sooner with your investment than you would in other circumstances. Most people in Arizona go with the photovoltaic option, so it might be a little more difficult for you to find a thermal solar system installer.
Will you lease or purchase the system?
Usually, providers of solar systems will allow you to either purchase panels or lease all the equipment you need to make the system run. Leasing gives you cheaper access without having to put as much money down, but the benefits will be more limited, as the company owns the system and you have to pay them a rate for the electricity. You also run the risk of losing the system when the lease is up. If you purchase the system, it will require a greater initial investment, but it will keep working for you and saving you money long after you pay off the cost of the purchase.
What steps are you already taking to reduce energy usage?
The amount of energy you need from your solar system depends on the amount of energy you use. You can reduce costs even further by looking for other ways to decrease energy usage around your home and improve efficiency of appliances and other electrical systems.
For more information about what you should think about before installing solar panels for homes in Scottsdale, AZ, contact the experts at Aneva Solar today.