The Economics of Solar Power for Home Owners

"Understanding the economics of solar power
can help you achieve affordable solar."

For home owners, the economics of solar power are largely determined by the costs and incentives of the solar applications you are interested in. These vary widely depending on the type of solar application you are considering and how it will be implemented.

But to really make a good decision on which solar solutions you should implement, you need to look at each option you are considering as an investment. This will provide you with a picture of the true value each option will give you in both the short-term and the long-term.

Solar Energy Costs

There are many variables that factor into the cost of solar energy solutions. These include items such as...

• Materials
• Labor
• Maintenance
• Permits
• Insurance

If minimizing how much you spend is important for you, then you will need to make sure you have a complete listing of all the costs your solar solution will require so you can make a good decisions and find ways to reduce the costs.

However, don't forget that you can also affect what your cost of solar energy will be by taking steps to increase your home's energy efficiency. If your home is more energy efficient, you can greatly reduce how much you need to spend on a solar solution.

For example, if you are considering installing a solar electricity system, it's always a good idea to cut your electricity use as much as possible before you install your system - it is far less expensive to cut demand up front and then install a smaller system, than to install a system large enough to meet your current needs.

There are many simple steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient!

Solar Energy Incentives

Some solar solutions can be quite costly. Luckily, there are financial incentives available to home owners to offset some of the costs of solar energy.

Depending on the solar applications you are considering, these are some of the types of solar energy incentives available to home owners...

• Solar Energy Tax Credit
• Solar Power Rebate
• Solar Energy Grants
• Net Metering

Solar Energy Investment

Once you have determined the costs of your solar solution and know what incentives you qualify for, you can decide whether your solution is a wise solar energy investment for you. This will become a major factor in your decision of which solar solutions to implement.

The most critical aspects to consider will be the return on your investment (ROI), payback period, and the increase in your homes value.

However, you also need to look at your personal reasons for going solar. Whether it is to lower your utility bills, reduce your environmental impact to the planet, or the multitude of other reasons home owners go solar, it will play a major role in your solar decision.

The Deciding Factor

Understanding the economics of solar power can help you decide which solar solutions are best for you.

• Some solar applications are expensive to implement while others require very little money to put into action.
• Some solar applications also have incentives available to help offset their costs whereas others don't.
• By looking at your solar energy options as investments that take into account both costs and incentives, you can gain visibility into their value in both the short-term and long-term.