10 Things To Know Before Going Solar In Massachusetts
December 14, 2021Are you thinking about going solar in the near future? Excellent!
Solar power is an incredible source of sustainable energy that can provide many long-term benefits for you, your home, and your lifestyle. However, with so many factors and other miscellaneous things to consider before going solar, such as solar incentives, equipment, roof condition, etc., it can be an overwhelming task to keep track of them all.
So, today’s let’s explore 10 things that you should consider before going solar in Massachusetts.
1. Solar Panels Can Power Your Entire House
First of all, yes! Solar can indeed power your entire house.
It’s one of the most common (and important) questions that we’re asked here at SunPower by BlueSel Home Solar, as many people would cherish the ability to power their entire house via their home’s solar panels.
However, there are a few factors that you will need to consider to make this possible. One of the most important factors is determining how many solar panels your home will need to achieve this possibility. You will also want to consider the addition of solar battery storage to power your home during power outages, during the night, or simply on demand as needed.
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2. Estimate Your Monthly Energy Consumption Pre-Installation
By estimating your monthly energy consumption, you can take a lot of the guesswork out of determining whether solar panels are a good fit for your home. This can also help you decide which panels would work best for your home as well, including any additions, such as the previously mentioned solar battery storage.
While you can do some calculations to map out this number, you can typically find your monthly energy consumption on your utility bills. And, of course, we are more than happy to help guide you through this process.
3. Understand Your Personal Budget
Going solar should be an enjoyable, fun, and economically beneficial way to power your home via green energy, not a financially detrimental one. Before going solar, you’ll want to sit down and carefully consider your personal and home budget.
You will also want to research the financing and payment options available and consider the best payment plan for you and your family.
Here at BlueSel, we offer various financing options, including cash, lease, and loan payment plans to help you get started with solar. We’ll guide you through these plans, and pick the option that best fits within your budget.
4. Have Your Roof Inspected By A Solar Contractor
It is essential that you have your roof inspected before installing solar panels. The condition of your roof plays an important role when it comes to going solar, as solar panels are installed directly onto your roof.
Roofs that are in poor condition and in need of repair or replacement work typically aren’t the best fit for solar panels. So, if you’re thinking about having work done on your roof, you will want to get that squared away before installing a residential solar system.
Solar consultant inspections will also look at your home’s surroundings during the inspection process, ensuring that there is no sunlight obstructing trees over your roof. You’ll also want to make sure that the trees or other objects surrounding your home are in good condition to avoid costly fall damage.
5. Check And Understand Your Solar System’s Warranty
Speaking of damage, you will, of course, want to understand your solar system’s warranty. Many solar panel companies provide warranties to their customers to provide confidence and peace of mind when it comes to their solar installation.
Like SunPower’s Best-in-Class 25-Year Warranty, you’ll want to make sure that your warranty offers long-lasting protection for your solar system that covers power productions, your solar panels, micro-inverters, and racking systems.
This way, in the unlikely event that your panels are damaged or malfunction, an expert solar engineer can promptly come to your home and resolve the issues as soon as possible.
6. You’ll (Most Likely) Still Require Grid Energy
Don’t cut ties with your electrical company quite yet! As devices powered by electricity, your solar panels will require a certain amount of electricity to power up and begin converting sunlight into sustainable energy for your home. Then, you can use that converted energy as you please within your home.
And, it’s reasonable to assume that you may have to tap into grid energy from time-to-time, especially if you don’t currently own a solar battery storage option. What’s incredible about solar power is that it can help bring down the costs and dependency on grid energy, allowing you to take back much of your energy independence.
7. Learn How Net Metering Works
One of the best ways to see a return on your solar energy investment is to take advantage of Massachusetts’s net metering policies. Essentially, net metering is the process of transferring excess energy back into the grid. Typically, this exchange is made for monthly billing credits that can help lower your grid-based electricity costs.
If you’d like to learn more about how net metering works in Massachusetts, please check out our full breakdown, “What Is Net Metering In Massachusetts? And How Does It Work?”.
8. Research The Massachusetts & Federal Tax Credits & Solar Incentives
In addition to net metering, both the federal government and the state of Massachusetts offer various tax credits and solar incentives for residential solar owners. These incentives include the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit, the Massachusetts SMART Program, and many more.
But you don’t want to wait to install solar, especially if you’re seeking to take advantage of the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which drops in percentage every year. The solar tax credit is set at 26% through 2022, but will drop to 22% in 2023 before expiring in 2024 for residential owners (unless it is renewed by the federal government, of course).
9. Consider The Addition of Solar Battery Storage
As we have mentioned multiple times in this article, solar battery storage is quickly becoming an essential part of residential solar systems.
These storage options allow for even greater control of your home’s energy consumption and sustainability, allowing you to tap into stored energy almost on demand. Be sure to check out our article, “Solar Battery Storage Solutions: SunVault by SunPower,” for a full, comprehensive breakdown of how solar battery storage works.
10. Solar Panels Work During The Winter In Massachusetts
There’s a common misconception that solar panels do not work during the winter months in Massachusetts. However, this myth couldn’t be further from the truth. Solar panels do, in fact, work over the winter!
While solar panels may not capture more sunlight than in the summer due to the earlier sunset, they certainly continue working diligently during the daytime hours, supplying your home with sustainable energy. In fact, solar panels work more efficiently in the cold than they do in the extreme heat.
Remember, solar panels require sunlight to produce electricity, not heat. And, with the addition of solar battery storage, you can tap into stored energy once the sun sets!