Many southeast Michigan homeowners are interested in solar energy systems, but the unknown initial costs of solar installation prevent them from seriously pursuing this alternative energy source. The simple truth is that solar installation costs can vary widely based on a number of circumstances. Here’s what must be taken into consideration.
- Your home’s electricity consumption: To get an accurate reading of your home’s electrical appetite, look back at a year’s worth of electricity bills. See if you can cut back on energy consumption to have a tremendous impact on the initial costs of solar installation.
- Climate: Michigan isn’t the sunniest state in the country, so you may need a larger system to generate the necessary electricity. However, PV panels operate more efficiently in cooler climates than hot ones, so our climate here is still practical for solar panels.
- Site characteristics: Sites with the most unobstructed solar access will result in more efficient solar panels and therefore a lower initial expense. You’ll need an area on your roof or elsewhere with a southern exposure, enough room for all the solar panels you require and limited shade between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The more ideal the site, the smaller the system can be.
- Scale: You can always start with a single solar module and build your system gradually to create lower initial costs of solar installation with each addition. This is a great benefit of choosing a grid-tied system – part of your electricity can be generated by the solar panels and the rest will come from the grid.
- Incentives: The government acknowledges those who invest in alternative energy, meaning your solar installation could make you eligible for tax credits, exemptions and lower interest rates on loans.
To learn more about your home’s specific costs of solar installation, please contact us at Aladdin Heating & Cooling today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about the costs of solar installation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Aladdin Heating services Novi, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp., Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Madison Heights, Clawson, Sterling Heights, Warren, Troy, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Utica, Shelby Twp., Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!