Our solar installation guide will show how to save money by choosing your solar installer wisely. Going solar costs less when you work a small, experienced company for your home installation. According to a federal study on the topic, your savings could be 21 cents per watt. Let’s take a look at the numbers and consider what that could mean for you. What are your options for making solar installation affordable?
- Solar Installation Guide to Cutting Costs
- Going Solar Costs Less With a Smaller Installer
- Avoid Hidden Costs
- Experience Matters
Solar Installation Guide to Cutting Costs
As soon as you invest in solar, you’ll start to save on energy. And the lower your upfront costs, the sooner you’ll maximize the rewards of your new home solar system.
The most affordable away to start saving on energy is to DIY your home solar panel installation. Such a large home improvement project isn’t a realistic option for a lot of homeowners, but if you personally have the skills to pull it off it will keep your costs low.
If you aren’t able to get hands-on, then shopping with your eyes open is an important way to make keep going solar costs low. Our solar installation guide looks at key tips to shopping smart.
Going Solar Costs Less With a Smaller Installer
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is a federally-funded project in the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. In 2015, the NREL published a study about the costs of going solar.[1]NREL They studied which kinds of companies offer the lowest costs for home solar installation. They found that in 70% of cases, smaller companies were able to give a lower quote than larger solar installation companies. The difference in price was often around 10%.
Surprisingly, most homeowners go with a larger installation company! (In this case, “larger” refers to companies that do more than 1,000 solar installations per year.) The NREL study found that only 10% of installers were doing 90% of all home solar installations. So around 90% of homeowners might be paying more than they need to for solar installation. Maybe consumers have a preconception that small, family-run solar companies can’t offer the some amount of value as a big brand.
When you’re comparing options for solar installation, you’ll want to keep this tip in mind: a bigger company won’t necessarily give you a better deal. A smaller-volume company will often give you the best value.
Avoid Hidden Costs
Although going solar costs less with a smaller installer, there are a few details that complicate your choice of solar installers. The 2015 study from the NREL didn’t look at every kind of value. They only focused on the upfront cost per watt of home solar installation. But when you’re looking to make a lasting investment, there’s more to consider.
When comparing quotes, you will want to pay close attention to which companies have better warranties. Or which companies use high-quality equipment that will last a long time. And if the installer you’re considering doesn’t include replacement or repair support, there could be hidden costs for you in the future.
A good system should last for 25-30 years. Your long-term savings depend on the big picture, so durability and warranty value are important to consider.
Experience Matters
Here’s one more tip from our solar installation guide: experience matters. Studies show that experienced installers can do the job more efficiently and more effectively. It’s common sense to trust installers who know their craft. But it’s also scientifically shown to save money!
Multiple NREL studies from 2016 and 2017 have shown that experienced installers will offer homeowners savings through what’s called “learning-by-doing.” Basically, that means experienced companies have already learned how to do solar installation quickly and with lower costs. Because their employees are skilled, the cost of labor goes down. And their solar installations are longer lasting because they know which equipment is reliable and they can design solar systems to suit your home’s needs.
Don’t let your home be a solar installer’s first job. To get the best value, make sure your installer has a long list of satisfied customers.
Before choosing an installer, however, you’ll want to make sure you’ve taken the first two steps in our guide to going solar: learning your options for funding going solar costs and choosing a system for going solar.
(Photograph: Peteonline22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)