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How to Get Low Cost Solar Electricity for the Home

Installing solar panels on your home helps to offset your total energy costs, and may even make your home energy neutral. In addition, any power that you return to the energy grid will allow you to reap payments from your local energy company, further offsetting the costs of installation. It is best to install solar panels on your home as your roof is being built or redone (known as "flashing in"), as this allows for a seamless integration of the panels into your home's electrical infrastructure and greatly lowers the overall price of installation.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine how extensive you would like the solar system to be. Track your energy use over a few months to determine your total energy needs (use recent power bills for this). Figure out how much of an impact you would like to make in your energy usage.

    • 2

      Call a solar contractor to price out your ideal solar system based on your current energy use and plans for the future. Have them look at your roof to determine the best installation method. Ask about their low cost options of solar panel installation that will compliment your current energy plan.

    • 3

      Contact your local energy company to determine if they offer any incentives for incorporating solar energy into your home's electrical infrastructure. This will help to significantly lower the cost of your solar panel installation, which can generally run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

    • 4

      Purchase the solar panels and installation materials, and have a professional install the panels. You may do it yourself, but hiring a professional will ensure that the panels are securely and safely installed. This will also save you the trouble of attempting to wire the panels into your electrical infrastructure, which can cost you a lot of money in repairs if not done correctly the first time around.