Most home and business owners consider installing solar panels on their roof for the sole purpose of cutting down on heating and cooling costs.
Solar energy on a residential or commercial property has a number of payoffs that include:
- Benefit the environment. Solar roof panels will produce energy without using fossil fuel or generating pollution. This can cut down on CO2 emissions considerably to protect our planet against climate change.
- Offer a free source of energy. Once you’ve paid for the initial cost of solar panel installation, you have a free energy source right at your fingertips. Even better, solar panel installation costs can be reduced through federal solar tax credits, as well as state and local rebates.
Taking into account incentives and tax credits, a $25,000 solar panel project could be reduced to $14,000, while providing an annual energy return of close to $3000 per year.
- Require limited space. This additional energy source will be installed in a location where space is aplenty: your roof.
Since you’re not likely to use your roof for any other purpose, why not improve energy efficiency on your property by installing solar roof panels?
Nonetheless, it’s important to consider the fact that solar panels certainly aren’t cheap. As estimated above, you may have to pay thousands of dollars in an initial investment, although you could receive a complete return within less than five years.
If you decide that a solar panel upgrade is right for your residential or commercial property, installation can be completed in the following steps:
- Choose the best rooftop location with direct exposure to the sun.
- Measure the desired location for mounting.
- Use a stud finder to locate roof rafters.
- Align the panel mounts with rafters using the included hardware mounting kit.
- Secure the mounts with bolts before attachment.
- Attach rails to mounts and bolt panel securely to the rails.
- Repeat as needed for additional rooftop solar panels.
- Hire a qualified electrician to connect solar panels to the power system.
