Sunrun Solar

As a frugal gal, I’ve always been concerned about saving money at home. I watch my pennies, cook from scratch, grow my own vegetables, and consider all my purchases carefully.

Electricity is one of those areas that’s difficult to save in. Sure you can get rid of energy hogs like an older refrigerator, freezer, or air conditioner. You can turn off your lights when you’re not in the realm, and keep your thermostat lower in the winter and higher in the summer to save electricity going into your AC or furnace. But beyond that it’s pretty hard to find ways to continue to save.

House roof with regenerative energy system

I’ve often wondered about solar power. The idea of generating my own power and not relying on public utilities is very attractive my self-sufficient mindset. Solar energy is clean, quiet, and unobtrusive. It’s good for the planet too! There are even incentives available in many states for installing solar power and reducing your energy draw on the on the system.

On the other hand, solar can be a significant investment, and panels and batteries do have a lifespan and will eventually have to be replaced. It’s a decision that should be weighed carefully and with some deliberation.  To add to the confusion, technology keeps changing and the equipment and costs of a couple years ago are quite different from the equipment costs available today. How do you navigate all this? How can you decide if solar is right for you?

Sometimes the information you find on the web is conflicting, and it’s hard to know whether your particular location would really work for solar. For example I live in Binghamton, New York area and it is extraordinarily cloudy here. Do my roof lines point in the right direction? Would I be able to generate enough power to make the cost of solar worthwhile? How long would it take me to amortize my purchase? Do I use a system that is hooked into the power grid or system that’s completely separate from the power grid?

Did you know that you don’t have to buy your own solar panels?  That’s right–there is a way to LEASE the panels.  Sunrun solar service, the kind folks sponsoring this post, provide solar leases or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), as opposed to buying solar panels outright.

I think the best way to navigate all of these questions and issues is to talk to professional. Sunrun solar is there to help with a free quote and helpful information, like the answers to these commonly asked questions about going solar:

Commonly Asked Questions About Going Solar

• What are my options for going solar?

Today’s homeowners have two main options when choosing to go solar: purchasing a system or leasing a solar system with a solar service provider. When a homeowner purchases a system, there is a high upfront cost, and the homeowner is often responsible for shopping for a system or installer, managing the installation, insuring the system, completing the paperwork for tax rebates and credits, monitoring and maintaining the system, replacing expensive parts, etc. This can be a headache for the homeowner, which is why most homeowners choose to go solar with a solar lease provider.

• What is a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA)?

Leased solar (also called a “PPA” or “third-party owned solar”) allows homeowners to go solar with little or no upfront cost. The solar lease provider purchases the equipment, installs it on your roof, and monitors and maintains the system throughout the life of the agreement. The homeowner pays a low rate for the electricity the system produces. In 2013, 72% of California homeowners who went solar did so with a third-party owned system, according to Go Solar California. Note that leased solar isn’t available in every state due to a variety of factors. Visit Sunrun.com to see if Sunrun solar service is near you.

• How much does leased solar cost?

A common assumption is that solar always has a high upfront cost, and that’s true if the homeowner wants to own a system. With leased solar, homeowners can go solar with little or no upfront cost. The homeowner still receives a monthly electricity bill that is lower than what they currently pay to the utility. The cost of the monthly payment depends on a variety of factors, including tiered electricity costs in your area, the size of the system required on your home, rebates offered, etc.

• How much am I going to save with solar?

How much you will save will be specific to you and it depends on your usage, your rate, and the rate charged by your local utility. If utility rates continue to increase as they have historically, solar customers will save substantially on electricity bills over the life of having solar.

• Note:  Sunrun customers typically save 20% on your electric bill* (*Actual savings will vary. See http://clvr.li/1dwHGKc for details)

• Do I get tax credits and rebates?

There are both Federal and State incentives for purchasing residential solar panels that a homeowner can take advantage of if they purchase solar panels. As the owner of the panels, leased solar providers take advantage of those incentives as a means to lower the price you pay for your solar electricity. This way, you don’t have to deal with extra paperwork, but you still get the price advantage.

• Is it true that I can put my solar electricity back into the grid?

Yes! When you go solar, a net meter is installed along with the system. It looks a lot like your utility meter and measures how much solar electricity the system produces. So, if it produces more electricity than you used (e.g., on sunny afternoons), that excess electricity is automatically fed to the utility grid and your net meter will “spin” backwards, earning you energy credits. In the evenings, when the solar system is not producing electricity, the homeowner uses those energy credits to power their home.

• What are tiered utility rates and why do they matter?

Tiered utility rates are part of the reason electricity has become so expensive. With tiered rates, the more electricity you use, the higher your rate becomes per kilowatt hour. These tiers are typically less regulated or not regulated at all, which means that utility companies have the ability to raise rates without your consent. You’re allowed a certain amount of power in each tier; once you’ve exceeded that amount, you are subject to pay the next highest tiered rate. Lower tiered rates are generally affordable and higher tiered rates can be very expensive. In many cases, leased solar providers will recommend a system that only offsets your expensive tiers, to help you maximize your savings. The nice thing about going solar is that you can better predict your electricity costs for decades to come.

• Where do the panels go on my house?

In most cases, panels are installed on the southernmost side of the home to ensure the highest amount of sun exposure and production possible. The size and number of the panels are designed specifically for your home and energy consumption.

• What’s the difference between grid-tied solar and off-the-grid solar?

Grid-tied solar is a solar system that uses a utility’s electrical grid to send and receive power. Off-the-grid solar is a solar system that utilizes a battery backup that is not tied to a utility’s grid. With third-party-owned solar, the system is tied to the grid so that your system can use your utility company’s grid for electricity storage. While it would be ideal for solar customers to be completely off the grid, batteries that store solar electricity are highly expensive, and the waste management is very toxic to the environment.

So head on over to Sunrun Solar and get your free quote.  While you are at it, don’t forget to enter the Sunrun Sweepstakes on Facebook for a chance to win a Nest Learning Thermostat.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.