Thinking about installing solar panels in your home? Not sure where to start? Well you’re not alone. Several Texas residents have looked into installing solar panels to power their homes but have been overwhelmed with options and information. Over the past few years, Texans who live in residential areas have probably been approached at least once by door to door salespeople asking if they were interested in installing solar panels. This can be a turn off for a lot of people, but solar panels have proven to be a cheaper and greener alternative. Here is a list of things you should know if you’re looking to power your home with solar energy.

First Steps

Before starting the the process of getting solar panels for your home, you should first think about ways to make your home more energy efficient. Taking these extra steps can save you more money quickly. For more advice on how to make your home more energy efficient, take a look at the Smarter House website of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. If you want a professional opinion you can also reach out to a professional energy audit.

Installing solar panels in your home could even grant you incentives from the government. For more information on government policies and incentives related to solar energy, visit the DSIRE website. This organization remains up to date with federal, state, and local policies.

How Solar Panels Work

So how do solar panels save you money? In order to understand how this energy alternative, you have to look at how solar panels operate. Solar modules convert sunlight into electricity measured in kilowatt-hours. Either you use all of the solar electricity or it goes into the electric grid. The amount of electricity generated throughout the day, or your system’s “yield”, will depend on specifications such as the array’s tilt, orientation (north, east, south, west), shade, DC-AC conversion ratio, and a few other factors. The TXSES and Department of Energy websites offer additional basic solar details.

It’s important to understand that your utility affects your electric bill and there are policies that are specific to the state of Texas. Some utilities will only charge you for your “net” energy use, so basically you pay the remainder of the energy that use in your home. Other utilities might compensate you for unused electricity that is sent into the grid at a lower rate.

Incentives

Austin Energy has adopted a system called a “value of solar” rate where all your solar energy is credited to your bill at a pre-set rate which would offset your electric consumption charges. Make sure to check with your electric utility to learn how their solar rate works. DSIRE is also a great source to check out about more solar policies.

The Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) allows eligible homeowners who purchase solar energy systems to claim an income tax credit that is up to 30 percent of the installment cost. This credit is currently available until the end of 2021, for more incentives check out The Department of Energy and DSIRE websites as well as your electric utility and city government websites.

 

Edited: AJ