Five Ways to Make Your Solar Installation Cheaper

While your solar panels will eventually pay for themselves and then some, the initial cost of set-up is a huge hit to anyone’s wallet. Because of this, you might be wondering what you can do to make your set-up costs cheaper. There are five little tricks you can do to make your initial installation cheaper. Just keep one thing in mind while you’re trying to save: the more you spend now, the less you’ll spend later. While these tricks will help you, keep in mind that you’ll still be paying quite a bit for your solar energy, but that the savings in the long term will make it all worth it in the end.

Lower Your Energy Usage

The less energy you use, the less energy you’ll need to generate. The less energy you need to generate, the less panels you’ll need, and the less your installation will cost. So, what are some things you can start doing now to lower your energy usage and be prepared to install less panels?

First, replace your appliances with energy efficient ones. Also invest in energy efficient windows. Appliances like your refrigerator are a huge energy drain. Next, shut down electronics when you aren’t using them and unplug them. This also includes shutting down your pool. Turn up the A/C’s temperature so it goes on less. Make sure your home is insulated enough that energy stays trapped and doesn’t escape your home.

Finally, your roof may need to be replaced.

Replacing the Roof

The roof is a big factor when it comes to new solar energy installation. One way replacing it can save you money is because an old roof that’s falling apart won’t be able to keep out the cold air and keep in the warm air depending on the season, which in turn means your heater and A/C will have to work twice as hard.

On top of that, if you install new solar panels on an old roof, you need to be thinking about the long term. After all, with panels lasting up to 30 years, you should be thinking about whether or not you’ll need to replace your roof in that long life cycle.If the roof is already old, think about it thirty years from now.

Not only will keeping an old roof mean you’ll be wasting energy, it will also waste you a ton of money in the long run if you have to replace it and reinstall your solar panels.

Get the Right Panel

First, you’ll need to figure out if you want a monocrystalline silicon, a polycrystalline silicon, or a thin film solar panel. In order from most efficient/most expensive, each type of panel has unique advantages and disadvantages, with polycrystalline silicon being right in the middle of its price and efficiency.

Just remember that paying more now saves you more in the future. You’ll also need fewer panels if you get a more efficient one.

Also, keep in mine the actual brand of the solar panel and keep in mind that the same rule applies: the cheaper it is, the less long it will last, and the more you’ll need to get the amount of energy you need.

The same rule also goes for the mounting equipment.

Getting an Installer

While you might think installing the panels yourself or getting a local handyman to do it might save you the most money, it’ll actually probably cost more in the long run. After all, if you or your local handyman aren’t experienced in installing solar panels, you’ll most likely get roof damage, panel damage, and damage to yourself or the handyman. On top of that, if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing and install the panels wrong, you’ll probably end up not getting as much energy as you should.

Act Now

The best time to go solar is right now. Between tax credits and rebates, you’ll save a ton of money on deals that won’t last forever. On top of that, new tariffs mean the prices of the panels is probably going to go up.

Act now, get your lifestyle up to date to save money and get the best panels you can.

Want to learn more about solar energy and bringing it into your life? Check out the HahaSmart blog!

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