Purchased solar panels vs. leased solar panels 

Panels require uninterrupted passage to sunlight, which may indicate chopping down trees that screen your roof and solar panels can’t be stored somewhere that may be shaded by other buildings.
A solar panel should be placed at an angle within 30 and 60 degrees for supreme performance. This means that, if your roof is level, you’ll want to buy an angled bracket to mount panels on.

If you purchase a solar panel system, you own it and are fitted for federal and state continuances on your investment. According to Energy Sage, installing a solar panel system can cost between $15,000 to $30,000 before rebates and incentives. According to the Boston Globe, in Massachusetts, the average out-of-pocket cost after rebates and incentives are factored in is $14,000.

Solar power for home systems and leasing 

When you purchase a solar panel system outright, you are responsible for maintaining it, although solar panel systems usually include warranties and don’t usually collect huge repair costs. By purchasing a solar system, you usually save within 40 and 70 percent of total electricity costs for the life of the system.

If you lease a system, a third party owns and maintains the system, benefits from federal and state tax credits, and leases the system back to the homeowners. In this way, you can install a solar energy system for little or no money down and the solar company maintains the system for you.

Generational solar impact

Solar leases are generally for 20 to 25 years, after which you can renew your lease or purchase the system at a discounted price. Homeowners pay the solar company a monthly fee and ultimately save between 10 and 30 percent off electricity prices.

In an illustration presented by HowStuffWorks, a family spending $250 on a monthly electricity bill might be imposed a $125 monthly rental fee and have their monthly bill cut to $100, preserving them $25 a month. The monthly leasing fee depends on various factors, involving how much energy the household uses, what solar panel installation company the lease is from, location and credit score.

In 2014, 72 percent of residential solar panels were rented from a third party, rather than purchased, according to a report from GTM Research. The story predicts, however, that by 2020, the sinking cost of the technology will mean that 46 percent of the market will be for owned systems. By and large, leasing is the more popular option.

There has never been a better time to install a solar energy system!

If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 
20 years. 

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.