Your Solar Panel Savings Dreams Can Come True With Lower Costs

I had some wild ideas as a child.  It's easy to see the world through entirely different lenses when you can't comprehend the limits of science and technology.  As a young person growing up in the heart of a Northern Californian artsy town, there was always a lot of fantasy to be seen and heard.  I also loved Chinese food.  That tidbit of information is relevant because through my many eating experiences at local Chinese food restaurants I discovered my Chinese zodialogical animal was the dragon.  Now, at a young age, being a dragon myself, I figured I would meet one of these magical scaled beasts eventually.  I would often spend 2, maybe even 3 hours on my summer days, traversing the forest looking for a dragon to befriend.  Eventually, I got a drivers license, and I gave looking; but, I will never give up the dream.  Maybe your dream is buying green energy producing, dollar saving, well priced solar panel system for your home.  Well, there is no better time than now for jumping into solar.  Let's explore the many considerations you should understand about solar panels, to get the best price on solar and save you the most money possible.  

 Solar Watts, Efficiency, Warranty

One of the first things you have to consider is that the actual solar panels only make up 25 to 30 percent of the total price of installing a solar system. The cost of the solar panel you choose changes based on the type and efficiency.  Also notable, the cost of solar panels has fallen in the past 10 years to about half the cost they were in 2008. You can assume to pay somewhere between $4,000 and $16,000 of hard-earned dollar for your solar panels.  U.S. Solar Market Insight states the total average pricing for domestic systems is just above $3.50 per watt. 

Watts

Solar modules are sold based on how many “watts” of energy they generate. A watt is the basic unit of power, which equals volts multiplied by amps. Each module contains solar cells, so the more cells that can be packed into a module, the higher the total wattage. The lower-wattage modules are packed with fewer solar cells, so they are relatively inexpensive. Those with a greater density, such as the 300- or 370-watt units, cost more. Module prices average about $.60 per watt, with costs projected to fall to $.46 per watt by 2018, according to a 2015 U.S. Department of Energy SunShot report on pricing trends.

Efficiency

To figure out the efficiency rating of a solar module, compare the percentage of sunlight converted into electricity. Usual efficiency rates range 14 to 18 percent. As technology upgrades, higher percentages will be a result. A cell’s performance comes from the variety of silicon used during manufacturing. 

Size

The dimensions of a solar system significantly determine its overall price. Generally, residential photovoltaic installations range from 2 and 20 kW and cost between $15,000 and $35,000. However, several variables are in play, including the possible space and aspect of the roof. Some systems require as much as 1,000 square feet while small beginner systems might need approximately 50 square feet.

Durability

A lot of solar panel manufacturer warranties are usually servicing for the individual solar components. Well known solar panels will include a 20- to 25-year warranty covering 80 percent of the energy output. 

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.