If you want to reduce your monthly energy bills, you’ve probably looked into getting solar panels. Still, even the most extensive research might have left one question unanswered. How much do solar panels cost, anyway? As you might have guessed, the answer depends on several factors.
Ultimately, it’s no wonder so many people give up their dreams of having a home that runs on clean energy. However, our goal is to help those who haven’t thrown in the towel yet see how easy it is to get their hands on high-quality solar panels!
Why You Need Solar Panels
Before we start talking numbers, let’s establish what makes solar panels such an important component of the future of clean energy. Simply put, they’re made of many smaller cells that can convert photons, or light particles, into electricity. More specifically, panels can convert between 4 and 19% of the light they come into contact with.
Still, that’s effective enough to significantly reduce the strain you put on the regular power grid your home is connected to. Many homes have managed to completely transition to this kind of electric power. So bringing in solar panels will certainly bring your energy consumption down to an all-time low too!
Of course, if you’re looking to disconnect your home from non-renewable energy sources, solar would be just the beginning. Households that have high energy consumption may have to incorporate other clean power sources too.
Things to Consider When Shopping for Solar Panels
If you’ve been looking into solar panels for the past few years, you’ll have noticed that the overall cost of having them brought to your home and installed has decreased. However, you’ll still need to consider several factors before you take that plunge. To begin with, think about what effect you’d like to achieve.
Do You Want to Use Only Solar Power?
Let’s say you wanted to use solar panels to reduce your reliance on non-renewable energy sources. In that case, you wouldn’t need as many panels as you would if you wanted to completely transition to clean power. However, if you did want to power your whole home, you’d have to check your current power consumption and go from there.
For example, if your home consumes about 1,000 kWh of energy per month, you may need up to 30 panels. That, in turn, makes the condition and size of your roof another factor you’ll have to consider. Alternatively, you may have to opt for a ground-mounted system.
What Type of Solar Panels Do You Want?
Additionally, there are several questions you’ll need to answer regarding the kind of panels you want to use. For one, you’d need to choose between several kinds of panels, including monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-film, and concentrated photovoltaic ones. Ask your solar panel supplier which type would be most suitable for your home.
Just keep in mind that your choice will also affect the overall cost of the product. Another thing that might affect the price is the wattage of the panels. Generally, most solar panels have an output between 250 and 400 watts, though some can even exceed that mark. You’ll probably have to shell out between $2.30 and $2.81 per watt, so keep that in mind while shopping for your panels.
Mitigating Circumstances
Before you start worrying about the amount of money you’ll have to spend, you should take into account the money you’ll save. Most homes that have solar panels save about $1,500 per year because of their choice. Remember, this is an investment that should last for about 30 years — so that’s over $40,000 in your bank account! Atlantic Key Energy even offers a 25-year warranty that covers a wide range of repairs.
Additionally, installing solar panels might make you eligible for a solar tax credit. That alone could deduct as much as 26% of your installation cost. Most people who take advantage of the benefit only end up paying between $10,000 and $13,000. Ultimately, the cost will also depend on the state you live in.
So How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
As you now know, the total cost of your solar panels can depend on any number of factors. So the question isn’t really How much do solar panels cost? Instead, consider how much you stand to gain by installing them. And if you’d still like to see a price estimate before committing to the idea, we’ll be happy to provide you with a free quote!
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