The first step is to have a solar energy professional come and give you a site assessment. This will include reviewing your energy bills. It is good to have at least a year's worth so that the installer can calculate the appropriate size needed for your application. Once the size is determined, the installer will need to ensure that you have enough roof space to accomodate the system (generally 100 square feet per kW of system).
The next step in the process will be the proposal. Most experienced installers should provide you with a breakdown of costs, including the costs for panels, the inverter, any wiring, as well as the labor costs involved. For a breakdown of these parts, check out our solar energy components section. Be sure to review the warranty being provided for the system. Most panels carry at least a 25 year warranty and most inverter carry at least a 10 year warranty.
The solar energy proposal should also include costs and adjustments for permits and rebates. The installer is responsible for all the paperwork and filing for your rebates and credits. No professional installer should be uncomfortable or unwilling to handle these requests.
We recommend you getting multiple proposals to compare costs and systems. Never agree to continue with a proposal until all questions are answered and you are 100% comfortable with the proposal. Make sure you have all details in writing in case something goes awry during installation.
Solar energy systems are not cheap and require a substantial amount of time and money. For a break down on costs and how you solar energy systems can save you money, check out our solar energy costs page. Make sure you are 100% educated and have done your research on installers. If you do all the necessary leg work, you will enjoy many years of free, clean, carbon-free energy!
