All You Need to Know About Solar Energy—From Contractors to Cost

Tauheed Ahmad Nawaz

2 years ago

Solar Energy—From Contractors to Cost

If you’re considering solar energy for your home or business, you’re not alone—solar power is one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the United States. In 2019, solar generated about 2% of the country’s electricity.

But what exactly is solar energy, and how does it work? And perhaps most importantly, how much will it cost to switch to solar? Below, we’ll answer all these questions and more as we explore everything you need to know about solar energy—from contractors to cost.

What Is It and How Does It Work?

It is power generated by the sun. Solar panels, which are also called photovoltaic cells, absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. The electricity can then be used to power your home or business. But you need to hire a general contractor on Maui to get the best results.

How Much Does The Energy Cost?

The cost of solar power has dropped dramatically in recent years. In 2010, the average cost of a solar panel was $1.37 per watt. Today, the average cost is just $0.26 per watt—a decrease of more than 80%.

The upfront costs of switching to solar can still be prohibitive for some homeowners and businesses, but there are a number of financing options available, including lease-to-own arrangements and loans.

There are also a number of government incentives for going solar, such as the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which offers a tax credit equal to 26% of the cost of your solar installation.

What Are the Advantages of This Energy?

There are many advantages to switching to solar energy. Solar is a renewable resource, which means it won’t run out like fossil fuels. It’s also much cleaner than other forms of energy generation, such as coal-fired power plants.

In fact, switching to solar could result in an annual net emissions reduction equal to taking 1 million cars off the road. Solar is also becoming increasingly cheaper and easier to store, thanks to advances in battery technology.

How to Choose a Solar Contractor?

When choosing a contractor, it’s important to select a company that has experience with both residential and commercial installations—preferably in your area.
You should also make sure that the company is licensed and insured.
To get an idea of the quality of a company’s work, ask for references from past customers and check online reviews.
Once you’ve narrowed down your selection to a few companies, schedule consultations with each one so you can get an estimate of the costs involved with going solar.

What Questions Should I Ask My Contractor?

During your consultation with potential contractors, be sure to ask about their experience level, warranties offered on both products and labor, and their estimate for the total cost of installation—including any permits that may be required.
You should also inquire about the company’s policies regarding cancellations and changes to contracts as well as their communication policy throughout the installation process—you’ll want to make sure that you’re able to get in touch with someone if there are any issues during installation.
Finally, be sure to ask about what happens after installation is complete—you’ll want to know who to call if there are any problems with your system down the road.

It is a renewable resource that is becoming increasingly cheaper and easier to store thanks to advances in technology. There are many advantages to switching to this energy, including environmental benefits and government incentives.

When choosing a contractor, be sure to select a company that has experience with both residential and commercial installations—preferably in your area—and that is licensed and insured.

Conclusion:

Be sure to ask potential contractors questions about their experience level, warranties offered on both products and labor, communication policy throughout the installation process, what happens after installation, and more. Once you’ve gathered this information, you’ll be able t make an informed decision about whether or not solar energy is right for you.

Solar Energy—From Contractors to Cost

If you’re considering solar energy for your home or business, you’re not alone—solar power is one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the United States. In 2019, solar generated about 2% of the country’s electricity.

But what exactly is solar energy, and how does it work? And perhaps most importantly, how much will it cost to switch to solar? Below, we’ll answer all these questions and more as we explore everything you need to know about solar energy—from contractors to cost.

What Is It and How Does It Work?

It is power generated by the sun. Solar panels, which are also called photovoltaic cells, absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. The electricity can then be used to power your home or business. But you need to hire a general contractor on Maui to get the best results.

How Much Does The Energy Cost?

The cost of solar power has dropped dramatically in recent years. In 2010, the average cost of a solar panel was $1.37 per watt. Today, the average cost is just $0.26 per watt—a decrease of more than 80%.

The upfront costs of switching to solar can still be prohibitive for some homeowners and businesses, but there are a number of financing options available, including lease-to-own arrangements and loans.

There are also a number of government incentives for going solar, such as the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which offers a tax credit equal to 26% of the cost of your solar installation.

What Are the Advantages of This Energy?

There are many advantages to switching to solar energy. Solar is a renewable resource, which means it won’t run out like fossil fuels. It’s also much cleaner than other forms of energy generation, such as coal-fired power plants.

In fact, switching to solar could result in an annual net emissions reduction equal to taking 1 million cars off the road. Solar is also becoming increasingly cheaper and easier to store, thanks to advances in battery technology.

How to Choose a Solar Contractor?

When choosing a contractor, it’s important to select a company that has experience with both residential and commercial installations—preferably in your area.

You should also make sure that the company is licensed and insured.

To get an idea of ​​the quality of a company’s work, ask for references from past customers and check online reviews.

Once you’ve narrowed down your selection to a few companies, schedule consultations with each one so you can get an estimate of the costs involved with going solar.

What Questions Should I Ask My Contractor?

During your consultation with potential contractors, be sure to ask about their experience level, warranties offered on both products and labor, and their estimate for the total cost of installation—including any permits that may be required.

You should also inquire about the company’s policies regarding cancellations and changes to contracts as well as their communication policy throughout the installation process—you’ll want to make sure that you’re able to get in touch with someone if there are any issues during installation.

Finally, be sure to ask about what happens after installation is complete—you’ll want to know who to call if there are any problems with your system down the road.

It is a renewable resource that is becoming increasingly cheaper and easier to store thanks to advances in technology. There are many advantages to switching to this energy, including environmental benefits and government incentives.

When choosing a contractor, be sure to select a company that has experience with both residential and commercial installations—preferably in your area—and that is licensed and insured.

Conclusion:

To get an idea of the quality of a company’s work, ask for references from past customers and check online reviews.