Why Solar Panels Are A Must-Have For Every Homeowner

As a native of the Sunshine State, I believe solar panels are a must-have for every homeowner. With utility providers controlling energy costs and rates continuously on the rise, I believe now is the time to switch. I hope to give everyone some tips, tricks and feedback from my solar journey.

Why Go Solar?

Money Savings

In 2023, my solar panels produced the equivalent of nearly $3,000 worth of energy.

I actually produced more energy than I consumed last year. That is truly amazing considering my wife and I both work from home, have kids who constantly leave the lights on, keep the thermostat between 72-74°F and charge our electric vehicles…which means driving is essentially free wherever we go.

No Financial Surprises

Gone are the days of worrying about summer bills or unexpected “surprises” from the utility company in the form of rate increases. My average electric bill has been about $25 per month for the last year with solar panels…and that monthly fee is simply the cost of being “connected” to the grid.

Better For The Environment

I care for the environment, but I would be a bit of a hypocrite if I said I only did this because of it. I switched to solar because it made sense financially, made me less dependent upon the grid and was better for the environment. In 2023, the environmental impact of my solar panels resulted in the equivalent of reducing CO2 by 14.4 tons and planting 242 trees.

Questions?

Now, here are some of the most common questions I get asked by those interested in solar…

What solar panels did you have installed?

After doing research on a lot of the solar panel manufacturers and hearing pitches from many companies, I came to the conclusion that as long as you have Tier 1 solar panels, you’re good.

I’m sure that answer is a bit simple for some people, but any Tier 1 solar panel manufacturer is the way to go.

I ended up with Qcells North America , specifically the Q.PEAK DUO BLK-G10+ 360. Check out the data sheet here.

What inverter(s) did you have installed?

There are basically two options...

1. String Inverter. Think one big inverter that works with the entire group of solar panels on your roof.
2. Microinverter. Think many little inverters where each one is assigned to a solar panel on your roof.

I went with Microinverters, as I preferred seeing what each individual solar panel was producing. If one microinverter breaks, the rest of my solar panels will continue producing energy until I can get the broken microinverter replaced. With a broken string inverter, the entire system is down until it’s repaired or replaced.

I ended up with Enphase Energy , specifically the IQ8+ Microinverter. Check out the data sheet here.

By the way, here’s a cool snapshot from the Enphase App showing my energy production for each solar panel in 2023.

How did I choose my solar installer?

I listened to many sales pitches and did my research, but like all things in life, a word of mouth referral was the route I went. I had a family member, Jared M. Meyers , who used Optimus Energy Solutions , and they were very happy with their system at Legacy Vacation Resorts, a Certified B Corp .

I ended up speaking with the owner, Ben Pauluhn , and he was a stand up guy. He actually talked me out of some of the battery backup options I wanted to install (where he could have made even more money) and I respected that as a potential customer. After he answered all my questions, I felt comfortable proceeding and I can honestly say it was a great decision.

Door-to-door sales or large companies who outsource their installations with a local crew is typically a recipe for disaster. I would recommend going with a solar installer you trust, preferably a word of mouth reference from someone in your network.

Did you buy or lease your solar panels?

I purchased my solar panels and took advantage of the solar loan offer provided through a local bank in my community, Climate First Bank .

Not to mention, there’s a Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics which includes up to a 30% tax credit for systems installed through the end of 2032.

*Disclaimer - You should talk with a tax professional to ensure you qualify for the tax credit. There’s no income limit for the solar tax credit, but you need to have a large enough taxable income to claim the full credit. You can get more details here.

Is there a reason why I shouldn’t go solar right now?

The only time I’d advise someone not to go with solar is if they plan to sell their house or replace their roof in the near future. While my solar panels can be removed and reinstalled when I eventually need to replace the roof, I’d recommend avoiding the headache. Replace your roof first, then go solar!