...read this.
I'm occasionally asked by friends and family who know that I used to install residential solar PV systems what advice I would give them when purchasing a solar PV system of their own. So here's my response...
As much as I love solar and other renewable energies, and the promise they show for replacing fossil fuels one day, I must admit there is a better path forward (for homeowners at least) than simply installing your own roof- or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system.
The very first thing you should consider is the energy efficiency of your home. Saving energy is cheaper, easier, and provides a better return on investment than producing energy. It is the faster and more effective approach to reducing energy demand and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
So make sure your house is as energy efficient as possible before even thinking about installing solar. Find a certified home energy auditor to conduct a home energy audit to see where you are wasting energy. Have a blower door test completed to see how airtight your home is. Seal around doors and windows, install energy-efficient lighting, and think about replacing or insulating your water heater, as this can be up to 15-20% of your electric bill.
After your home is energy efficient enough for Ed Begley himself (and if you decide to get a roof-mounted system), consider your roof. Is it asphalt shingle? Is it a standing seam roof? Is it going to need repairs or need replaced soon? Consider the labor that goes into installing solar panels on a roof. Trust me, it's a lot of hard work. Now consider how much work it would be to take down that solar PV system, replace the roof, then reinstall that system. I'm getting scared just thinking about it.
The third, but not necessarily last, thing to consider is solar incentives. These have already begun to dry up at the federal, state, and local levels and are pretty dynamic. There is a lot of information out there on incentives and it can be a bit confusing. The DSIRE database has pretty much all of the up-to-date information you will need on federal, state, and local incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives.
These are just a few of the many things to consider when looking into purchasing solar panels for your home. Other factors include your budget, the size of your electric bill, the location and orientation of your home, and the space available for installation.
I hope this helps!