How Suitable is Solar?

Solar energy has long been touted as the panacea for our clean energy future. But is it right for everyone? Is it a good time to switch to solar? Will solar panels work in Pacifica, home of the FogFest? Does solar offer customers actual utility savings? People often ask me if solar is a good choice for them and questions like this are commonplace.

Solar manufacturers have been selling the prospect of energy savings to consumers in exchange for installing solar panels on their homes for years. However, claims of “payback periods” and “return on investment” have been over-exaggerated. To date, the initial investment of residential solar installation has been so high that it is improbable that annual energy savings will pay it back before replacement or substantial maintenance of the panels is required.

President Obama’s Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future includes considerable investment in programs and projects that encourage solar power. The blueprint sites groundbreaking commercial solar power installations that will provide hundreds of megawatts of electricity to our electrical grid. The plan calls for substantial research and development funding for companies that develop cheaper methods of manufacturing solar panels. This, coupled with the rising price of oil-based energy, will make solar energy more competitive when measured by cost per watt.

While the price of solar is decreasing, so too are the size of rebate amounts that apply to new solar installations. So is solar a wise choice for homeowners? There is no simple yes or no answer, but solar can be an integral part of a household energy strategy that can help homeowners reduce their dependency on fuel energy. To use solar wisely, it must be considered as one part of a more sustainable puzzle.

Before switching to solar, reduce your consumption. The best way to take advantage of alternative energy systems like solar is to reduce your base-load energy consumption prior to installation. When I map out a long-term strategy with clients toward energy efficiency, I suggest a tiered approach to alternative energy. First, I work with homeowners to identify unsustainable energy behaviors and opportunities for simple energy conservation measures. Secondly, I analyze the insulation performance of the home to measure how well the existing home is operating as a system. By improving the performance of the home and retraining the occupants to use less energy, we can design a smaller solar panels system at considerable savings to the homeowner.

Not every home is right for solar. Is your home surrounded by trees, taller buildings, or on a steep hillside? If your home is cast in shade for long periods of the day, solar is probably not a cost effective option for you. Yet, if your home has a roof that has a southern exposed face with a clear solar path, you have a prime opportunity to take advantage of solar power. Installations with eastern and western facing panels are less productive but still suitable.

In addition, homeowners are wise to plan the installation of solar panels with a relatively new roof. If your roof is more-than halfway through its warranty period, I suggest that you wait before installing solar panels. The best bang for your buck is to install solar in tandem with a new roof, since you will be able to minimize any penetrations in the home’s roof membrane and have the security of a weatherproof membrane beneath your panels.

Even in Pacifica, solar can provide an adequate residential energy supply. I’m often asked if solar will work in our climate with many overcast days and frequent fog. Solar technology is improving rapidly to offer more consumers opportunities to take advantage of this clean energy. Solar panels don’t just work on the visible light spectrum, but on longer wavelengths as well which penetrate cloud cover. While not as productive as in areas with direct sun, solar panels are still a viable alternative for residents Coastside.

In summary, solar power is an excellent option for homeowners wishing to reduce their dependency on oil-based energy. However, solar power works best when offered as part of an overall strategy to reduce energy consumption. Often, after homeowners install solar and are once again afforded cheaper energy at home, their conservation behaviors become less vigilant and less sustainable. Only by first reducing household energy use and improving the efficiency of your home’s performance per watt can you take full advantage of a solar panel system. By doing so, you can optimally size your solar panel system and maximize your utility savings.