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Alexandria Solar Panel Company
- Solar Panel Sales & Service
- Solar Panel Sales
- Solar Panel Installation
- Solar Panel Maintenance & Repair
Solar Panel Sales and Service in Alexandria, LA
Solar electricity is the future because not only can it reduce your overall carbon footprint, but it can also save you money on household energy costs in the long run. However, a lot of thought and planning must go into solar panel sales and services.
You must determine how much solar energy your home needs to function, assess the amount of sunlight your home gets, consider solar financing options, and so much more. Below, our Alexandria solar panel installation company breaks down everything you need to know before investing in solar power.
Lombardi Electric is one of the best solar companies in the state of Louisiana. Our top-notch solar services can help you reduce your carbon footprint, power your home, and save money all at the same time. Call an Alexandria solar installer at 318-545-7575 today.
What Are Solar Panels?
Solar panels are eco-friendly devices that turn solar energy into electricity. This is how solar panels work: photovoltaic (PV) cells create electrons when exposed to sunlight. These electrons then flow through a circuit to create direct current (DC) electricity, which can create power in a home or business.
Most homes or businesses will have multiple solar panels arranged in groups on top of a roof. This is called a solar system or solar array. Solar energy systems also typically include an inverter (which turns a direct current into an alternate current), meters, controllers, and trackers.
How Much Electricity Can Solar Panels Generate?
The exact amount of solar power generated by solar panels depends on a few factors, such as how big your solar system is and how much sunlight your home gets.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) created a PVWatts tool to help those interested in solar installation answer this very question. This tool can tell you an estimation of energy production and energy costs for any home with a solar system. If you work with a solar panel installer like Lombardi Electric, you can easily figure out how much power a solar energy system can generate at your home.
For the sake of answering this question, though, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that a solar system with a direct current of 7.15 kilowatts and a 3-11 kilowatt range can meet all the electrical needs of the average household in Austin, TX.
Can Solar Panels Help Me Save Money?
The answer to this question also depends on a number of factors, including how much electricity you already use, how much sunlight your home gets, how big your solar system is, the electricity rates set by your utility company, and whether or not you buy or lease your solar energy system. You also have to consider solar energy installation costs as well as “soft costs” which include inspection and permitting.
There are many studies that show how investing in renewable energy, like solar energy, is getting more and more affordable every year, even when you factor in installation costs and soft costs. The Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) also funds several programs with the goal of making solar energy systems more affordable than regular electricity.
At the end of the day, the best way to determine whether a solar energy system would save money is to work with a solar panel installer at Lombardi Electric. Our solar installation company can weigh the total costs of your solar energy system and your home’s current energy consumption. We can also help you determine if this is the smartest investment for you.
How to Switch Your Home to Solar Energy
Switching from electric to a solar energy system is a big investment that requires lots of planning with a solar company you trust. Solar panel companies have to do a lot more than just install solar panels. They have to determine your home’s energy efficiency, how much sunlight your home gets, and which solar panel size is best for your needs. Additionally, solar companies have to run through all financing and incentive options.
Below, we discuss the basic steps that solar installers at Lombardi Electric must take with you before the installation process begins.
Determine Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
First thing’s first: you need to determine how much energy your home needs to function and which areas of your home that you could save energy. Solar companies can figure this out by running energy efficiency audits.
Certain appliances are not energy efficient, especially when you switch to solar panels. For example, some older appliances require a lot more electricity than newer appliances, so switching them out for more energy efficient appliances could save you money in the long run. Additionally, some older light fixtures and light bulbs use up more energy than they need to. In this case, you could switch to LED light bulbs to save energy when you switch to solar technology.
Lastly, heating and cooling your home uses a lot of electricity year round, and it would use a lot of solar power too if you made the switch. To cut down on these costs, you could consider weatherizing your home better with insulation, air sealing, and ventilation.
Assess the Amount of Sunlight Your Home Gets
Before installing solar panels, you need to determine if your home can get enough sunlight to power your home. Both direct and scattered sunlight is sufficient for solar energy production. But still, you want to ensure that you can get the most bang for your buck in the solar industry. For example, if your home is surrounded by multiple large trees that provide lots of shade, installing solar panels may not be worth the cost unless you cut all the trees down.
Our Alexandria solar company can not only assess the amount of sunlight your home gets, but help you determine if your current roof can handle a brand new solar array.
Consider Your Solar Options
20 plus years ago, if you wanted solar energy for your home, you had to buy it yourself. Obviously, buying everything you need for solar systems costs a fortune. Now, the solar industry offers far more affordable options so that as many people can utilize renewable energy as possible.
Here are a few possible options if you’re not in a financial position to buy your own solar energy system:
Community Solar System
Many Americans don’t have large enough roofs or appropriate solar roofing shingles for solar panels. But if someone in your neighborhood does have appropriate roofing, multiple households could pitch in and reap the benefits. Additionally, community solar programs exist where all participants pool their money for solar installation.
Solar Leases
This is how solar loans work – a third party owns the equipment, but you pay a monthly rate to receive solar energy for your home. Usually, the monthly rate for a solar loan depends on how much power the system will produce just for your home. In many cases, this monthly rate is cheaper than regular home electricity costs.
Power Purchase Agreements
Allow homeowners to host solar energy systems (which are owned by solar companies) and pay for the amount of energy the solar system generates. In other words, hosting a solar energy system often costs little to nothing to the homeowner.
The only thing the homeowner would have to pay for in a power purchase agreement is the cost per kilowatt-hour of solar energy that’s produced for the duration of the hosting period. This cost is often lower than what homeowners pay to utility companies on an annual basis.
Solar Financing and Incentives
There are also many solar incentives and financing options to consider before making the switch. People who invest in solar installation between the years of 2022 and 2032 will receive a 30% tax credit. Keep in mind that solar customers who use power purchase agreements are not eligible for Solar tax credits because they will not own the system.
Estimate Your Solar Electricity Needs
Next, you need to determine how many solar panels (and which size) you need to power your home. Alexandria solar installers at Lombardi Electric can help you do this by:
Reviewing your annual electricity bills:
- Specifically, we’ll need to look at how much electricity you use in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Considering any updates you’ll be making to your home:
- Will you be adding on another room or building to your home in the near future?
- Are you planning to invest in an electric vehicle?
- All of these things will significantly affect your annual energy usage.
Determine the Best System for Your Home
Lastly, you need to determine the best type of solar system for your home and its energy needs. This means size, type, tilt, and orientation. Solar installation companies like Lombardi Electric can help you choose the best, most efficient, and most affordable solar panels for your home.
Call Lombardi Electric Today
Lombardi Electric is one of Louisiana’s Best solar panel companies. Based in Alexandria, LA, our solar company can not only help you determine if solar panels are a smart investment for your home, but install and maintain them too. For more information about our solar panel sales and services, call a solar installer at 318-545-7575 today.
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- Solar Panel Sales & Service
- Solar Panel Sales
- Solar Panel Installation
- Solar Panel Maintenance & Repair
