Solar is Affordable. Don't Believe Me? Prove it to Yourself

A few weeks ago, I got tired of repeating myself when a California person said to me that solar was a nice idea, but that it wasn't affordable.

So I said, you know what? I can tell you all about the available subsidies, the tax credits, not to mention the various low money down solar leasing, solar PPAs, and municipal financing programs. I really could. But the fact is you're not going to believe me. The only way you're going to believe me is if you prove it to yourself. How? Very simply....

Get a quote.

That conversation is what inspired the post below, published previously on one of my other blog sites for consumers. This type of dialog is what I was talking about in my previous post about challenging the 1980's solar mentality. You, me, we, as the leaders and believers in solar PV, have to directly, but politely challenge the old notions about solar.

Please read this post, and share it with anyone who may still be stuck in 1980's solar world. And of course, please add to the discussion with your comments and tell me why you think this approach works...or doesn't.

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There is a very deep misconception in America that solar is a nice idea, but still too expensive.  I've written multiple posts on various blogs that try to explain why I believe that's no longer true if you live in a solar friendly state with solar subsidies, but I keep coming across the same resistance. The main stream press hasn't made a big deal about it, and people are suspicious of advertisements. I'm an unaffiliated solar advocate, but people still doubt. So what's the solution?

You have to convince yourself. How? By getting a free quote from a qualified, local solar dealer. It's free! What can you lose, Joe?! Worst case, you've lost an hour or two, and now you know for sure that solar's not right for you. Best case, you go solar and save, electricity, money, the planet, promote green jobs, energy independence, yada, yada, yada.

If enough people read this post and act, then the "find out for yourself message" can get significant attention from regular, non-solar people. Perhaps then the solar dialog will finally change in America from "I love solar, but it's too expensive," to "Holy crap, Martha, solar is affordable now. Let's do it."

To help prepare you for solar quotes and discussions with significant others, let me direct you to these FAQ type posts from my regular Solar Fred blog. These answer most of the basics.

• Is my home right for solar? See this post. Short answer: The installers don't want to waste their time either. They should ask you some questions over the phone. Again, if it's not right for you, bummer. Hang up and continue to pay your electric bill.
• How do I find a good installer? See this post. Short answer: Make sure the company is experienced, licensed, insured by your city/state. NABCEP certification is a great sign the installer is experienced.
• How much? There's no short answer. It's going to depend on your energy usage, your house, and so many things. There are a number of "solar calculators" out there, but they can be very inaccurate if you don't input the right parameters. It's truly best to get quotes from live people to find out exact needs for your home. In general, the installer should quote you between $5.50 and $8/watt. I know that doesn't make sense here, but it will when you get a quote. In general, your monthly solar cost should be very close to what your electric bill is now or less. The salesman will also show you how future utility rate increases will save you big time. If not, solar's not right for you. Move on.
• How do I finance it? See my "cash poor" series of posts. They describe not only traditional home equity financing, but also solar leases, solar PPAs, municipal financing through your city, and unsecured financing. All of these have little or no money down. What's not to love?
• Won't the price come down if I wait? Yes...and no. Competition and technology are bringing solar prices down, but the subsidies will also come down, making the consumer's price about the same. If your state is not solar friendly, then, yes, wait. Also, become a member of vote solar.org to help move your lawmakers along.
• How do I know if I live in a solar friendly state? Check this nifty database of solar incentives.  Also, remember the Feds give you a 30% tax credit if you buy.
• Don't I need batteries? Short answer: Nope. Staying tied to the grid, using "net metering" is the least expensive way to go solar. Also most reliable and maintenance free.
• Shouldn't we do energy conservation first? Yes. That would be most cost effective and bring down your solar price further.
• Could I cover half my energy costs with solar? Yes. Especially if you use a lot of energy and have tiered rates at your utility, buy solar to offset 60% of your electric bill, not 95%. You'll see big savings and fast payback.
• How fast is payback? Depends on so many variables. Short answer: Anywhere from 5 to 13 years is reasonable. Typical is 9-13 years. Could be longer for certain utilities, states, tax bracket, financing method...Depends. I swear. Get 3 local quotes and find out. Also, remember that typical solar panels last 25 years or more, so free energy after payback.
• Are solar panels ugly? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but check this out. Looks just like regular roofing shingles.

So, what if you get a quote and it's still too expensive? Then at least do 5 of these 53 ways to cut your home energy bill. If you've already done 5 on the list, do 5 more or 10. Save money and the planet without going solar. I'm okay with that too.

Why am I doing all this? Why should you care? In the long run, it doesn't come down to saving money, ROI, or payback. In the long run, you should be doing this for your kids and your grand kids, and their kids, or your neighbor's kids. They can't go solar, but live with what we leave them if we adults do nothing.  Solar helps. It's better than coal and safer than nuclear. I know all this and I could go on, but the truth is that you need to convince yourself that Solar is more than a nice idea.

Thank you.