Want to Learn More?
Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn. —Benjamin Franklin
You have questions about solar. We have answers.
How am I helping the environment by going Solar?
Solar power is a 100% clean, renewable energy source. It reduces reliance on oil, coal, and natural gas for electricity production. These fossil fuels produce harmful emissions that affect the quality of air, water, and soil, and are responsible for global warming. It is estimated that between 2000 and 2065, the Earth will lose more species of plants and animals to extinction than in the previous 65 million years combined. That’s a staggering statistic and one driven significantly by the effects of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels.
How can I save on my energy costs?
Our customers can drastically reduce their bill on average by 35-40%. Potentially, you may even completely eliminate their electric bill by going solar, all while paying $0 out of pocket to get started. The cost of solar has dropped dramatically in recent years, falling by more than 70% in just the last decade. You will save money on maintenance too since there are no moving parts to break down.
I hear that there are tax incentives in going Solar?
Another factor in the increasing affordability of solar panels is the availability of federal, state, and local tax breaks. For example, the federal solar tax credit gives you a dollar-for-dollar deduction against your federal income tax. Currently, the residential federal solar tax credit gives you a dollar-for-dollar deduction against your federal income tax equal to 26% of the final cost of solar energy systems you install on your home. After 2022, the tax credit may be reduced further so now is the time to make the move to maximize savings!
How will Going Solar effect my homes market value?
Purchased residential solar panels can improve the resale value of your home. According to Zillow Economic research, homes with solar-energy systems sold for 4.1% more on average than comparable homes without solar power. For the median-valued home, that translates to an additional $9,274. A lease arrangement is a benefit when selling whether the buyer wants solar or not. Panels can be easily removed, or the lease can simply be transferred over to the new owner allowing them to enjoy the savings and knowing they too are a part of saving the planet.
Your financial goals are likely a primary factor in going solar and may impact whether you buy or lease an installation. If you purchase a new home solar system, future proceeds from an increased sale price will go directly to you.
A solar installation can only be included in a property assessment if it is owned by the homeowner and is an asset that can be transferred without obligation. The system’s warranties and performance guarantees generally transfer with the sale.
To secure a higher sale price, it is most advantageous to buy a solar energy system for your home. However, if you decide that a lease or Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) is more appropriate, there will be less recouped from the home sale.
Appraisers and lenders consider that if a homeowner installs a residential solar system through a lease or PPA, it is essentially the asset of a third-party owner. This requires the third-party to be involved in the property transfer. Sunrun’s experienced Service Transfer Specialists make it easy to transfer your solar lease agreement to the new owners.
Should I buy or lease Solar Panels?
Is my roof an issue?
Two or more layers of shingles on your roof mean more weight. And more weight could mean your roof is not strong enough for the addition of solar panels. This is why we inspect your roof deck and roof frame structure before beginning the installation. We are committed to lasting relationships with our customers, and that trust starts with our Sunrun solar technicians.
And the angle? What if it’s not facing the right direction?
Without power from the sun, there can be no solar energy generated for your house. To justify a solar investment, your roof needs to be angled toward the sun to capture its rays. Common sense, right?
We live in the Northern Hemisphere. So, in the United States your solar modules need to be directed to the south to get the most rays from the sun. And shade from trees or buildings can reduce solar energy input as well. Have no fear - our technicians will assess all conditions to ensure that your home can go solar and do so successfully. (We do all the work, but we keep you informed.)
Is going green a bigger picture than just savings on energy costs?
According to a study conducted by researchers at UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, solar panels reduced the amount of heat reaching the roof by an incredible 38%, keeping a building’s roof 5 degrees cooler than portions of a roof exposed to sunlight directly. Solar panels act as roof shades which reduce the temperature in the rooms below the roof, reducing the need for air conditioning during summer days and heating during winter nights.
This is great news for homeowners. The Department of Energy states that while heating and cooling is by far the biggest portion of residential electricity consumption at 48.5%. The biggest reason for this is the increased use of energy-efficient products, such as more efficient HVAC systems, better building insulation, and more energy-efficient windows.
Adding a solar panel system can further reduce your energy bills by helping you generate electricity, and the added benefits of reducing the need to constantly run your heater or air conditioner to keep up with heat loss through your roof is an even further added financial benefit.
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What if it’s not sunny outside?
Solar panels can still generate electricity on cloudy days or when the sun is not at its brightest.
What happens if the power goes out?
Your electricity would also be powered down for the safety of the maintenance workers resolving any electrical issues. You are still connected to your neighborhood’s grid to ensure you have a consistent flow of energy during normal hours.
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What does Solar cost?Clients can now get a rooftop solar system at no cost out of pocket and while reducing their electric bill by 30-45%.
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Do I need to sign a loan?No, federal and state incentives allow homeowners to go solar without any out of pocket cost and without taking on a loan.
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What happens when I need to replace a roof?After we get you qualified we will do a thorough site assessment of your property. Part of the assessment we will check the integrity of your roof. If no issues are found, it is expected that the roof will last the length of the agreement as panels act as an added layer of protection. You could contact us if and when this is needed to provide proper guidancef we find any issues we will bring it up to you before we install. If we find no issues then we expect the roof to last the length of the agreement because panels act as an added layer of protection.
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What happens when we sell the home?As long as the new homeowner qualifies to purchase your home our certified partner SunRun guarantees the transfer of the agreement to the new homeowner. Houses have been selling 4.1% more and 80% of new homeowners are looking for energy efficient homes.
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Will this ruin my roof?No this will not ruin your roof. Wind, rain, snow, and sun all reduce the life of your roof, so the extra layer of protection from solar panels will in fact extend the life of your roof. Before installing we will complete a thorough site assessment which includes the roof integrity check, if passed gives an additional 10 year warranty. If any damage is caused by the installation of the system it would be covered completely by SunRun.
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What if I have a leak?We will do a full evaluation of your roof before installing so that we can find any issues before we install. If the leak is caused by the roof penetration SunRun will cover the damages.
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What if the new homeowner doesn’t want solar?The agreement stays with the home. Homes with solar are a commodity on the market right now. In fact, 80% of new buyers are looking for energy efficient homes. When you put your home on the market whichever platform you put it on allows you to designate your home as an energy efficient home. People are more willing to purchase homes with protected and budgeted utility bills.
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What if the panels don’t work the way they are supposed to?SunRun has a protection guarantee attached to all of their solar agreements. If they do not meet up to the production guarantee they will compensate you for the difference. In addition they monitor your system 365 days a year for the full 25 years. If there's an issue with the system, they will know before you do. You will also have access to a monitoring system to do your own monitoring.
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Can I put it on the ground?There are two requirements when it comes to a ground mount system. First, is usage. Second, would be to have at least 2 acres of land. Best way to find out if your home qualifies for a ground mount would be to meet with a solar consultant.
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Can I hook a generator up to the system?Yes, having a home solar system does not restrict you from using a generator. Thousands of homeowners who have gone solar still use generators in case of a power outage.
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What happens if the power goes out?If the power goes out your system will shut down for grid safety and will automatically come back on wants the grid power is restored.
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Does it produce energy on cloudy/rainy days?Yes, the solar panels produce energy from both direct and indirect sunlight. Rain actually helps keep your panels more efficient by washing off any dirt or dust.
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How can I reduce my consumption?We have a number of preferred partners that can help with energy efficient additions to your home. New windows, new roof, new appliances.
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How is it free?The Federal and state governments want people to go solar so they are giving incentives to SunRun to install solar panels on homes.
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Does this come with a battery?No this does not come with a battery. Batteries are still in their infancy and we do not suggest homeowners install a technology that will be obsolete in just a few years. Going solar today allows you to add things like batteries in the future when they become more efficient and less expensive.
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Do you put a lean on the house?No there is no lean on your property. There is a UCC1 filing ( a fixture filing) which allows SunRun to protect the system in case of a foreclosure.
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What if I want to Buy?We offer both no cost and purchase options. Majority of homeowners tend to go with the no cost program which also gives you the option to buy at year 5 and every anniversary date afterward.
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Why does it go up 2.9%?This is to account for inflation as well as the 25 year monitoring and maintenance.
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Can I sell energy back to the utility?The utility company restricts us from building a system that exceeds your usage. Although, if you do not use all the energy the system produces the utility company will pay you for the access energy at the anniversary date of your system being activated.
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Green State Energy has a great referral program allowing homeowners to receive up to $1000 per referral once installed. Interested?Please click here for details.
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What if the system stops working?SunRun provides a 25 year warranty that includes monitoring and maintenance. Since they are guaranteeing the production, they need to fix problems as they arise to avoid coming out of pocket.
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Who covers maintenance?SunRun provides a 25 year warranty that includes full 24/7 monitoring and full maintenance.
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What if I don’t want panels of the front of my house?Best way to determine the proper location for the panels would be to meet with a solar consultant. The southern facing roof plane gets the best sun exposure.
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What happens at the end of the lease?At the end of the 25 years the homeowner has the option to purchase the system, renew agreement for 5 year term, or have SunRun remove panels at no cost to them.
Fun
Facts
Savings
Facts
U.S. Solar
Facts
Utility
Facts
Environmental
Facts
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One Hour of Sunlight is equivalent to one years worth of energy for the planet.
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A home solar system can lower the core temperature of your house 5-10 degrees.
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Bell Labs developed the modern solar cell in 1954.
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Solar is the cheapest and most abundant energy source in the world.
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Homeowners typically save 20-30% in the first year off their utility cost.
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Solar makes it much easier for homeowners to budget their utility expenses.
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Homes with solar panels installed sell for approximately 4.1% more than homes without alternative energy sources.
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Based on research done by Zillow’s chief economist, more than 80% of new homeowners consider energy-efficient features important in selecting their homes.
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Over 2 million solar systems have been installed in the U.S alone.
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The US is the 3rd largest solar energy market and generator in the world.
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Our Nation's electric grid is rapidly aging. U.S Department of Energy concluded that 70% of transformers are 25 year or older. (Getting more expensive to upgrade)
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Natural Disasters are increasing in frequency and severity, which creates stress on the utility company, giving them no option other than to increase rates.
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Utility rates have increased steadily 4-5% per year, the expectation is that will increase due to stresses on the power grid.
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Solar Energy users save up to 35 tons of carbon dioxide and 75 million barrels of oil each year.
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Reduces water usage. Unlike hydro, nuclear, and power there is almost no risk to local water resources/ ecosystems in
production of solar.
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Solar reduces the strain on finite resources. Since the sun rises everyday there is no limit of the resource.
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Helps Fight Climate Change. By giving homeowners an option
to switch to solar it greatly reduces the carbon emissions
caused by traditional sources of energy thus helping to lower the effects of climate
change.