Making the switch to solar can seem overwhelming. but fear not! Here are the answers to 10 common questions we see from our customers.

1. How do solar panels work? 
• Put very simply, solar panels are made of solar cells that are able to absorb energy from the sun which creates electric charges that turn into electricity for your home. As long as your solar panels are in sunlight your home will be producing power. 
2. How long do solar panels work? 
• The industry standard is that solar panels work for 25 to 30 years after they have been installed. Over this lifespan, your solar panels will never stop completely working. They will experience a very slow decrease in efficiency over their lifetime with an average yearly decrease of efficiency of 0.3% to 0.8%. Your solar company should provide you with a warranty to cover your solar panels like Isaksen Solar’s 25 Year worry-free warranty on materials, performance, and labor. 
3. How do I know if solar panels are a good fit for my home? 
• The best way to get an answer to this question is to reach out to a solar company for an evaluation. This should be free of cost. At Isaksen Solar, we are able to do this using satellite images and additional information from a homeowner to see if their home qualifies for rooftop or ground-mounted solar panels.
4. How many solar panels do I need for my house? 
• The factors that go into the total number of solar panels you will need are your total energy requirement, the number of sunlight hours your panels will receive, and the size of your roof or ground mount area. At Isaksen Solar, we will also consider the max amount of panels your roof or area can fit to maximize your production and increase your savings. 
5. How do solar panels help the environment? 
• Since solar panels are powered by renewable energy they reduce your overall carbon footprint starting the day your solar panels are turned on. Every day after that you are combatting greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the usage of fossil fuels. Overall, solar panels reduce air pollution, water pollution, and mitigate climate change. 
6. How do I save money with solar panels?
• If you are reading this, you have likely been the victim of spiking electric bills. By switching to solar panels, you are eliminating increasing energy rates from your life and reducing your monthly electricity bill. This is before considering any tax rebates and incentives you could receive from installing solar panels. Homeowners often see an increase in their property values as well when adding solar panels to their roofs. 
7. What is the cost of solar panels? 
• The average installation ranges from $20,000 to $30,000 but every installation is unique and this cost is usually offset by incetives, tax rebates and state programs that decrease your total out of pocket cost. Solar companies should work to find a solar panel array that fits your budget. The best way to know how much solar could be for you is to get a free quote! 
8. Should I buy or lease solar panels? 
• The answer is unique to every homeowner as both methods provide advantages. The company installing your solar panels should be able to guide you to the option that fits your plans. We took a deeper look at both options on our blog to give you a better understanding of each payment method.
9. How long will it take for solar panels to pay for themselves? 
• The industry average is 6-10 years. Which is a short amount of time compared to the lifetime of your solar panels. Your payback period will depend on the price of your solar panel system, incentives you receive, average electricity usage and the energy you gener
• ate. 
10. How long does it take to install solar panels? 
• The installation process of solar panels only takes 2 days. However, the full process from the day you sign to the activation day may take a few months as your solar company will need to get permits and approvals. The great part is that this is a hands-off process for you as the solar provider should handle everything from start to solar panels installed at your home.

If you are interested in learning more about Isaksen Solar and the advantages of going solar, give us a call or start your free home solar quote!

Should I Get Solar Panels?: A Quick Guide To Buying Solar Panels For Your Home

Benefits of Purchasing Solar Panels

• Monthly Savings On Your Electricity Bills 
• The biggest motivator for homeowners to switch to solar is seeing an immediate savings in their next monthly electricity bill once they are installed. Across the country electricity prices continue to rise at historic rates. This is why solar in Massachusetts has become so popular. As of Feburary 2022, Massachusetts has the 4th highest electricity rates in the country. Rhode Island solar panels are also popular as they have the 5th highest electricity rates. Homeowners looking for ways to save money have found solar panels are an efficient solution that creates long-term savings. Instead of paying the local electricity company for your energy supply you are supplying your own energy from your roof or ground mount solar panels. Your solar panel installation will create enough energy to cover your monthly electricity usage so you no longer need to pay your energy provider for their energy. This means the constantly increasing electricity bill you have will now be delivered with ‘No Payment Due’ and in some cases adding credits to your account for overproduction! 
• Lifetime Of Financial and Environmental Savings 
• With solar panels those monthly savings turn into lifetime savings and a meaningful contribution to helping the environment. By creating your own energy through purchasing solar panels, you avoid paying rising electricity rates that change with the price of natural gas. In most cases, you pay a locked-in rate or loan fee for the lifetime of your solar panels. In 2022, the average price of electricity rose 7.5% from 2021, which meant more expensive electricity bills. With solar in Massachusetts, everytime the price increase that is additional savings for your household since your price stays the same. Once your solar panels are paid off, your electricity is completely free. Over the 25 year lifetime of solar panels that could equal $60,000 in savings. The additional benefit to buying solar panels is the reduction of CO2 emissions since you no longer rely on natural gas. One solar panel can offset have the same CO2 offset as planting 10 mature trees. For the average home that produces 7,000 Watts of solar power, this is the same as planting 180 trees a year. For this reason solar panels is the most significant way to decrease your carbon footprint without disrupting your current way of life. 
• Option To Lease Solar Panels or Purchase Solar Panels 
• How much money you will save on your solar panels depends on your choice to lease or buy solar panels. If you lease your solar panels then you will not have any upfront cost. Instead of paying a large sum upfront, you get panels on your roof and a locked in monthly payment. This monthly payment will be less than your current electricity bill. However, leasing solar panels can open the door for increased payments in the future if your lease agreement forces you to pay for increases in electiricty rates as the price of energy increases. 
• When you purchase solar panels there is an upfront cost which is usually paid for with a loan or cash. However, the total cost of solar will be offset by solar incentives. There are both federal solar tax credits and Massachusetts solar incentives available. These programs will decrease the total cost of solar panels and increase your savings each month and over the lifetime of your solar panels. When leasing solar panels, homeowners do not qualify for these incentives or the ability to create credits which adds up to a lot of added money over the lifetime of your solar panel installation. 
• How Much Do Solar Panels Cost? 
• Every home solar panel installation is unique. There are a lot of factors that go into determining how much solar panels will cost you. The key factors are how much energy you use, how many panels your home can support, whether you lease vs buy solar panels and what solar incentives you qualify for. The only way to know the price you will pay to install solar panels will be to get a solar quote. At Isaksen Solar, we quote solar for your home at your consultation free of charge. 
• Truth About Solar Panels
• We understand buying solar panels can be a major decision for homeowners. That is why the most important part of installing solar panels should be to find the best solar companies in MA and RI. A search of “solar companies near me” is a good starting point. The goal for every homeowner should be to find a solar company they trust. Whether its MA solar or RI solar panels, where to buy solar panels is an important question to answer. At Isaksen Solar, we aim to make the home solar panels process as simple as possible and answer all your questions.