If you’re considering solar panel installation but don’t know how to pay for it, you’ve got to read this post. We’ve teamed up with Ecotality.com, which specializes in “everything solar,” to help you figure out how to pay for the clean energy you want, starting with solar panel installation. Read on!

The number of homeowners considering having solar panels installed on their homes is growing. People love the idea of using clean, non-polluting energy that doesn’t cause climate change or air pollution. They’d like to lower their utility bills, too. No wonder 70% of Americans say they “support a version of California’s rooftop solar policy being mandated nationwide.”

Yet, if solar is so popular, why isn’t there more of it?  One big reason is that many homeowners think they can’t afford it.  We wanted to provide some perspective on the costs and suggestions for how to cover them.

What Could Solar Panels Cost?

There are four elemental aspects when installing solar: solar panels, an inverter to convert solar electricity to current you can use in your home, a controller to manage the system, and batteries to store generated power.

Costs for each of these can differ depending on where you live, what finance options you consider and are qualified for, and how much electricity your home both uses and could produce via the installed solar panels.

Generally, total costs could start at $20,000 and more, depending on how many panels you install. However, before you run for the hills, keep in mind that this is just the “sticker price,” not necessarily the final price you’ll pay.

Once you factor in statewide energy tax credits, company discounts, zero-down financing, and federal tax cuts, you might actually pay for only half that cost. And once the system is installed, your lower or zero utility bills additionally offset the initial cost of your system, which might eventually cost you nothing over time.

For example, say your electricity bill averages $200 a month, or $2400 a year.

Your solar panel installation might cost $20,000 at the sticker price, but various incentives and tax credits mean the actual cost outlay is $10,000.

After a year, your utility bills are zero, which means you’re saving $2400 a year.

In less than 5 years, you’ve paid for your solar panel installation through money you’re NOT paying to your utility. Thereafter, you’re “making” $2400 a year on your system by relying on your own solar rather than power from the utility.

Here’s another way to think of it.

You were already spending $2400 a year on electricity. You shifted that money into payments for solar panels. After 5 years, you paid for your solar system. If you live in your home another 10 years, you’ll actually pocket almost $25,000 in money saved on electricity.

By the way, many states allow solarized homes to sell money back to their utility. Not only can your home’s solar system save you money, but it might make you a little, too.

Available Loans for Solar Panel Installations

One solar panel financing option is solar loans.

Solar financing companies include: Urban Solar Group, Florida Solar Design Group, Sun-Tec, Fun In The Sun Solar, and ESD Solar. Know that obtaining multiple quotes can help you better decide which package best suits your budget. (You can choose to finance the complete cost of your solar infrastructure by using a property as collateral, should a financial company require that from you.)

Why Solar Loans Could Work For You

You will need to decide if you should purchase your panels outright or take out a loan to finance their purchase (some companies also install panels for free, but then charge you for the electricity generated, like a standard utility does – see below). Ecotality believes loans make sense if the monthly savings you get from lower electric bills are higher than the amount of the loan you need to repay monthly.

Typically, solar loans have very similar terms and conditions as other home improvement loans. A few States even extend below-market interest rates that are paired with subsidized solar loans. Additionally, many secured solar loans have a tax-deductible interest, so this also already lets you save more on income taxes.

Solar Leases and Power Purchase Agreements

Solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) allow you to rent a solar panel system without having to purchase it.

With a PPA or lease, it is the third-party owner’s (TPO) responsibility to set up the solar panels on your home. You will pay a below-market rate as payment for the solar electricity for the entire duration of the term. So, instead of paying your utility for electricity it generates from polluting coal and oil, you’ll pay a solar provider for solar power. You still turn the lights on, but the power source is cleaner!

Under this arrangement, you won’t need to worry about having to pay a hefty upfront figure.

However, you will not be eligible for all the tax credits, rebates, and other government incentives available to solar panel owners. These perks go to your TPO. Furthermore, at the end of the lease, TPOs may either remove them from your property or sell them to you. They will also be responsible for taking care of all the solar panel maintenance fees, should there be any.

Compare Your Solar Financing Options

Before you decide to take on a financial product, examine every solar financing option you’re qualified for, including PPAs and solar leases.  Discuss your choices with a financial advisor to tax consultant. Be cautious as you weigh the pros and cons of your options. Look for sites online that discuss solar panel installation costs and present side-by-side computations and comparisons of packages provided by solar providers.

Benefits of Installing Solar Panels

Environment-Friendly – Compared to other available energy sources, solar energy is among the cleanest. It doesn’t pollute the water, nor does it produce greenhouse gases or nuclear waste. It also doesn’t produce noise, ensuring households aren’t bothered by unwarranted buzzing sounds.

Lower Utility Bills – Using your own electricity translates to not needing as much from your usual electricity utility. This automatically means you get to cut back on the amount of money you would have spent on your electricity bills. It also helps that it’s possible to sell unused electricity back to the grid.

Solar Energy Can Be Used In More Places Than You Think –  Really shady roofs? No. But as long as sunshine is penetrative, solar energy can be put to use. For example, you can install solar panels on sunny property near your home, like in your backyard. Panels don’t need to go on your roof to provide electricity to your home.

Ecotality offers many more in-depth explanations of how solar works. They also provide excellent product review buying guides and list solar companies to check out state-by-state.

NOTE: Partners and sponsors enable us to bring you the expert content you need to lead the greener life you want. All editorial opinions remain our own.

The post Solar Panel Installation: Costs, Financing, Loans appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Think solar energy only helps you reduce how much electricity you use? Think again! Here are 7 ways you can use solar to stop climate change that probably never occurred to you, with help from the solar experts at ExpertSure.com.

Big Bonus: Because you’ll use less energy from your utility, you could save $100 or more a year on electricity and gas bills, too.

1)Water Heating

Solar water heaters can provide homes with hot water for showering, laundry and other household needs. Solar systems are also being used more and more to heat swimming pools. If you live in a climate that’s warm many months of the year, you can install an outdoor shower with a solar water heater attached.

Here’s a great overview of solar hot water technology from the U.S. Department of Energy.

2)Underfloor Heating Systems

Radiant floor heating makes a room warm and cozy and a lot more comfortable if you’re walking with bare feet or sitting on the floor. The radiant system can easily be powered by photovoltaic solar panels on your roof.

The same type of system can also be connected to a greenhouse in order to regulate the air temperature inside, which is vital for maintaining the health and vitality of your plants.

3)Space Heating

The average American family spends over $2,000 a year in heating costs. But in addition to the money, the energy to provide that heat usually comes from fossil fuels, like coal, oil and propane.

Heating your home with a solar heating system can reduce your heating bills and shrink your carbon footprint significantly.

Here’s a good explanation of how solar works to provide heat.

4)Natural Solar Lighting

The cheapest, most natural way to illuminate a home is with the sun. You’ll get the most solar gain with windows on the south and east sides of your home, something to keep in mind if you’re building anew.

Even without solar panels on the roof, you can use lights fitted with small photovoltaics to power individual fixtures.

Many gardens now feature LED lights that are solely solar powered; they charge during the day, and emit light all night.

The same goes for security lights that come with PVs on top of their LED bulbs.

Solar lighting can be a great fit for not only off-grid and remote locations, but also for the urban gardener and hobby farmer.

5)Ventilation and Air Circulation

Having the proper amount of ventilation for fresh air intake and hot air exhaust is important in any home. Solar energy can be used to power and automate those systems.

The simplest versions use the heat of the sun to open a vent, which then draws warm out via natural convection.

More extensive ventilation systems use an exhaust fan, which can be powered directly by the sun or through a thermostat, maintaining a constant airflow.

6)Charge Your Electric Vehicle

You can use panels of photovoltaic cells to create electricity to power your car. That’s true whether you have an all electric vehicle like the Chevy Bolt or Tesla, or a plug-in hybrid like the Ford Fusion.

7)Power an Outdoor Fountain

Some garden fountains now come equipped with small solar panels that keep the water moving through the fountain so you don’t need to string an electric cord down to them. Note that the fountains won’t work once the sun sets, but you probably won’t be in your garden then anyway!

How else do you use solar power to reduce your carbon footprint?

Note: Sponsors like ExpertSure.com enable us to bring you the expert green living content you want at no cost to you. Our editorial opinions remain our own. Thanks!

The post 7 Unexpected Ways You Can Use Solar to Stop Climate Change appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Over a million Americans — like Jeff and Sally Barnes, pictured above — have put solar panels on their roof.

Sure, it’s saving them a bundle of money.

But that’s not the only reason why they did it.

They did it because it was the right thing to do to protect the environment and stop climate change.

We’ve teamed up with PickMySolar.com so you can do the right thing, too.

Read more!

Want Solar? PickMySolar.com Can Help…For Free

With all those benefits, no wonder you want to go solar! Fortunately, it’s never been easier to do.  All you need is some information, and some help.

That’s where PickMySolar comes in.

PickMySolar has pulled together this terrific free solar guide that tells you everything you need to know to figure out how to make solar work for you.

But PickMySolar does more.

⇒ At no cost to you, the company will help you design your “perfect solar home.” They consider over 50 factors in determining the best solar energy system for your home.

⇒ PickMySolar will then collect up to 15 bids. They’ll give you the top 3 bids, and help you decide which bid is best for you. Once you have chosen a bid – then and only then – PickMySolar will introduce you to your project installer.  The only installer you ever communicate with is the one taking on your project. The process of finding a qualified installer to do the best job for you couldn’t be simpler.

⇒ PickMySolar will also help you get your system installed in a timely fashion. And once your system is turned on, PickMySolar.com will monitor its performance to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Meet Some PickMySolar People Who Are Helping to Protect the Environment, Too!

Jeff and Sally live in Los Angeles. They wanted to put solar on their roof to offset their “carbon footprint,” the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by their home. Carbon dioxide is a big cause of climate change, and it comes from burning fossil fuels like coal and oil.

By working with PickMySolar.com, the Barnes will cut their CO2 emissions by 176,400 lbs. They also practically eliminated their average electric bill. It’s gone from $98 to $5. They anticipate a lifetime savings of $35,894.

Start With the Free PickMySolar Guide

Solar has never been more affordable.

But maybe more importantly, going solar has never been more right to do.

If we want to stop climate change, keep the air clean, and protect the environment, we can’t keep burning coal and oil.

What we can do is switch to solar.

PickMySolar.com makes it easy to get started.

Download their free guide right now.

The post Want to Protect the Environment? Put Solar Panels on Your Roof. appeared first on Big Green Purse.

I’ve been partnering with Our Power to let you know about community solar, and especially, to make sure that if you live in New York, you don’t miss your chance to sign up and find out when community solar New York projects become available. When Our Power’s Jessie Sitnick told me about her aunt, Toby, and why she signed up, it was such a great story, I asked her if she’d share it with you. I won’t be surprised if, when you read about Toby, you think to yourself, “That sounds just like me!”

How Toby Discovered New York’s Best Kept Secret:
Community Solar New York

As Toby flipped through the real estate pages of the New York Times last weekend, sipping her morning cup of coffee and enjoying the sunlight flooding her Brooklyn kitchen, this is the headline that caught her eye.

“I’ve been ready,” she told me. The problem was being able to take advantage of it.

“I never thought we could do it. Not where we live and not at the current cost.”

All that changed when Toby found out about community solar.

Admission: I was the one who let her in on the secret. I work in the environmental sector and we’ve bonded over the years chatting about social issues. We were on the phone and I asked her if she had heard about this new legislation that got passed in New York, which basically will make it possible for people to buy solar power from local solar gardens. That means no panel installations on your roof, no fire code worries, no big capital investments.

She said, “Count me in!”

Then I told her about Our Power, an organization that connects people to community solar projects as soon as they become available. “So I signed up,” she says, “because this is the kind of thing we’ve really been waiting for and I decided, I’m not going to miss it.”

Meet Toby – Child Psychologist, Life-long New Yorker, Hopeful Grandma

With her stylish silver hair, bright eyes, and bohemian jewelry, Toby is the quintessential baby boomer. Now in her mid-60s, Toby still works long hours as a child psychologist. Her husband is retired; her children are grown up and living on their own.

“The last big thing I want out of life is grandkids,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice.

“The thing is, when you get to this point in life – it’s no longer so much about you anymore. You start thinking a whole lot more about the world your kids are facing, the world your grandchildren might face. And you think, how can I make this better for them?”

Toby has always cared about the environment. She recycled before it was cool. When her son started having asthma attacks as a little boy, she worried about the air quality in the city. Was living here hurting him?

She’s kept her eye on the renewable energy movement for the past five years or so. She believes switching to solar is as much about taking a stand against climate change and pollution as anything else.

“I have friends who live outside the city – Long Island or out in the country – and they put in solar panels. It was a big deal. I mean, it was expensive, a big decision. But I was really proud of them for making that choice. Living here, it never really seemed like an option.”

“How Are We Not Doing This?”

As Toby scanned the New York Times article, the stories sounded familiar. Couples, about her age, taking out loans to afford the upfront cost of panels. Or being told that, even though they were willing to pay, that it wasn’t worth it because their roofs were flat or shaded by other buildings.

“It’s frustrating when you want to do the right thing, and you see other people doing it, but it’s just not available to you,” she said.

Toby knows that solar technology has become much more affordable in recent years and that there are also a lot of new government incentives in New York to help people convert. Living in the city is expensive, she notes.

If solar can help lower her electricity bills, that’s huge.

“When you read that these people’s electricity bill went from over $250 per month to about $36 per month, you think, how are we not doing this?” she asked, referring to the Brooklyn couple cited in the article (a filmmaker and TV producer in their late 60s).

“But then you read that it cost them almost $7,000 up front to install the panels! I get that that’s a lot less than it used to be. Still, that’s not a small amount money.”

Going, Going, Gone…

What surprised Toby the most was that the article didn’t refer to community solar at all. “They mention these solar co-op groups people are starting, which is great. But that still means people installing panels on their roofs and that’s not going to be an option for everyone. Our roof is flat, we’re surrounded by buildings. So for us, community solar will be a better way to go. But it still seems like it’s a bit of a secret.”

Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I asked. “Well, I guess right now it’s kind of good for us because I expect that as soon as more people know about this, those community solar spots will fill up pretty quickly.”

It’s not lost on Toby that these new projects will only be able to serve about 2% of New York households.

Get in On the Secret

Nevertheless, she says, “ultimately I really hope people wake up to this idea. I hope the media start talking about it too because there are plenty of people like me who are ready for solar power. We want to leave the world a better place for our grand kids. We just need the opportunity.”

Are You in on New York’s Best Kept Solar Secret?

Become an Our Power Insider today.

NOTE About Our Partners – Partnerships with groups and companies like OurPower.solar enable us to bring you valuable information that helps you live the green life that’s important to you. Our editorial opinions remain our own.

Don’t Miss These Related Stories

The post Do You Know What Toby Knows? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Solar power is good. But getting access to solar power? That can be hard, especially in tree-lined neighborhoods or crowded cities where you can’t put solar panels on your own roof.

Community solar power projects are coming to the rescue in states across the country, including New York.

They’re building solar gardens on old industrial sites, on top of churches, synagogues and grocery stores, even on local farms so people like you who want their energy to come from the clean sun instead of dirty fossil fuels can get it.

We’re partnering with OurPower.solar to make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to sign up for solar when it becomes available in your community.

Here’s what you need to know.

What’s So Great About Solar Energy?

√ Solar energy improves air quality, puts the brakes on climate change, protects our kids’ health, reduces air pollution, and is helping us achieve sustainability.

√ There is no limit to how much solar energy is available. We’re never going to run out of sunlight.

√ Plus, we don’t have to dig a big coal mine, or drill a polluting oil well, or send ships (and troops) to the Middle East. We just have to aim some solar panels at the sun and voilá. We’ve got power!

If Solar’s THAT Great, Why Don’t We Use More Of It?

Until recently, our utility companies and energy policies favored dirty fossil fuels over clean “renewable” energy sources like solar.

As a result, there weren’t enough solar panels being made and installed, which is why solar cost more.

In fact, all renewable energy has been something of a luxury item. You could get it, but you had to pay a premium for it. Sort of like buying a Gucci purse, or a Ferrari.

Community solar power has changed all that. Now you can get the solar version of Gucci or Ferrari without it costing you any more.

In fact, it’s going to cost you less. You’ll end up saving money on energy and getting rewarded for doing the right thing when you start using solar power generated in your own community.

How Does Community Solar Power Actually Work?

If you were to put solar panels on your own home’s roof, the panels would capture sunlight and convert it into electrical current. The more electricity you used from solar, the less you’d use that was generated by fossil fuels.

Community solar power works the same way, but instead of the panels being on your own roof, a lot of them – called an array – are installed in a convenient, shared solar garden.

As soon as the panels are installed, they start generating electricity.

That’s where you come in.

If you’ve signed up, you can replace part (or all!) of the electricity you get from polluting energy sources with energy from the sun. That’s all there is to it.

So…What’s the Catch?

The catch is that right now, more people want community solar power than can actually get it.

In New York State, for example, OurPower estimates that, based on the number of projects planned and how many people want to opt in, only 2% of households will actually be able to take advantage of this opportunity.

Yikes! I Don’t Want to Miss Out. What Should I Do?

The easiest and smartest thing to do is to sign up ASAP on OurPower’s “Insiders List.”

Signing up doesn’t obligate you to start using solar (though, if you’re like me, you probably want to power up with solar as soon as you can).

It just makes sure you’re on the inside track, so that as soon as community solar is available, you’ll be among the first to find out about it.

What’s It Going to Cost Me to Sign Up?

Nothing. Nada. A big fat zero.

All signing up does is make sure you’re on the inside track so you can be among the first to opt in when community solar starts working in your neighborhood.

Once you do opt in, you’ll get credited on your regular utility bill for the amount of solar you use, just as if you had put solar panels on your own roof.

How Will Community Solar Power Save Me Money?

Right now, you pay your utility company a certain price for every kilowatt-hour of energy you use. The same kilowatt-hour, when it comes from a community solar project, costs you about 10-20% less. So, the more of your energy use you cover with community solar, the more money you’ll save.

With most projects, you’ll get two bills, one from your solar provider and a second from your utility.

You only pay your utility for electricity you use that’s over and above what’s covered by solar.

How Do I Know I Qualify?

If you live in New York, count yourself lucky. Not every state has the right laws in place that make community solar possible. But if you are a New Yorker and you pay a utility bill, you can subscribe.

It’s that simple.

Why Should I Sign Up If the Projects Aren’t Actually Available Yet?

It’s like signing up for a new iPhone before you can actually buy it (though community solar is even better, because you don’t have to camp out overnight in front of an Apple store or wait in longlines).  Like those iPhone folks, you don’t want to miss out! Only 2% of people can participate in the next go round.

Signing up for OurPower’s Insider’s List guarantees that
you’ll be among the first to know when solar energy is available to buy
from your community solar power project.

(By the way, if you don’t live in New York but love the idea of community solar power, please still sign up so when community solar does come to your area, you’ll be the first to know.)

What Can I Do Right Now?

The most important thing you can do right now is save your spot by signing up. It’ll only take you five seconds. Seriously!

Partner Note: Partnering with great projects like OurPower enables us to bring you valuable information and opportunities to live a greener life that you might otherwise not know about. It also helps Big Green Purse fulfill our mission to help people shift to the greenest products and services available. Thanks!

The post Sign Up For Community Solar Power ASAP! Space Limited. appeared first on Big Green Purse.

First and foremost, it will make it a healthier, more satisfying place to live. I don’t know anyone who says “My home is “green” – and I hate it!” Just the opposite is true. Homes that are painted with No VOC paint and cleaned with non-toxic chemicals have fresher, unpolluted indoor air – and that’s the air we breathe 90% of the time.

Second, living in a home that uses less energy and saves water will save you money – a lot of money – over the years.

Third, once you decide to sell, the return on investment at resale for green, sustainable spaces may be higher than in “conventional” homes that don’t offer organic landscapes, energy-efficient appliances, water-saving faucets, and a well-insulated attic.

But if your house is not particularly eco right now, what updates make sense, especially if you’re considering putting your house on the market sooner rather than later?

My rule of thumb is:

aim for improvements that make sense to your quality of life, are affordable, and are appropriate
for the area where you live.

For example, home sellers looking to target house hunters in D.C. – one of the most progressive cities in terms of sustainable trends – might consider smart windows that regulate climate due to the East Coast’s famously cold winters and hot, humid summers. 

We’ve partnered with Zillow.com to bring you this list of green updates that will increase home values while providing you with results you can enjoy as long as you’re living in your house.

5 Green Updates That Increase Home Value

1) Energy-efficient insulation

Many homes built before 1980 typically don’t have enough insulation. Unless your home is located in a uniquely mild climate, bringing it up to current insulation standards makes it comfortable and can cut heating and cooling costs anywhere from 10 to 50 percent. This image shows the five places most likely to need insulation in your home. To determine the suitable insulation for your climate, check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s ZIP code recommendations.

2) LED bulbs

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) save homeowners and renters an average of $50 when used instead of 15 traditional bulbs, according to the Department of Energy. Moreover, LEDs last 10 times longer than outdated incandescent bulbs.  ENERGY STAR LEDs cost only about $1 to operate per year, compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, which cost $4.80 a piece to run and produce the same amount of light.  Keep in mind, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and other fluorescent bulbs often contain mercury, so consult the Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for proper care.

Don’t Miss: 7 Ways LEDs are Better than CFLs. 

3) Solar panels

Solar is here to stay, and it’s no wonder why. People all over the world are feeling the effects of climate change, and solar offers one of the cleanest alternatives to the fossil fuels that cause this global problem.

While solar installation can be costly upfront, there are all kinds of creative ways to finance it, like using tax credits, leasing rather than buying solar panels outright, and taking advantage of discounts made through community purchasing programs.  The average cost of home solar panels has declined almost 50% in the last decade, plus homeowners can claim federal and state tax credits to lower the cost even further.  Solar shingles are a less expensive option and blend more seamlessly into existing roofs, but work like solar panels by capturing sunlight and creating usable energy.

Get Solar Panels for 20-30% Off. Here’s How.

4) ENERGY STAR appliances, water heater and HVAC system

Without tearing down walls or hiring a team of workers, you can update your home simply by swapping out old appliances for ENERGY STAR -rated refrigerators, freezers, ovens, dishwashers, washers and dryers. Many utilities will provide a rebate when you update. They’ll also cart away your old appliance, and maybe even pay you to recycle it.

Choosing ENERGY STAR models when replacing your HVAC system or hot water heater makes sense, too.  Pick the most energy-efficient model you can afford at a size that’s not too big to meet your needs.

True Story: My Utility Company Gave Me $200 When
I Bought My New Energy-Saving Refrigerator.

5) Organic Landscaping with Water-wise Native Plants & Trees

Curb appeal can help sell a home and keep you smiling every time you make your way up the driveway. Beyond the clear aesthetic benefits of well-landscaped yards, strategically planting trees and shrubs can actually help with the cooling costs inside the home. Organic practices reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers and builds healthier, more productive soil. Choosing native plants that do well in the amount of rainfall your region normally gets will reduce your water bill. Installing a drip irrigation system that delivers water to the plants that it can cut your water bill by 50%.

Want to be a little more ambitious? Check out this mini-guide we wrote just for you!

What updates have you done to your home to make it more livable and to increase its resale value? We’d love to hear from you!

The post 5 Green Updates that Increase the Value of Your Home appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Here’s the 4-step process MyDomino recommends to help you go solar, “ditch fossil fuels, and save money at the same time.”

1) Compare solar installers.

When you buy any appliance for your home, what do you do? Talk to your neighbors and friends about what they bought? Compare reviews on Consumer Reports or other websites? Go shopping and look at different models and brands yourself?

Those are all good – but they’re also very time consuming, and they may not give you the nuts-and-bolts comparisons you really need.

What I like about MyDomino is that they’ve already vetted many installers and can help you find one that best meets your needs. But the company will help you evaluate any proposal you get from a solar company, whether they’re a MyDomino partner or not.

They’ll also tell you honestly if solar might not be your best option.

2) Compare equipment and services.

As it turns out, the big decision may not concern the kind of solar panels you get.

What’s more important is to focus on something called an inverter.

That’s the device that converts the sun’s rays into power your home can use.

There are three kinds of inverters:

⇒String inverters have traditionally been the cheapest, but prices are now leveling out. These are not as shade-tolerant and don’t let you monitor each panel’s performance, so they’re best if your roof has full sun all day.

⇒Microinverters are a good option if you have any shading. If one or two panels are shaded at any time, the rest of your panels will still keep producing. Most microinverters allow panel-level monitoring.

⇒Optimizers function a lot like microinverters and are sometimes cheaper.

MyDomino can help you figure out what your best choice is for the system you’re getting.

3) Compare cost proposals.

With any major household expense, you always want to compare proposed costs so you know how much money you need to budget to get the best service you can afford.

When buying solar panels, it can be confusing.

What will they cost over what period of time?

What type of maintenance, warranty, and/or monitoring is included with the solar installation?

MyDomino can be particularly helpful in clarifying the differences in the proposals you receive. They can also advise you on what tradeoffs, if any, make the most sense. 

4) Compare financing, and figure out tax credits.

Should you buy your system outright, lease it, take out a loan, or get a power purchase agreement (PPA)?

How can you take advantage of the many county, state and federal financing programs available to help people install solar energy?

Once you know what kind of system you need and who you want to install it, MyDomino can help you figure out how to pay for it.

NOTHING TO LOSE! 

To begin, visit the MyDomino website, click “Get Started,” and fill out your information.

They’ll send you a link to a dashboard that’s set up specifically for you.

Once you set up your free account and complete a short questionnaire about how much energy your home already uses, you’ll get an email from your personal concierge (here’s a picture of the Domino team).

My concierge is named Laura, and as soon as I submitted my form, I got a message from her inviting me to set up a time to chat with her about my home’s energy needs.

When we talked, I explained that my home was probably too shady for solar panels, but I was curious about what else I could do to save energy.

I’ve already changed out my lightbulbs to CFLs and LEDs, installed energy-efficient home appliances and a new water heater, insulated my windows and installed a programmable thermostat. Plus, I keep my house very cool in the winter, and don’t overcool it in the summer.

Laura still had some good suggestions for me (see below):

I drive a hybrid car, but she suggested I try hypermiling and pump up my tires to use even less gas.

She recommended I increase the amount of insulation in my attic, walls and crawl spaces, which will cut down on how much gas and electricity I use.

She also suggested I consider replacing my programmable thermostat with a “smart” one, which can help save even more energy.

The total actions she and MyDomino suggested would save me $15,921 in energy costs over 30 years. That’s a good incentive to take the next steps!

IT’S FREE!!

Signing up for more information is free and does not obligate you to continue to work with MyDomino or to buy anything.

It’s simply a way to help you explore your options. It’s one of those “nothing to lose” deals.

Please check them out! MyDomino’s inspiring vision is to create 1 billion actions towards a clean energy future. I bet they can help you do at least a couple of things that will make you feel good about your own future – and save you some money, too.

The post How to Choose the Best Solar System for Your Home appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Should you switch to solar power?

I asked Nick Tedesco, the CEO of Solar Power Now, to explain how solar power can save you money on your electricity bill over time.

If you own your own home, you have an enormous financial opportunity.

You can choose to be a power producer instead of a consumer of electricity. How? by making a switch to solar power. Installing solar panels will save you thousands of dollars over decades of energy use.

Residential solar power is now much cheaper than conventional energy over the long term. The average American pays approximately 12 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity. If you live in Hawaii, California, New York and New Jersey, you may be paying as much as 20 to 30 cents per kilowatt hour or more. Whether you pay 12 cents, 20 cents or something in between, you’re wasting money. That’s because the cost for solar power over the useful life of a solar panel system is only 8 cents per kilowatt hour.

Paying 8 cents per kilowatt hour instead of, say, 16 cents per kilowatt hour over a 20-year period is the difference between paying $15,000 and $30,000 for electricity during that same timeframe.

Let’s consider another viewpoint. Millions of American homeowners pay an average of approximately $150 per month throughout the year for electricity. A homeowner can now get financing to purchase a solar panel system and have a monthly payment for that system that would also be close to $150. After about 7 years, the solar panel system will be paid off; the electricity generated after this 7-year period can then be considered free. So: pay $150 a month for ever – or just for 7 years?

There is a reason why every 3 minutes, we see another solar installation completed in America: because it saves money, while helping the planet, too. Many homeowners are working with small local companies that can help homeowners figure out what solar array works best for them, then figure out financing that makes the system affordable on the front end and very economical over time.

Nick Tedesco represents smaller, more affordable solar installers across America. Learn more about affordable residential solar power at Solar Power Now and get connected to a trusted solar contractor.

This is a sponsored post.

The post Switch to Solar Power and Save Money Over the Long Term appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Thousands of people in hundreds of neighborhoods from Washington, DC to Washington state are already doing this, using a tried and true method that’s been around for over a hundred years, if not longer: They’re creating “residential purchasing groups,” also called cooperatives or co-ops, and using the collective power of their purses and pocketbooks to negotiate favorable deals from companies that want to do business with them.

Solar Co-Ops

In this case, the purchasing groups are taking shape as “solar co-ops.” Solar panel technology uses photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. Solar is cleaner than coal, and the supply is unlimited. You never need to worry about oil embargoes, oil spills, or coal mine explosions. Using solar also cuts air pollution and significantly reduces climate change. But here’s the catch: solar has never received the generous federal or state tax subsidies that fossil fuels have. Though the price is coming down, solar still costs more than conventional power.

By going solar via a cooperative group, each participant gets solar panels for 20-30% off the cost of their system. (Do you buy in bulk at Costco or your grocery store? It’s the same principle.) The group:

1) selects a single contractor to install the systems

2) purchases the systems together, but…

3) each participant owns his/her own system and signs an individual contract with the installer.

Benefits? Lots!

No obligation. In most cases, joining the co-op isn’t a binding commitment. Rather, it creates a way for you to review your roof’s suitability for solar panels using Google Maps, and it provides contact information so the chosen installer can get in touch with you and schedule a site visit to provide a free quote.

Find an installer. It is pretty easy to find solar installers in most American cities, and most of them are eager to do business in bulk. In fact, being approached by a solar co-op saves them time and money in marketing to individual consumers.

Save money, improve your community. In addition to making solar less expensive, a co-op can become a positive force for change in the community. Solar co-ops have been able to exert influence over the political process, government agencies, and local utilities to promote other clean energy programs and give utilities guidance on proposed rate changes or the construction of new power plants.

Get More Info Here…

For more information on how to launch your own solar co-op, check in with Community Power Network, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C., that has organized dozens of co-ops in the Washington metropolitan area, northern Virginia, West Virginia and parts of Maryland. Even if you don’t live in the D.C. region, you’ll find lots of useful information to help you get a co-op started in your community.

See what’s happening in Baltimore, where the Baltimore Interfaith Solar Co-op lets members purchase home solar systems from an installer en masse, negotiating a group rate that is better than if each homeowner purchased a system on her own.

Mt. Pleasant Solar Coop is an association of more than 300 households in Washington, DC’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood. Founded in 2006, so far, the coop has installed solar panels on nearly 100 houses – 10% of their neighborhood. (That’s a picture of Mt. Pleasant Solar Co-op co-founder Anya Schoolman, above.)

D.C. Sun (DC Solar United Neighborhoods) is a non-profit that is promoting solar throughout Washington, D.C. They estimate that solar energy could provide about 30% of the District’s electricity needs. Their website offers some terrific resources that will help businesses, nonprofits, congregations and small businesses go solar along with households.

Have you already gone solar? Please share your experience. We’d love to know how it’s working for you. Thanks.

The post Get Solar Panels for 20-30% Off. Here’s How. appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Insulate to Save Money, Stop Climate Change

Insulation is probably the single most cost-effective action you can take to save energy at home. We lose substantial energy through leaky lofts and attics, crawl spaces and basements, thin insulation in wall cavities, and in cracks and gaps around doors and windows. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that you can save as much as 50 percent on your energy bills by insulating. In the UK, it may amount to over a hundred pounds each year. Though insulating may require an upfront investment, many government incentive schemes mean that it is often possible to insulate your home at discounted rates or for free. In the U.S., check with your local electricity and gas providers to get a sense of the subsidies they offer to encourage homeowners to insulate. Have a look at the Npower site to find out more about how this works in the UK and how to apply.

Add Solar Panels

An increasing number of homeowners are interested in adding solar panels to their property as a way to wean themselves completely off the fossil fuels that cause climate change, as well as air pollution. Some companies ask you to purchase the panels upfront, but you can offset the cost by reaping federal and state tax benefits. The length of time it takes for these panels to pay for your initial investment varies due to a number of factors but is generally seen as being around 12 years or so. In other words, throughout those years, you’ll be saving money you’d otherwise be spending on a utility bill. The advantage is that, when you pay a normal utility bill, that’s it. You just keep paying over and over, year after year. When it comes to solar collectors, at the end of 12 years (or whatever the period of time is), you own the panels and continue to save money will having constant access to clean, green and free energy. From a financial point of view, one of the most interesting aspects of adding solar panels is that you can probably sell any energy you don’t use back to the grid.

Change to LED Light Bulbs

If you want the most incredibly simple way of spending less and giving the planet a break then just change your light bulbs. One ENERGY STAR- certified LED light bulb may last 25,000 hours, use 75% less energy than a standard bulb, and save over $60 during the life of that bulb – even acknowledging that LEDs are slightly more expensive than incandescents.

Automate Your Energy Savings

Take advantage of technology like programmable thermostats, power strips, and motion sensors to automate your energy savings. You can program your thermostat to turn the heat down when you go to sleep or work, and up when you’re heading home. The Nest Thermostat is particularly helpful. Power strips make it easy to turn off your electronics so they don’t continue to draw power from the grid, which they normally do, even when you’re not using them. Motion sensors will turn lights on when you enter a room and off shortly after you leave it. All these devices will save you energy and money, and they’re readily available online and in most hardware stores.

The post Save Energy, Stop Climate Change, Save Money appeared first on Big Green Purse.