Editor's note: the following article is a guest post from our friends, The DIY Guys. They are a great resource for tips and tricks for DIY projects around the house and for sustainable living. All of us at Transparent Cleaning Co. are excited to have the chance to collaborate with them to bring even more value to your home projects. 

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With renewables soaring in popularity, American homeowners are flocking to cheaper, self-sustaining energy solutions and none of these are more viable than solar panels. At an average price of $2.40 to $3.22 per watt and a lifespan of at least 25 years, solar panels have proven themselves a reliable home solution worthy of our consideration.
 

Installation

If you’re opting in for solar energy, it’s important to understand the criticality of good installation as this will ensure long-term durability, efficiency, and (as they conduct 600 volts at any given time) safety. The process can be quite exhaustive - it should involve an engineering site visit, a review of permits, ordering of equipment, the installation itself, and then approval and interconnection. This will all be done at the behest of the installer so make sure you’ve been given time estimates before you hire.
 

It’s worth paying some consideration to the location of your panels. They can usually be installed on any kind of roof but are best suited for slanted, south-facing asphalt, metal, or tile shingles. 

It’s also worth mentioning the importance of having gutter work done before you have your solar panels installed. Gutters help redirect water away from your home and, with electric voltage flowing down from your roofs, it’s a good safety precaution to have them cleaned pre-installation. Having a trusted company like Transparent Cleaning Co. take care of your gutter cleaning can be a good investment to keep you safe throughout the process.
 

Usage

You’ve got the hard part out of the way, now how do you get good usage out of your panels? The first thing to remember is that your solar system operates on one of two modes: either it is generating more solar power than the home requires or your home is using more power than the system can generate. In the first instance, any excess power is fed back into a central grid, while in the second, your home will draw power from both the panels and the grid in order to meet the required amounts. You’ll never be charged for energy that you produce independently, which is why it’s an advantage to own multiple panels.

If you’re worried about the utility of solar panels off-season, take some comfort in the statistics. Weather, location, and system size all play key roles in the productivity of your panels but, on average, during the colder months, you’ll still be producing at 65% capacity. Even in low temperatures, your panels are still able to make use of solar radiation.
 

Of course, keeping your solar panels clean will add on to the amount of energy they produce. At just $10 per panel, it’s definitely worth calling Transparent Cleaning Co. to do the job for you, among other services.
 

Costs

The cost of going solar has dropped every year since 2009 in reaction to growing demand and governmental backing for clean renewables. This accounts for the price of the panels as well as soft costs, such as permitting and inspection. So how else can you save money by switching to solar?

There are a number of different financing options available to homeowners - these include solar loans, which allow you to break up payments into monthly installments. These payments are typically smaller than an energy bill and can help you to save money from the start. It might also be worth consulting the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) to see if you can benefit from any financial incentives or regulatory policies.

For a great many homeowners, transitioning to solar energy is a straight-up positive financial strategy. With modern methods, you can switch at a low cost, mild inconvenience, and enjoy cheap, clean, and reliable energy for the long term.

Transparent Cleaning Company is focused on honest, trusted home cleaning, including windows, solar panels, gutters, and more. See how we can help you today.

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