Are you considering solar energy for your home, but don’t know where to start?
Adding solar panels to your house can be a great way to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. You just have to be sure you’re ready to shell out up to of $20,000 at the outset. Solar panels won’t typically start saving you money for 10-15 years, so it should be viewed as a long-term investment.
Visit the California Energy Commission’s go solar California clean power estimator for a snapshot of potential costs.
The estimator will show you how much you can expect to spend after applying thousands of dollars in state and federal incentives.
To learn more about rebates and incentives, visit the Los Angeles County Regional Environmental and Sustainability Programs website.
You can also use the county solar map and green planning tool to gather information about your property and see how viable an option solar power is.
Input your address and the map will zoom in, showing you a bird’s-eye view of your house. It will also display helpful information like how much available square footage your roof has for panels and hot water heating potential. The map can estimate your carbon- and cost-savings over 25 years.
The solar map uses more than 250 million calculations in measuring 3,000 square miles of satellite imagery to measure the landscape for solar potential. Trees, the features of roofs and nearby buildings all play a roll in how much sun reaches different parts of your house.
Use the planning tool to get a list of recommended energy efficient projects and local contractors who can help you get the job done.
The planning tool also offers a list of incentives to help you more economically plan your next green upgrade.
