6 steps to power your home with solar energy

These days, solar energy panels are no longer a choice – solar is a necessity. Reduction of electricity bills and the carbon footprint are only a couple of the reasons to opt for solar power at homes. You see, solar power changes the lives of many homeowners by helping save money. So, let’s look at the necessary steps to plug solar energy to your home.

Must read: Why you must switch to solar power for home

---

1. Pin down the energy needs 

Before going for solar energy, you need to make a note about the total energy needs of your home. One way to check your energy needs is to refer your monthly power bills. Do remember to include special occasions like festivals, summer, and winter seasons. Also, keep in mind that your electricity needs may increase once you buy a new device.

2. Estimate the solar potential

Study all the rules amended by your society and the local government. Take all the necessary permits to install the solar panels on your home. Check the present status of your roof to see if it is capable of holding heavy solar panels for a long time. In case you think it needs any repair, then do it right away.

Figure out the amount of sun’s energy reaching your home. And then calculate how much solar energy is producible. See how many tall buildings and dense trees are there around your house. 

3. Check all the available options 

Today, many options are available for making your home solar powered. Either you can buy a solar system for your home independently or else get connected to a shared setup. Say you live in an apartment building; then you can get access to the building’s central solar system. This way, you are free yourself from installation and maintenance workload. Also, you can lease the solar system. You can even ask a solar firm to install the system on your roof. Here, the firm will set up the solar panels on their own. Later, they will sell that solar energy to you at a discounted price.

4. Collect info on solar energy firms 

Solar is important! There are hundreds of solar systems in the market. Each of these systems come with different specifications and prices. So, it is essential to collect all the information in prior. Make sure you ask your vendor about billing and net metering cost. Speaking to your friends who have installed solar panels on their homes recently is also a good idea. 

5. Subsidies and other incentives

In India, both Central Govt. and State Govt. has launched many schemes to motivate the buyers. Under these schemes, you can avail many subsidies and other incentives. Do you know, around 30% of the total setup cost is supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy? Also, the State Nodal Agencies provide a massive subsidy of 70%. Besides, banks also offer loans when you choose to install rooftop solar systems. 

6. Selecting the best solar system

As with any equipment, we need to ensure the solar energy home kit is up to the mark and offers good value of money. Points to check are:

• Certification and warranty
• Solar panel’s size
• Total set up cost
• Efficiency
• Power Output
• Installation period
• After sale-services

---

Alright then, you got plenty of the know-how about solar energy and how to fit it at your home. Now, before you get going to choose the most suitable solar system for your home, make sure to check your electronic devices. Most electronics are compatible with solar power. However, some may need some extra fitting like a stabiliser. So, once you have zoomed down to a type or a brand of a solar power system, contact the installer for more details.