You would think it would be easy to acquire a quote for solar panels. You complete out a clicking here few online forms, and a number pops up in your mailbox. Then you can start saving money with solar energy. Then, bang! You\'re in over your head with jargon, kilowatt-hours, and confusing fine language. Have you been there? Let's get to work and figure out what those quotes mean, piece by piece. 
First things first: Cost per watt. This is what solar quotes are all about. Salespeople sometimes discuss about systems in terms of dollars per watt. If someone offers you a 5 kW system for $12,000, you can expect to pay $2.40 per watt. It's easy, right? But don’t hang your hat on that figure alone. There is more to the mix than what you can see. Scroll down past the headline price. That price can go up because of labor, permits, and equipment. One installation would add everything up into a clean total, while another might list the costs like a receipt from a fast food restaurant. Look for extras that aren't obvious, such battery storage and monitoring tech. If you see "inverter" on the list, you're in luck. It changes solar energy into power that your home can use. If you don't, inquire about it. No inverter means no joyful lights. When it comes to hardware, the brand of the panel is important. Some companies sell name-brand panels that promise to last a long time and come with great warranties. Some people use names that aren't well-known but nonetheless work. Inquire about ratings for efficiency. More electricity comes from the same sunlight buffet when the numbers are higher. But don't worry if your roof is the size of a postage stamp; sometimes you just need what fits. Warranty wars are a whole different thing. The performance guarantee comes after the product warranty. The first means "this thing won't break," and the second means "this thing will give you juice every year." If both smell bad, leave. If one is great, your pocketbook deserves better choices. Tax breaks and rewards? Don't miss out. Credits from the federal and state governments might cut your bill by thousands. Check to see that your quote includes those nice deductions, otherwise you might be surprised at tax time. Don't believe everything you read. Get a few, compare them, and ask each company about things that don't make sense to you. If someone talks down to you, respond "thank you, but no thanks." You are in charge of this rooftop, and the last time we checked, you were. Yes, going through quotes is hard. But every time the electric bill comes in the mail, your future self will be grateful. Sunlight is free, so figuring out your quotation shouldn't drive you crazy.
First things first: Cost per watt. This is what solar quotes are all about. Salespeople sometimes discuss about systems in terms of dollars per watt. If someone offers you a 5 kW system for $12,000, you can expect to pay $2.40 per watt. It's easy, right? But don’t hang your hat on that figure alone. There is more to the mix than what you can see. Scroll down past the headline price. That price can go up because of labor, permits, and equipment. One installation would add everything up into a clean total, while another might list the costs like a receipt from a fast food restaurant. Look for extras that aren't obvious, such battery storage and monitoring tech. If you see "inverter" on the list, you're in luck. It changes solar energy into power that your home can use. If you don't, inquire about it. No inverter means no joyful lights. When it comes to hardware, the brand of the panel is important. Some companies sell name-brand panels that promise to last a long time and come with great warranties. Some people use names that aren't well-known but nonetheless work. Inquire about ratings for efficiency. More electricity comes from the same sunlight buffet when the numbers are higher. But don't worry if your roof is the size of a postage stamp; sometimes you just need what fits. Warranty wars are a whole different thing. The performance guarantee comes after the product warranty. The first means "this thing won't break," and the second means "this thing will give you juice every year." If both smell bad, leave. If one is great, your pocketbook deserves better choices. Tax breaks and rewards? Don't miss out. Credits from the federal and state governments might cut your bill by thousands. Check to see that your quote includes those nice deductions, otherwise you might be surprised at tax time. Don't believe everything you read. Get a few, compare them, and ask each company about things that don't make sense to you. If someone talks down to you, respond "thank you, but no thanks." You are in charge of this rooftop, and the last time we checked, you were. Yes, going through quotes is hard. But every time the electric bill comes in the mail, your future self will be grateful. Sunlight is free, so figuring out your quotation shouldn't drive you crazy.