$0 DOWN SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION FINANCING AVAILABLE
OFF-GRID
What Does Being Off-Grid Mean?
Being “off the grid” means your home in no way receives power from this electrical grid.
Solar panels and being “off-grid”
In terms of solar energy, being off the grid is different from having solar panels installed on your home. Having solar panels installed on your home means your home will get powered by solar energy while you’re still connected to the grid.
For this reason, solar panels alone will not work during a power outage, therefore you’ll need a backup battery or backup generator for that. Depending on your state, backup generators are by far the most cost efficient option for homes in areas that are not highly prone to blackouts.
Being connected to the grid certainly has its advantages.
For one, if your solar panels collect more energy than your house needs (which is likely depending on your peak sunshine hours), then you have the option to “sell” it back to your utility company.
This is called net-metering, and it’s available in most state (explained above)
Solar Panel Efficiency
PRO TIP
You may want to cut costs by choosing a cheaper brand of solar panels, but consider the efficiency of the solar panels you’re purchasing. You want a brand you can trust to be reliable and innovative, like LG, Aptos, Enphase. Whether it’s solar panels or a backup battery, you want high quality, security, and resiliency. Even 3% more efficiency can mean larger power output and a better return on your investment. Don't go for trendy brand names like Tesla Powerwall which are far less efficient and have far less life span before needing replacing. NOTE: Tesla current DOES NOT produce their own solar panels.
Smart Tip If Financing
Choose solar panels that have a warranty longer than the life of your loan if you’re financing.
WHY DOES SOLAR PANEL EFFICIENCY MATTER?
Using high efficiency solar panels means more savings on your electricity.
When your installer designs your solar array, one of the questions you might have is: “How many solar panels will I need?”
The answer is determined by a number of factors, including your home’s average electricity usage in a year and how much sun hits your roof.
But, one of the most important factors is the efficiency of the solar panels you choose.
The more efficient they are, the more powerful a solar system will fit on your roof.
The other advantage is that fewer high efficiency solar panels could be needed to provide the electricity you need (this is a big advantage for smaller roofs or roofs that experience some shading).
WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL EFFICIENCY?
Let’s break it down.
First off, solar panel efficiency is a measurement.
WHAT DOES IT MEASURE?
How much sunlight a solar panel can convert into usable electricity.
So a solar panel with 20% efficiency will produce more electricity than a solar panel with 15% electricity if they’re provided with the same amount of sunlight.
WHAT FACTORS AFFECT SOLAR PANEL EFFICIENCY?
There are a few factors that determine a solar panel’s efficiency.
- The materials used
- The organization of the wires and components
- Reflection (if the sun bounces off them they have less efficiency)
HOW EFFICIENT ARE TYPICAL SOLAR PANELS AFTER 25 YEARS?
Most TIER 1 graded solar panels are tested to still run are between 90% and 92% efficient.
Runs Cool on Hot Days
One of the questions you may have as a homeowner is how does heat affect solar panel efficiency?
Solar panels are tested at a temperature of about 77 degrees F, so heat can reduce output efficiency by 10-25%!
Sleek Appearance
Be the envy of your neighbors with triple black panels that were designed with aesthetics in mind using thinner wires that appear all black at a distance.
Battery Backup
Why Solar Batteries? (Best for areas without Net Metering)
A home solar battery backup can help you reduce your impact on the planet, cut down on your energy bills, take control of your home’s energy and prepare you for power outages.
The cost of electricity has been on the rise for a while (1), and all indications are that trend is going to continue (2). It makes sense to want to invest in a solar panel system that can help fight those rising costs.
But when that investment means the energy you generate reduces carbon emissions that are polluting the planet? That’s a home run.
Putting solar panels on your roof means that you can produce clean solar energy for your home, but having a battery attached to your solar energy system means you are in control of it as well.
You can store any extra energy you generate in your solar battery and use it when it’s most valuable to you. You can control when you use your energy with apps that maximize the value of your system. And you can use your battery to help power through power outages.
In fact, one of the top reasons homeowners decide on a home battery backup system is peace of mind. Knowing that your home is protected from outages helps you rest easy, no matter what life hands you. Think of it as insurance for your home’s energy.
What are the benefits of solar battery storage?
The benefits of a home battery backup cannot be understated. It’s a key part of taking control of your home’s energy. With solar battery storage, you can store energy produced during peak daylight hours and use it to help power your home throughout the night. A home battery backup also allows you to control when you draw power from the grid, which is a great way to protect against the rising costs of peak-hour electricity pricing. It’s a big part of energy independence and can help you keep powered through natural disasters and other types of blackouts. Solar batteries are a great investment in your home’s energy independence and resilience. To make it even better, solar batteries are eligible for the 30% federal tax credit*. And depending on where you live, there might be other local incentives.
Top 3 reasons solar batteries could be worth it for you:
A solar battery can make your home more resilient to power outages, less dependent on the grid, and help you avoid paying the most for power when rates are highest.**
But is a solar battery the right choice for you? That depends on where you live, how dependable the grid is around you, and how important it is to have a reliable source of power for your home. Here are a few of the top reasons why homeowners have chosen to get solar batteries installed on their home.
A step toward energy independence
There’s nothing better than the feeling of having options when it comes to your home’s energy. Even when you have solar panels, your home is vulnerable to grid outages and energy price fluctuations throughout the day. But with a solar panel battery added to your system, you now have options.
And when you have a backup battery, you’ll also have smart technology that will prioritize what is being powered and when. Who doesn’t want more control of their home’s energy?
Avoiding surging electricity prices
Electricity prices are on the rise nationwide. In fact, they have risen steadily for the last 10 years. The worst part is that this is mostly due to factors that are out of our control – supply chain issues, global political instability and climate disasters all affect how much you pay for your home’s electricity.
In addition, your utility company could charge you more or less depending on the time of day. This is called time-of-use (TOU) rates and it could be hiding on your bill. Time-of-use rates mean that when you need power the most, there’s a chance you’ll be paying the most for it.**
All these factors mean that as a consumer, you have little control over how much you pay for electricity, and you’re left at the mercy of the utility companies’ decisions.
A solar panel battery lets you control when you use the power that your solar panels generate. And more importantly, it could keep your home protected from surging electricity prices as well as provide backup during power outages.
Being prepared for power outages
Let’s face it, power outages can be scary, and they are increasing every year. Solar batteries can be a great way to protect your home against power outages, depending on your situation.
Even an instantaneous flash outage is a pain, but severe outages last for hours, days or even weeks. With more serious weather events affecting the U.S. each year, multi-day-long power outages are more and more likely.
For many people, living in their homes without power isn’t an option.
So, are solar batteries worth it?
When it comes to lower electric bills, backup during power outages and the ability to regulate your energy usage, solar batteries could be worth it for your home.
That said, it really does depend on your family’s needs, your budget, and the goals you set for your solar energy system. While reaching the right conclusion can seem overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. One of our Solar Energy Specialists can help walk you through the options and make
Promotion!
Texas residents only* get a BACKUP POWER GENERATOR INCLUDED when you go solar using promo code: TXBLKOUT