Bringing solar home
A CENTURY AFTER electricity started brightening most U.S. homes and powering pop-up toasters, a second electrification of American life has begun—this one aimed at reducing the use of fossil fuels. Car manufacturers will introduce dozens of new electric vehicle (EV) models in the next couple of years, taking affordable EVs deep into the mainstream. Induction cooktops are seeing a drastic increase in market share, and several cities have banned new residential natural-gas hookups altogether. Meanwhile, all-climate heat-pump technology now makes heating and cooling with electricity less costly than using natural gas.
Largely driven by concerns about climate change, the trend to plug-in power also presents an opportunity to slash your energy costs by generating your own electricity on your roof. A recently extended federal tax credit will give you back 26 percent of the cost for solar-panel installations in 2022, and 22 percent for those in 2023. (The credit will end after 2023, unless it’s extended by Congress.) And even though prices have bounced slightly in the last couple of years due to inflation, they are still way down overall, after dropping 64 percent between 2010 and 2020.
The tech has gotten better, too—a lot better. The standard panel is now all black, without the noticeable white grid lines that make it stand out on the roof, and generates as much as 450 watts, up from 340 five years ago. You can get panels that are more than 20 percent efficient—compared with just 13.5 percent in 2001—and if that doesn’t sound impressive, consider that the best plant photosynthesis is around 8 percent efficient. What’s more, hidden racking systems help blend the panels into the roof, and you can add EV chargers powered by your system and a battery backup that will eliminate blackouts.
Ready to consider going solar? Here’s how to go about assessing your options.
