Monday, August 05, 2019

By John Voket If you're considering adding a solar electric generation system to your home, it can be confusing to assess how to size that system for your needs, how that system will look - and fit - in the optimal roof or yard space, how much it will cost, and where you can locate installers to consider for the job.

A new online tool has done some of that work fork you. The site solar-estimate.org acts as a one-stop website that makes it easier to get the process started, and possibly to support that process all the way until your first highly reduced electric bill arrives.

According to the site, homeowners can simply enter their address and monthly power spend. The solar-panel layout tool will show you how many solar panels will fit on your roof. You can also generate an estimate showing ballpark costs and savings for the system you need, and then compare prices of solar installers near you and refine your estimate into an exact solar quote.

The site claims it will not sell, trade or rent your personal information to others without your permission - so one should typically check or uncheck opt-out boxes if they do not wish to be contacted by vendors.

Otherwise, visitors will be offered the option to compare specific offers from up to four pre-screened solar companies in your area that participate with the site.

By using using the Solar-Estimate.org calculator, homeowners can learn:

- How many solar panels are needed to power your home

- How many square feet of suitable roof space is required

- How many solar panels will fit on your roof and where they will go

- How much energy the solar panels on your roof will produce

- How much solar panels will save you on your electric bills

- Your likely payback period for your home solar system

- How much solar panels will cost for your home based on the average solar system cost in your area

There are also blogs and articles about selling a home with solar panels, and ways to improve solar panel efficiency. This is by no means the only way to get these details, but it does provide a very user-friendly, one-stop option for anyone considering solar for their home.

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