What are the Steps to Installing Solar?
Solar Panels
I am about to get solar panels installed on my own home and thought you might want to know just what is involved. First off you should know that I am doing a “solar lease” from Solar City. It is really a great deal and they take care of all of the rebates and state incentives and just pass the savings directly on to you. Plus they are offering $500 off if you sign up in December and I get an referral incentive, so please mention that I sent you if you decide to sign up.
I went to 3 other solar companies first and found that the price was just not worth the savings with a purchase plan. It doesn’t even make sense for us to purchase with Solar City as we are very conservative with our electric usage. However, with this lease plan, we will get back our investment within 6 years (less if you count the fact that electric costs will be raising every year), we are not responsible for the panels if something breaks down, we will be using green renewable energy, and by the time the panels are old, Solar City will take them away and repair our roof with a 1 year leak warrantee. No brainer, right?
So here is the process:
One of the advantages of working with SolarCity is that they take care of every step during your switch to clean power—including design, installation, permits and rebate paperwork. Below are the different stages you can expect during your solar system installation and if applicable your energy efficiency project:
- Site Audit—A SolarCity engineer will visit your home to take detailed measurements to design your system. This is also when we conduct the Home Energy Evaluation, allowing SolarCity to better customize your design providing a higher quality end product based on your home’s specific energy needs.
- System Design—Their engineering team will custom design a system to fit your home, based on its environment, architecture, roof space and orientation.
- Building Permit—They will submit the electrical and structural drawings to your local permit office.
- Installation—A home solar system typically takes only about three days to install.
- Fund Assignment—If you are a SolarLease customer—once installed—your system must be assigned to an existing lease fund.
- City / County Inspection—A city inspector will review your installation to confirm that it was installed to building and electrical codes.
- Utility Inspection—A utility inspector will review your installation and grant permission to connect your system to the power grid.
- Turn it On! —This is the best part as you get to turn on your solar system and start enjoying the benefits of producing your own clean solar energy and recognizing savings beyond solar from the Home Efficiency Package.
For more information please call John Garand the senior solar consultant at SolarCity at 650.963.5686 or email him at jgarand@solarcity.com. The web address is www.solarcity.com. And please remember to tell him that Heather Leikin referred you.
