Monthly Archives: February 2019

Installing a solar panel system is a smart way to increase your home value. Renewable energy is a huge selling point, and buyers are often willing to pay more for properties with photovoltaic arrays. What’s more, solar-powered homes typically sell up to twice as fast as comparable homes without PV installations.

However, to ensure these results, you need to purchase – not lease — your home solar system.

If You Lease Solar Panels…

When you sign a solar lease, you commit to making payments for 15 to 20 years. That responsibility doesn’t go away if you decide to sell your home. So, this leaves you with two options — either find a buyer with excellent credit who’s willing to take over your lease agreement or buy out the remainder of your contract.

Quite often, home buyers balk at the idea of assuming a lease. And, a contact buyout can be rather expensive – plus, after paying off the lease, you still won’t own the solar panels.

In the end, leasing solar panels can actually be a hindrance – rather than an advantage – when it comes time to sell.

If You Purchase a Solar Panel System…

Financing or paying cash for your PV installation allows you to realize the benefits of selling your home more quickly and at a higher price.

In addition, when you purchase a photovoltaic array, you get to claim the lucrative federal solar tax credit – which is equal to 30 percent of your total system installation costs. State and local financial incentives are also yours to claim.

If you opt to lease instead, you don’t get to pocket these savings – the leasing company does.

How to Determine the Value of a Home Solar System

On average, solar-powered homes sell for up to 17 percent more than similar properties without photovoltaic arrays.

Want a more specific idea of how much of an increase in home value you can expect after installing a solar panel system? The PV Value® tool, developed through the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, can tell you. Simply input some basic information about your property, photovoltaic array and utility costs, and you’ll be given an accurate assessment of the value of your PV installation.

If you want to make your Intermountain West property more attractive to home buyers, installing a photovoltaic array is a smart plan. To ensure the investment pays off, work with a skilled PV contractor with extensive expertise – like the professional team at Intermountain Wind & Solar.

A leading photovoltaic provider serving Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho and Oregon, Intermountain Wind & Solar offers free, no-obligation consultations and solar panel system estimates to homeowners and businesses. To schedule yours, contact us today.

Deciding which solar energy installer to hire requires careful consideration. Choose wrong and, instead of a high-quality, trouble-free source of home power that quickly pays for itself, you may end up with a photovoltaic system that’s plagued with problems.

So, how do you choose from the dozens of solar installers that provide service in your area?

To find the right photovoltaic company to handle your installation – which, we hope, is Intermountain Wind & Solar — consider these factors.

Choose a Local Solar Energy Installer

National providers tend to focus on the bottom line. Local solar installers, on the other hand, are committed to quality service and customer satisfaction. Plus, local PV companies have an in-depth understanding of the region’s financial incentives, weather conditions and installation regulations – so, by going local, you’re bound to save more and have a smoother, easier experience.

Select a NABCEP-Certified Photovoltaic Provider

Voluntary certification from NABCEP*, or the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, is a crucial qualification for a photovoltaic installer. This impartial organization ensures that providers have the knowledge, training and skill to successfully complete solar energy installations. Hire a NABCEP-certified installer, and you’ll have a highly-capable professional handling your project.

* (Mike Allen—Cert# 032611-04 and Mike Telford—Cert# 092411-142)

Consider Solar Energy Installation Experience

Experience makes a difference when it comes to designing and installing an optimized PV system. When evaluating photovoltaic providers, find out how long they have been in business. Choose a solar installer with a solid history of success and plenty of positive reviews, and you’ll likely have a better overall experience.

Make Sure the Photovoltaic Installer Doesn’t Outsource Any Work

Some photovoltaic providers don’t actually complete their equipment installations – they outsource the work. This can be problematic, as it means the people who install your PV system may not have sufficient training or experience. Worse, they may not even be licensed to perform work in your state! In any case, when it comes to solar energy installations, outsourcing is always bad news

Intermountain Wind & Solar, founded in 2008, is a locally-owned photovoltaic provider serving Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho and Oregon. Our professional solar energy installers have NABCEP certification, and our company never outsources – our in-house staff completes every part of every installation.

With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a spot on the 2018 Top Solar Contractor List, Intermountain Wind & Solar has a reputation for providing high-quality photovoltaic components and an exceptional installation experience at a cost-effective price. Choose us, and you can count on a home PV system that optimizes your solar potential and maximizes your savings.

To schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with the leading solar energy installer in the Intermountain West, contact Intermountain Wind & Solar today.

When you picture yourself going solar, thoughts of installing a rooftop solar array likely spring to mind. And, in most cases, that’s a cost-effective approach.

However, due to shade or structural concerns, your rooftop may not be well-suited for solar panels. And, if you live in a planned community, subdivision or townhome development, your homeowners’ association might be against the idea of rooftop placement for a photovoltaic system.

What then? Is installing a rooftop solar array impossible? Fortunately, you have other options.

Install Rooftop Solar Panels on an Alternate Structure

If the rooftop of your home isn’t right for a photovoltaic system, or if your HOA won’t allow the installation, you could install solar panels on the roof of another structure on your property.

A solidly-constructed garage, carport, shed, barn or patio cover can support a solar array, and as long as the structure is in a sunny spot, it can produce enough power to meet your home energy needs. Don’t have a suitable structure? Build one.

Install a Ground-Mounted Solar Array

Building a shed, carport or other structure doesn’t always make sense. If you don’t want the added expense, you could install a ground-mounted photovoltaic system.

Mounting your solar panels at ground level can be as cost-effective as installing a photovoltaic system on the rooftop. And, since the array can be placed at the perfect angle and orientation for harnessing the sunlight, you can count on optimal energy output.

Invest in a Portable Photovoltaic System

If installing a photovoltaic system on an alternate rooftop or at ground level aren’t options for your property – or if you’re a renter – consider investing in a portable system.

Since mobile solar panels stand on their own and can be easily moved at any time, they can work for anyone. A range of options are available, and a large array with batteries for energy storage – and, perhaps, a generator to provide a backup source of power – can supply enough electricity for your household.

Are you ready to determine whether a rooftop solar array will work for your location? For expert advice and assistance in exploring all of your photovoltaic system options, turn to the professional team at Intermountain Wind & Solar.

A leader among Intermountain West photovoltaic providers for over a decade, Intermountain Wind & Solar offers expert-level residential and commercial PV installation at a cost-effective price. With us, going solar in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming or Oregon is easy – we’ll handle every detail, providing you with an exceptional experience.

For a free, no-pressure consultation to discuss rooftop solar array installation, contact Intermountain Wind & Solar today.