Should you go solar?

At EnergySage, we want everybody to take advantage of the benefits of solar energy: from clean power to bill savings and from environmental benefits to increased home value; we want the benefits of solar to be more accessible. We also recognize that solar, particularly rooftop solar, isn't always the right solution for everyone. 

With that in mind, we've built this section as a handy guide to help you answer the question, "Should I go solar?" We'll run through the main things you must consider when deciding whether to invest in solar for your home or business. 

There's no one-size-fits-all answer to whether you're a good fit for solar, but a few key factors can help determine if your home (or business!) is eligible for solar. At a very high level, the best fit for solar would be a single-family, stand-alone home that you own, with a southern-facing roof that's in good condition and receives minimal shading during the day. But even if some of those characteristics aren't true for your situation, you may still be a good fit for solar! 

Read this article to see if you're a good fit for solar and if solar is right for you.

Even if your home or business isn't ideally suited for solar, there's still an option for you to benefit from solar energy: enter community solar. In many parts of the country, community solar allows you to participate in a large-scale solar project to benefit from solar power not directly on your property. In comparing rooftop vs. community solar, there are pros and cons to both options–not the least of which are the cost, the ease, and the savings–that may make one option more appropriate. 

Check out this article to get a feel for the differences between rooftop and community solar and whether you should look into one or both for your home or business.

For most people, solar is a financial decision: how much does solar cost, and how much will it save you? The two of those questions go hand-in-hand, and it's essential to keep them both in mind when deciding whether to go solar. There are a few key factors that determine how much your solar panel system will cost–the quality of the solar equipment you use, which installer you use, and even where you find that installer–as well as a few key factors that determine how much you'll save by going solar–how much you pay for electricity now, how you pay for the system, what rebates and incentives are available, and, most importantly, how much your solar panel system costs. 

To learn about how much solar costs, read this article.

EnergySage is the nation's online solar marketplace. When you sign up for a free account, we connect you with local solar companies who compete for your business with custom solar quotes tailored to your needs. Over 10 million people visit EnergySage annually to learn about, shop for and invest in solar. Sign up today to see how much you can save by going solar.