Ethical Homes

Although the DC metro area doesn’t get as much sun as other parts of the country and electricity prices are on the low side of the national average, folks are still putting up solar panels for a number of reasons.

• DC electricity prices increased on Feb 8 2005 by 18% and MD prices increased by 4.5% on June 1. Although future price spikes are mere speculation, some residents prefer to hedge their bets and not be subject to the whims of the energy market.
• Panels reduce demand for nuclear energy and cut consumption of fossil fuels from the grid (which in this part of the US is often coal from WV, not the cleanest source, and not likely to get any cleaner due to yesterday’s federal appeals court decision (what’s this NSR? Read this older but still valuable piece.))
• With net metering and federal and local incentives, solar panels pay for themselves over time. Rolling the cost of a system into a mortgage (or a refi) avoids having to front the entire cost.

Experts agree that given the current energy market and price of solar panels, other steps should take priority over the purchase of a solar panel system. Drop us a line if we can help you figure out if solar panels are right for your new or existing home. We’ll also help you figure out the payback period, optimal system size, and tell you about incentives in your jurisdiction.