Going Solar: What You Need to Know

If you dread looking at the electricity bill each month, you might want to consider options for saving money. In the last few years, more Palisadians are turning to the sun for help.

Joyce Brunelle, president of Palisades-based Suntricity and president of the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, said she recently gave a talk in front of 70 people, and half of those in attendance either use solar or know someone who does. That’s a major change from five years ago when she spent much of her time educating people about the basics of solar energy.

If you’re considering solar for your house, there are a few things you should know. For instance, some houses are better candidates than others. Flat or slightly slanted roofs are preferable, and south-facing is best. It’s more difficult but not impossible to implement solar on very slanted and red-tile roofs.

Sunlight is obviously crucial. Homeowners should check the roof for shading. If you have a tree blocking part of your roof, consider whether you would remove it or keep it trimmed. If a neighbor’s tree is blocking sunlight to your roof, you might need to ask them if they would consider moving it.

Although solar panels are usually installed on roofs, ground-mount systems are also an option for people who have a lot of land that is not shadowed.

“If you’re going to put on a new roof, that’s a great time to put in solar because the solar company can work with the roofer and that comes out really nicely,” Brunelle said.

Solar is especially beneficial for people who pay $100 or more per month for electricity. Even for those with a much higher monthly bill, solar can greatly reduce your electricity bill if not eliminate it. Brunelle said an average home in the Palisades needs a 5-kilowatt system with approximately 25 panels.

“The size of the array depends on the size of your electric bill more than the size of the home,” she said.

Brunelle recommends talking to your homeowner’s association and neighbors before starting a solar project. Although homeowner’s groups are not supposed to stop you from installing solar, it’s better to let people know.

Although the initial price may turn off some people, costs are decreasing. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and federal government offer discounts on the gross cost of solar installation.

“The panels nowadays have come way down in price because there are so many more manufacturers now,” Brunelle said.

The lack of maintenance costs is another benefit. The homeowner only needs to wash the panels twice a year.

“There’s very little maintenance to do with solar because there’s very little that can go wrong. There’s no moving parts and they’re very strong,” Brunelle said.

Brunelle said solar increases the value of the house, but it’s one of the few home improvements that will not result in your home being reevaluated for taxes. In addition to saving money over time, solar energy also reduces the nation’s dependency on foreign oil and an individual’s carbon footprint.

Some people wonder if they will be off the grid, but she said that’s not what you want. By staying connected with the power company, you will not lose electricity when the sun goes down. Battery backups are also available but not recommended unless a resident has special medical needs.

Recent improvements in technology allow solar inverters – which convert direct current to alternating current – to make better use of solar power. With the old inverters, the entire system would stop working if one panel did not receive sunlight. Newer systems have micro-inverters on each panel, so even if some panels are shaded, the others will continue to function.

Brunelle said Suntricity has installed nine out of 10 residential solar arrays in the Palisades and the only commercial one in the Palisades, which is above the Palisades Pit Stop Detail & Car Wash.

When you first contact a solar company, Brunelle said they will review your electric bill and offer a proposal for free. The company should be able to tell you how long it will take for you to earn back your money.

After a contract is signed, the company will pull the permits and order the equipment. You’ll need an electrical and fire permit from the city, and for many Palisadians living near the ocean, a waiver from the Coastal Commission is needed. For most homes, the entire process takes less than one week. If you need a large solar array, the permitting process could take a couple of weeks.

Brunelle said you always want to ask for at least three references and make sure the company is bonded and insured. Solar installation companies need either a C-10 electrical license or a C-46 solar license and preferably both.