I am in just the very beginning stages of preparing to build our retirement home, which will be considered “net zero.” It will be built by a well known builder who specializes in high efficiency net zero homes. Solar panels on a metal roof will be a part of it. I have a lot to learn about how the solar works, but the architect designing our home and the builder will work together to ensure the house orientation and everything else is designed to maximize the solar energy. It will still be connected to the power grid and I will have a whole home generator in case of power outages. If we were to stay living in our current home for 20 more years I think I would consider installing solar panels. I am definitely doing it on this next home since I have the advantage to build the house with these things in mind.

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Originally posted by armedmd:
Arc, thank you for an excellent discussion on solar energy. I’m preparing to install a system on my home. Between the Tax credit and the energy savings I believe we will see a good benefit. Do you have any manufacturers that you try to avoid? I’m looking at using a company named Solar Holler for my system. They recommend LG and Panasonic as they’re well established companies and will be around for warranty etc if needed. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Between my work, my own home, coworkers and friends who have solar, I haven't run into any "stay away" components.

I did one solar slate install, this was years ago before Musk got in.

I would never let a friend install solar slates. Ever. If you think Christmas lights are irritating when one goes bad...

Stay far away from solar slates. I don't see them ever catching on, they are waaaay more complex than panels, and garbage to install, much less go back up and find the bad one. Awful.

Solar glass? Ridiculous, lets make home construction more complex and something that is simple now have current.

I have microinverters in my system, it makes the rest of the components smaller, but generally I don't have any equipment preferences, and haven't run into a brand that is garbage.

I would trust an installer to put in products they won't have to come attend to. So much depends on the installer, and as I said, I wouldn't put Tesla in the "it's a big company so it can be trusted" slot.

A small, local solar company who can supply references, would be acceptable. Solar is becoming ubiquitous, and so they can be vetted like any other home contractor.

A properly installed system that you buy, is ideal if you can afford it. I've been happy with my solar lease, but I had a lot of experience before getting my own system so was aware of the pitfalls. I may buy out the lease, I may not. The savings have absolutely been worth it, but being entitled to the srecs would be great, the trade off being that with a lease, any replacement of parts is not my responsibility.

Arc, thanks for the explanation a lot batteries back-feeding the grid.

The one possible downside with a lease is if the homeowner tries to sell the home the buyer will need to qualify for the mortgage and the lease.

I've seen sellers here (and know of at least two buyers) who have a leased system installed and move to sell a year or two later only to find that as appealing as the solar panels are, potential buyers move to the next opportunity when faced with a mortgage topped by 18 year lease which they must separately qualify.

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Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
I've seen sellers here (and know of at least two buyers) who have a leased system installed and move to sell a year or two later only to find that as appealing as the solar panels are, potential buyers move to the next opportunity when faced with a mortgage topped by 18 year lease which they must separately qualify.

Sure, but that is lease contract problems, not panel looks problems.