The amount of direct sunlight your home is exposed to is crucial for a solar power system to work as efficiently as possible. If your house is surrounded by tall trees, it may be harder for sunlight to reach any solar panels that might be installed on your roof. If you are in an area with a lot of hills or mountains, consider that the terrain may interfere with how much light a solar panel can absorb throughout the day. Even city locations can cause logistical problems for solar energy devices - tall buildings, billboards, and other suburban structures often interfere with solar panel setups.

Regardless of your home's physical location, it's a good idea to contact your local solar energy installer, as they'll be able to inspect your location and come up with an agreeable plan of action that will allow for an optimal solar power setup.

One important aspect to consider is the roof on your house. Not all roofs are suitable for a quick installation of solar panels, but companies with more experience are generally prepared to invest the time and the effort it can take to add panels to roofs that are considered difficult to work with. Roofs with Spanish tiles, for example, are notoriously difficult when it comes to safely mounting solar panels, so many installation companies outright refuse to work on them.

Ultimately, you'll need to call companies in your area to verify that they would be willing to take on a potentially problematic installation job.

What are the best roofs for solar panels? Composite roofing, the most common kind available, requires minimal effort on the part of the contractor. Metal roofs allow installers to attach panels directly to the seams in the roofing, thereby cutting down on labor. Tar-and-gravel flat rooftops require brackets that will allow the solar panels to tilt at the necessary angle, but are considered easy to install on. Wood roofs are also easy to work with, but keep in mind that fire safety concerns may be an issue.

This is probably the first thing that should come to mind when considering solar panelling for a building. How old is your roof? Is it suffering from leaks, broken tiles, or even structural damage? Will the warranty for your roofing fall in line with the warranty for the solar panel system, so that you don't end up accruing additional costs when it comes time to replace the shingles? Keep in mind that even minor damage to a roof can turn a successful solar panel installation into a constant maintenance issue further down the road.

Despite the fact that alternative energy has been an established industry for decades, not every utility company is prepared to offer their full cooperation and support when it comes time to install your solar panels and connect them to the grid. Rural areas, especially, may not have their grids properly set up for integration with third-party energy systems, which means you could miss out on state credits and discounts. Contact your utility company to find out whether they are equipped to connect your system, what fees will be involved, and what kinds of perks will be available once you're connected to the grid.

Many states and cities offer, in collaboration with solar companies, rebates for homeowners and businesses that install solar panels. Before you begin your project, ask your installer what rebate options they have access to, and whether they know of any rebates offered by city, municipality, or state. You can also contact your local government's renewable energy department and inquire about rebates.

In addition to doling out rebates to residents and businesses that take advantage of renewable energy technologies, Connecticut (among many other states) offers programs like low-interest loans and tax exemptions that can save you thousands of dollars on your installation and use. Another useful program, net metering, rewards you credit for the extra electricity your system produces and allows you to spend those credits when your system isn't generating enough power.

Taking advantage of these kinds of programs is a handy way to save money, put energy back into the grid, and use generated power more responsibly. Give your local city or state government a call if you want to find out more about your area's consumable energy tax programs.

One of the biggest worries that every potential solar panel user faces is about the cost - will they be able to cover everything, even with city and state discounts and the possibility of getting a loan? This kind of uncertainty isn't helped by the absolute plethora of solar panel equipment that is available on the market; it can be very confusing to choose from among the countless varieties of panels, generators, mounting equipment, batteries and other items that are needed for a reliable setup.

Fortunately, with a little help from an experienced solar panel installation company like RT's Construction, you can find an affordable renewable energy system for your home or business. Along with an estimate that will cover what your total cost will be for installation and maintenance, you can get the best advice on which brands will work for your needs, which equipment is necessary, and what your options are when it comes to tax credits, loans, and rebates.