We’re in a golden age of solar energy, with incentives, well-priced panels, and the potential to bank your rays. Let’s shine a light on what you should know.
Whether you’re motivated out of concern for the environment or just want to keep your “utilities” money in your pocket, solar panels are increasingly top of mind, if not yet top of roof.
But lots of us have questions, in part, says Sean Buckley, owner of Harvest Sun Solar, because we don’t trust that solar will live up to the hype. But those in the know insist that solar really is the harbinger of a bright power future.
So where do I start?
Talk to people who already have solar, urges Sean Buckley. “You’ll be absolutely convinced.” And talk to at least a couple of solar contractors. “Make sure that they are transparent, that they answer all your questions in full, and that they look at your specific house and tell you what it will look like, what it will cost, and exactly what it will bring you in revenue.”
Is it expensive?
Buckley says that if you can borrow or spend about the equivalent of five years of your utility bills, then you can afford panels. And they’ll give you about another quarter century of “free” power.
Projects eligible for the Canada Greener Homes Grant including solar PV and storage can apply for zero-interest loans (up to $40,000 over a 10-year repayment period). Find out more (including your eligibility) by visiting the Canada Greener Homes Loan website.
Are there more incentives?
Yes! The city of Toronto provides lots of info here. And you can find more info at Energy Hub, which tells us that a 1kW solar panel in Toronto would produce about 1,163 kWh/yr.
What if my roof doesn’t face south?
It used to be that, unless your roof had a south-facing pitch, solar wasn’t a good fit. But that’s no longer the case (if it ever actually was true), says Buckley, who insists that just about everybody is a candidate for solar. There is one exception, he says. Some people have houses oriented perfectly for solar but refuse to cut down any trees. If your roof, no matter which way it faces, is too shaded, then your panels won’t be able to soak up the sun’s rays. “If you knock that tree down,” he says, “you’re gonna see that the tree behind it is pretty too.”
Do I need a new roof?
That depends on how old your roof is now. Solar panels last up to 30 years. So if you have less than about a decade left in the life of your roof, Buckley, for one won’t put panels on top and, he says, the building department wouldn’t let him anyway. If your roof is a bit newer — say you’ve got 15 years left on it — Buckley recommends keeping it. Talk to your solar installer and get their advice on whether your roof is a keeper, at least for now. When you do need to replace your roof, taking the panels off and replacing them over a new roof is pretty simple, he says. “The big deal is pulling the permits, doing the planning, getting the permissions, doing the design, getting the electrical work done, getting the inspection. … That’s where the money goes.”
Can I lose money?
It’s possible, but rare if you have a system that was designed to meet your energy needs. Just don’t become too giddy with your “free” power and start squandering it by blasting the AC with windows wide open. Even so, you’re not really “losing” money so much as “spending” it.
How much maintenance do solar panels require?
Good news! For one thing, any dust or pollen that accumulates has a negligible effect on your panels’ ability to work. You can pretty much ignore your panels and let them do their thing. Even a blizzard won’t leave your panels covered for long as snow slips off easily. A flat roof might require the occasional sweep but otherwise, even a shallow pitch of 10–15% will generally leave your panels free to soak up the sun.
Full disclosure: After writing this Q and A, writer Leslie Garrett used Harvest Sun Solar to install the panels at her cottage on Martha’s Vineyard. One of her favorite things to do is obsessively view the SolarEdge app, which shows her panels passively collecting energy from the sun. One of her other favorite things to do is see her energy bill come in at $0.00 owing.
