Introduction: Welcome to your journey into discovering if solar energy is a good investment for your home. In just a few minutes, you’ll understand how to assess if solar is right for you. Remember, every small step toward energy independence is a big step towards securing your future. And putting money back in your pocket, not the energy companies.

Hello

My name is Robert Reynolds.

I’m a former U.S. Navy submarine Nuclear Engineer, and Power Plant Instructor.

Today I’d like to help you determine if solar energy is a smart investment for your home.

By following the simple steps I’ll outline, you’ll learn to assess your energy needs, evaluate your roof’s potential for solar panels, and understand the costs involved.

Along the way, you’ll gain valuable knowledge that can help you save money or earn possible referral rewards, even if you don’t install solar for yourself.Here is the ‘Solar Self-Check Method’ that will allow you to be better prepared when considering if an investment in solar is right for you.

Let’s dive in! 

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Step 1: Understanding Your Energy Usage

The first step is to figure out how much electricity your home uses each year. Follow along and I’ll walk you through it:

1. Find Your Electric Bill: Look for a section labeled “Energy Usage” or something similar. Most bills include a bar chart showing your monthly energy use in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
2. Write Down the Numbers: Using a ruler or straight edge, estimate the kWh for each month. Write these numbers down.
3. Add It Up: Add the 12 months of usage to get your yearly total.

Example: If your home uses 1,000 kWh each month, your total yearly usage is 12,000 kWh.

Slide 5 (Solar Roof Capacity)

Step 2: Assessing Your Roof’s Solar Potential

Now, let’s see if your roof is suitable for solar panels:

1. Direction: Solar panels work best on south-facing roofs in the Northern Hemisphere. East- and west-facing roofs are also good, but they’ll produce slightly less energy.
2. Sunlight: Check for shade from trees or neighboring buildings. A clear view of the sun is essential for maximum efficiency.
3. Roof Size: Measure the flat sections of your roof that get the most sunlight. You can use:
• sunroof.withgoogle.com
• The PVWatts online calculator.
• Your house blueprints, tape measure and walk off the distances

Your Ideal Setup: This is going to be a south-facing roof with enough space to install panels that can cover the cost of your yearly energy needs.

Slide 7

Step 3: Calculating Solar Costs and Benefits

Next we are going to weigh the costs and savings of going solar:

1. Find Your Solar Roof Capacity: Use the PVWatts calculator to see how many panels your roof can hold and how much electricity they’ll produce annually. Use the area measurements you just did on the last exercise. Plug those in and you’ll have a pretty good guestimate in hand.
2. Compare Costs: Subtract your solar system’s cost (installation and maintenance) from your projected energy costs over 20 years. If the result is positive, solar is a good investment.
3. Consider Additional Benefits: Solar not only saves money but also increases your home’s value, provides energy independence, and ensures stable energy costs. In some cases you may be able to feed power back into the grid, gaining a payment back to you.

So what do you do with this stuff?? Here’s how to Use This Information

• For Yourself: Determine if your home is among the 20% that can fully benefit from solar.
• For Others: If your home isn’t a good fit, refer friends or neighbors whose homes might be. For every referral that results in a solar installation, you can earn $500-$1,000! No cost to you. Ask us about our Finder’s Gold Club offers!

A few added Additional Tips Slide 9

• Installation Options: Solar panels can be mounted on rooftops or on the ground. For rural areas, elevated installations allow livestock to graze below. If your garage has optimum roof capacity, you may be able to add additional panels here also to maximize energy storage potential.
• Plan for Zoning: Check local zoning laws and regulations. Most areas are solar-friendly, but it’s good to confirm. This includes city, county and state as there may be cost incentives from different entities available.
• Resources: Use sites like SunHub to find solar panels, batteries, and other equipment for the DIYer.

Conclusion: Is Solar Right for You?

By completing the previous steps, you’ll have a clear understanding of your home’s solar potential. Even if solar isn’t right for your home, you now have the tools to help others and earn referral bonuses without spending a dime yourself. With solar, every home is a potential treasure chest!

Happy hunting and best of luck on your journey to energy independence!