There are numerous benefits of going solar, including saving money on your electricity bills, reducing your carbon footprint, using energy that does not pollute the environment, and much more! But going solar has many barriers, the largest one being that going solar oftentimes requires that you own your home or have the up-front financing to pay for the solar system at one time. Community solar can be a great option for individuals that face barriers to going solar at home. If you’re ready to get involved in the clean energy movement but don’t own your home, keep reading to learn more!
Barriers to Going Solar at Home
Going solar is a great option, as it allows homeowners to save money on their electricity bills and reduce their use of nonrenewable energy sources. However, there are a few barriers to going solar that might come up in your search to see if solar energy will work for you.
1. Home Ownership
One barrier to going solar is that typically owning your home is a requirement for going solar since solar panels are a long-term investment and something that is a permanent addition to a home.
2. Condos and Duplexes
Another barrier to going solar might arise if you own a condo or duplex. Condos typically do not have their own roof, as one roof is covering many condo spaces. Therefore, condo owners are not able to go solar themselves, unless there is a collective solar system that is shared by all property owners. Another issue might arise in a duplex, where you have roof space, but you share side walls with one or more neighbors. Depending on the neighborhood association and homeowner guidelines that govern a particular duplex, some duplex homeowners might have the ability to install solar on their roofs while others cannot.
3. Roof Age and Quality
Roof age and quality are additional barriers to entry when installing solar. Typically a roof needs to be less than 10 years old and in good condition to go solar. Since solar panels can last for 25+ years, having a roof under 10 years old that is in good shape will help ensure that you don’t have to take down your solar panels to replace your roof, which could be costly. The cost of updating a roof can be costly, making this another barrier to going solar. Unlike homeownership or owning a condo or duplex, roof age and quality is something that can be changed or modified but requires an upfront investment to do so.
4. Up-Front Costs
Even if you own your home and your roof is under 10 years old, another barrier to going solar is the up-front costs associated with financing the solar system. The cost of a typical residential solar system in 2022 can range from $17,500 to $23,500, which is the average price after taking into account the 26% federal solar tax credit. Solar financing is available to help pay the up-front costs of installing a solar system and these costs can vary from state to state. Additionally, there are many low-income solar programs and incentives available that can help reduce the cost of going solar.
5. Net Metering Policies
Another barrier to going solar could be the net metering policies in your state, and if these net metering policies are helpful or harmful for homeowners who are considering going solar. When you go solar, the electricity that your solar panels produce is first sent to your home to be immediately used and any unused electricity is then sent to the grid. Net metering is where the utility will pay homeowners and businesses for the extra electricity that their solar panels produce and is sent back to the grid.
Each state and utility have different net metering policies. The best policies are a 1:1 credit ratio, where you receive a credit back on your electricity bill for the amount of electricity sent to the grid, at the same price rate as the cost of that electricity. Other utilities provide a credit that is less than the cost of the electricity or has fees for solar owners. In states without net metering policies, homeowners with solar do not get paid for the solar energy sent back to the grid, which makes solar energy less economical.
How to Go Solar Without Owning Your Home
If you’re interested in going solar, saving money on your electricity bill, and reducing your use of nonrenewable energy, but some of these barriers to going solar are applicable to you, community solar might be a great option to consider!
Community solar allows renters, businesses, and homeowners alike to benefit from solar energy, without going solar on their own home or property. Through community solar, multiple customers from businesses to homeowners and nonprofits can sign up to receive their energy from a large offsite solar farm near their community and benefit from the electricity that those solar panels provide.
How Community Solar Works
Community solar farms can vary in size, but most are large solar farms that can provide electricity for dozens to hundreds of subscribers. Community solar is typically managed by an outside company or nonprofit that is separate from the local utility. The community solar company will purchase land nearby where they will install the solar farm. After the solar farm is installed, local customers can either purchase or subscribe on a monthly or yearly basis to a portion of the electricity generated from that solar farm.
As the solar farm produces electricity, community solar subscribers then receive a credit on their electricity bill for the amount of electricity that their portion of the solar farm produced that month. Since subscribers to a community solar system receive a credit back on their utility bill, typically the community solar array needs to be serviced by the same utility that also services the customer’s home or property. Community solar farms are typically within the same city, county, or region as the people that subscribe, therefore, not all communities have community solar options available.
Benefits of Community Solar
There are many benefits to subscribing to a community solar system. For households that are renting or live in a home that has a shared roof, installing solar is typically not an option available. Through community solar, renters and homeowners whose property has a shared roof are able to have access to and benefit from solar, when owning a solar system is not an available option. Additionally, for homeowners who have an old roof and are not ready to replace it, or who would not like to permanently install solar on their homes, community solar can provide a great option to allow them to still go solar. Through community solar, homeowners and businesses can save money on their electricity bills, without needing to install solar on their property or paying the up-front costs of going solar.
Finding Community Solar Options Near You
In most community solar options, the homeowner or business must be located within the same electric utility as the community solar installation is located. EnergySage is a tool that can help you find a community solar option near you.
