When my husband and I installed solar panels at home, we thought it would take about eight years to pay off, but we’re already ahead of schedule on our return on investment. We overbuilt our solar capacity to plan ahead for getting two EVs, and we generate enough power to meet all our needs—our utility bill at the end of the year is basically just a connection fee.
A deal for ChargePoint drivers: $1,000 off solar
Solar has paid off for us, and it also works for ChargePoint EV driver Chris, who charges four EVs at home with solar power and ChargePoint Home. Since it’s Earth Month and the summer sun is right around the corner, now is the perfect time for you to consider solar power, which is a great way to charge your EV on carbon-free energy for low rates. This post provides an introduction to what you need to know about installing solar power at your home, plus an exciting deal from Vivint Solar for 100 lucky ChargePoint drivers: $1,000 off a home rooftop solar system (offer available until July 31 for drivers in California, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey or Long Island, New York).
August 2018 Update: This offer is no longer available, but getting solar power at home is still a great idea for the reasons outlined below.
Why solar power?
Installing solar power at home can help reduce energy costs and keep your home and EV running on clean energy for a fixed monthly rate. While you may still pay for electricity from the grid when solar is not available—at night or on rainy days, for example—you may be able to send extra solar energy you generate during the day back to your utility to offset these costs, automatically. By purchasing panels from Vivint Solar, you can use clean, renewable energy to offset your power bill.
What does a home solar power system involve?
Your solar power system will have five components: solar panels, electrical wiring to transfer electricity from the panels to the inverter, an inverter to convert the DC power collected by the panels into AC power that your home can use, a smart meter that measures how much electricity you purchase and send to the grid and a performance meter to keep track of how your solar system is performing. That’s it! For more detail on how solar power works, check out this Scientific American article or this page on photovoltaic cells from the Department of Energy.
Who benefits from solar power?
Most people can benefit from having solar power at home because it provides carbon-free energy at a low price. Residential solar costs have dropped over the past few years, so it makes more economic sense to install now than ever before, and Vivint can help you estimate your potential savings. Even if you won’t save a lot of money on your energy bill, solar could still be worth the investment because it delivers fossil fuel–free energy for your home. (Want to take advantage of extra solar power your system generates during the day? Consider also getting battery storage for your home.)
Do you rent a home or live in an apartment or condo? Increasingly, community solar is an option for people who can’t install solar panels on their own homes. Community solar involves pooling funds from a variety of community members to install solar panels in the community.
How much does solar power cost?
The cost of solar will vary depending on the size of your roof and how much of your roof is shaded, among other factors, but it typically costs between $14,000-20,000 for most installs, which range from 6.12-6.8 kilowatts. There is a federal tax credit of 30% of the cost of the system available for installing solar power, and you can explore additional local incentives in California, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey and Long Island. Lest you think you have to pay the entire amount up front, Vivint Solar offers information about the cost of installing solar power under various financing options, which range from leasing to loans to power purchase agreements. Installation should take just four to eight hours. Vivint Solar, like most providers, offers free quotes online or at 877-404-4129.
Who uses solar power at home?
With 18 states expected to add more than a gigawatt of solar capacity this year, solar panel prices falling and the efficiency of solar cells continuing to improve, now is a smart time to invest in solar no matter where you live. Hear it direct from one happy Vivint Solar customer:
“My husband works in the energy field, and I am a science teacher. Renewable energy is always a topic that we talk to our students about. Having solar panels put on our roof makes me feel like we’re doing our part to help the environment.”
– Karen Lococo, Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Solar power has been a good choice for me, and I recommend it to others looking to offset energy costs and charge their EVs for free. If you’ve been on the fence about installing solar power at home, now is the perfect time to act: Vivint Solar is offering 100 ChargePoint drivers in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Nevada or Long Island (New York) $1,000 off a home solar system installation through July 31. After the first 100 drivers take the offer, others can get $500 off—still a good deal.
We hope this post told you everything you need to know about installing solar power at home. Now, are you ready to let the sunshine in?
with $1,000 off New Solar Power Installation
*Available only to qualified ChargePoint drivers in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Nevada and Long Island, NY. $1,000 off for up to 100 drivers, $500 discount after that through July 31. Terms and conditions apply.
