Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Panels on Roofs

With climate change and rising energy costs top of mind, installing solar panels on your roof can seem like an appealing way to reduce your environmental impact. But like any major home improvement project, rooftop solar comes with both pros and cons to weigh.

Benefits of Rooftop Solar Panels

Installing a solar PV system on your roof can provide the following advantages:

Lower Electricity Bills

One of the biggest perks of going solar is the potential for immediate and long-term savings on your energy bills. Solar panels can generate enough clean electricity during the daytime to power your home's needs and even send excess energy back to the grid.

This can help shield you from rising retail electricity rates. Many homeowners see their energy bills reduced by 50-100% after installing rooftop solar panels, especially if your system is sized to cover the majority of your usage.

Tax Credits and Incentives

The federal solar tax credit allows you to deduct 26% of the cost of installing a solar energy system from your federal taxes. Many local and state governments also offer additional financial incentives like rebates and credits to go solar.

When combined, these savings can offset 35-50% of your total upfront solar panel system costs. This greatly improves solar's return on investment and payback period.

Increased Home Value

Multiple studies have shown that installing solar panels can increase the value of your home. In some markets, going solar boosts resale value by 4.1% on average, allowing sellers to recoup the installation costs.

Solar also makes your property much more attractive to prospective green-minded home buyers looking to shrink their carbon footprint and take advantage of free renewable power for decades.

Lower Environmental Impact

Generating your own emissions-free solar electricity at home rather than relying on fossil fuel-based grid power helps reduce your carbon footprint. The average residential solar panel system can mitigate over 30 tons of carbon dioxide over its 25-30 year lifespan.

Going solar is one of the best ways to make your home more sustainable and self-sufficient when it comes to meeting your energy needs through renewable resources.

Drawbacks of Putting Solar on Your Roof

However, installing solar panels on your roof can also come with these potential downsides:

High Upfront Costs

Purchasing and installing a solar panel system represents a major investment, with an average cost of $15,000-$25,000 depending on your energy usage and residence size. This upfront price tag can deter some homeowners from choosing this renewable power option.

Roof Leaks and Damage

The process of installing solar on your roof requires penetrating it in places to mount the panels. If this roof work isn't done properly, it can result in leaks, structural issues, and damage to roof shingles over time.

System Limitations

Factors like extensive shade, insufficient sun exposure, dirty solar panels, and technical problems can impact your solar array's electricity production capabilities. You need full south-facing sunlight access to maximize solar system performance. Arrange for periodic maintenance.

During power outages, grid-tied solar panel systems will also shut down automatically for safety reasons. Only solar battery storage can provide backup capability when the grid goes down.

Aesthetic Considerations

Some homeowners feel that putting solar panels on roof shingles can make their home look cluttered or industrial. If the appearance bothers you, a ground-mount solar system may be preferable.

Insurance Limitations

Standard homeowner's insurance policies often exclude providing coverage for solar panels and related system components. You may need to get specialty solar equipment coverage or have your insurer attach a rider to your policy.

Key Factors to Weigh Before Installing Solar

Before deciding if rooftop solar power generation is right for you, be sure to take these key considerations into account:

Your Roof's Condition and Lifespan

Ideally, your roof should be fairly new or recently replaced before installing solar, as you don't want to pay to take panels down and move them if needing a new roof soon. Most solar installers prefer at least 10 years of remaining life.

Sun Exposure and Shading

A south-facing roof with minimal shading from trees or other buildings is best suited for solar panels to soak up adequate direct sunlight. Use tools like Project Sunroof to model solar potential.

Local Weather and Disasters

Frequent extreme weather like large hail, tornadoes, hurricanes, or wildfires in your area could increase the risk of solar system damage. Weigh protection options.

Electricity Rates and Net Metering Rules

The savings potential of solar depends heavily on your local utility's retail electricity rates and net metering policies. High rates and generous solar credits maximize financial return.

Roof Type and Age

Thinner shingle roofs require additional railing for solar panel installation, while tile, metal, and flat roofs often work best. Solar also adds weight, so roof structural support must be assessed.

Budget and Financing Options

Assess what you can afford to pay upfront vs. financing over time at what interest rates. Solar loans and PACE financing help overcome cost barriers to going solar.

Future Plans

Are you planning to move soon? Solar can still pay off if you sell, lease back panels from new owners, or take them with you. Understand options before installing.

Alternatives to Rooftop Solar Worth Considering

If rooftop solar doesn't make sense for your situation, you still have options like:

Ground-Mount Solar

Ground-mounted solar panel systems avoid roof issues altogether and offer more flexibility. But they take up significant yard space and incur landscaping costs.

Community Solar

With community solar, you pay for a share of power from an offsite, large-scale solar installation that feeds into the local grid. No panels on your property needed.

Solar Leases and Shares

A solar lease or shared solar ownership agreement allows you to buy just a portion of remote solar panel system output at lower cost than a full rooftop setup.

Improving Energy Efficiency

Upgrading lights, appliances, insulation, HVAC systems, doors, and windows lowers monthly energy usage, allowing smaller solar systems to still fully offset your electricity needs.

Ultimately, determining if installing solar panels on top of your home makes sense comes down to weighing multiple variables from solar costs and savings to system performance expectations to your personal financial situation and aesthetic preferences.

Carefully evaluating both the advantages and disadvantages of putting photovoltaic solar arrays on your roof shingles allows you to make the most well-informed decision possible about embracing renewable solar energy or choosing greener electricity alternatives that better match your home and lifestyle.