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Thanks to advances in technology and manufacturing, the costs of solar panels have fallen over the past decade, making solar power more popular with homeowners. But figuring out how to add a solar system to your roof can be daunting.

Workers installed a solar and battery system at my home in suburban New York City this winter. It was a big investment, but it started paying lower electricity bills and began to give peace of mind that we would at least have some electricity during the power outages that are common here, as storms often knock down power lines.

Interest in rooftop solar systems is high and growing as energy prices rise and concerns about climate change grow. Many people are also concerned about power outages caused by extreme weather conditions due to climate change. Pew Charitable Trust research in 2019 found: 6 percent of Americans had already installed solar panels, and the other 46 percent think so.

“The biggest thing is that solar is much cheaper than it used to be, even in places like New York and Boston, where solar is more expensive than in the suburbs,” said Anika Wistar-Jones, director of affordable solar. Solar One is an environmental education nonprofit that helps affordable housing and low-income communities embrace solar power in New York City.

If you’re into solar energy, there are some things to consider.

Can you add solar panels to your roof?

This question may seem simple, but finding the answer can be surprisingly complicated. A plumber told me my roof is so shaded by trees that solar panels can’t generate enough electricity to be worth the investment. Hearing another opinion was well worth it: The plumber I hired addressed these concerns and suggested some tree pruning. On sunny days my system usually generates more power than my family uses.

It can also be difficult to find out what your local government and utility will allow because information is often not available in plain language. I learned this lesson in my previous home.

When I lived in New York, it took me months of research to find out that I couldn’t install panels on my roof. The city needs a large open space on flat roofs like mine for firefighters to walk. And I couldn’t install solar panels on a canopy – a roof frame that raises the panels — because it would violate a city height restriction for houses in my block.

The best approach is to build a broad network and talk to as many solar installers as possible. You can also consult your neighbors who have installed solar panels on their roofs: People in many parts of the country have banded together in what are known as solarize campaigns to jointly purchase solar panels to get lower prices from the installers.

“This has been really successful in neighborhoods and communities all over the country,” said Gretchen Bradley, solar community manager for Solar One.

Can I get a solar installer?

You should get quotes from several installers. comparison shopping services such as EnergySage and SolarReviews makes it easy to communicate with multiple installers.

When reviewing offers, pay attention to how much the system costs per watt. This tells you how much you paid for the system’s electricity generation capacity and allows you to compare offers.

According to EnergySage, the average price for new rooftop solar systems is $2.75 per watt. That comes out to about $26,125 for an average 9,500-watt system before factoring in a federal tax credit. credit for tax year 2022, 26 percent of solar system cost.; It is scheduled to drop to 22 percent in 2023 and expire in 2024. It also offers residents of many states, including Arizona, California, New York, and Massachusetts. incentives to install solar energy systemssuch as discounts and tax breaks.

Prices can vary widely due to location, local labor costs and other factors such as what type of home you live in and whether other work is required prior to installation. For example, if your roof is old or damaged, it may need to be replaced before the solar system can be installed.

Rooftop solar systems can reduce monthly electricity bills depending on electricity prices, how much energy a home uses, and government policies. More savings systems will help buyers recoup their investment faster. EnergySage’s CEO and founder, Vikram Aggarwal, said solar systems should ideally pay for themselves within 10 years.

Excess electricity produced by roof systems is sent to the power grid, and utilities often reimburse homeowners for this energy with credits on their monthly bills. The value of these loans varies by state.

How should I pay for it?

If you can afford to buy a solar system directly, you’ll get the best deal by paying cash. Systems purchased on credit or lease cost more, especially over the life of the contract. Shopping around is your best protection against falling prey to dubious or predatory deals.

The main advantage of leasing a solar system is that your costs are usually fixed for the duration of the contract. But experts warn that getting rid of rentals when you sell your home can be difficult and can become a burden, as buyers may not want to take over your contract.

Mr Aggarwal stated that for some people who don’t earn enough to claim the federal tax credit, rentals “make sense”. He suggested that people interested in solar rentals get three or four quotes from different installers.

Should I buy a battery?

Adding a battery to your solar system allows you to store some of the excess electricity it generates for use during a power outage or in the evening and at night. A battery-free solar system won’t power you during an outage because most residential systems automatically shut down when the grid goes down.

Batteries can be expensive, especially if you want to power large devices and power them for hours or days. A 10- to 12-kilowatt-hour battery, which can store about a third of a home’s typical daily electricity use, costs about $13,000, according to EnergySage.

But another reason to buy a battery is that the federal tax credit for rooftop solar systems only applies to the costs of batteries purchased with solar panels, not batteries added in a different tax year. According to a survey by EnergySage, about 28 percent of residential solar systems installed in 2021 contained more than 20 percent batteries in 2020.

Wirecutter, a product recommendation service of The New York Times, A detailed guide to buying solar and battery systems.

Can I use my electric car as a backup battery?

Most electric cars cannot power homes. Only a few models have this capability, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning and Hyundai Ioniq 5, and they’re incredibly underpowered.

But many energy experts believe it will eventually become commonplace for car batteries to send power back to homes and the power grid.

In many parts of the United States, prolonged power outages may only occur once or twice a year. As a result, Mr Aggarwal said it may not make sense to invest in an expensive home battery that typically holds much less energy than electric car batteries. “Everyone is starting to talk about using your car to run your house.”

Can I still get solar power if I can’t install solar panels?

You can participate in a community solar project, often installed on open land or on the roofs of warehouses and other large buildings.

Although rules vary by state, community solar programs generally operate in similar ways. Members receive two bills per month: one from the community solar project and one from their own services. Projects sell electricity at a discount at the rate set by your utility company, and every kilowatt-hour of electricity you purchase appears on your bill as a credit for one kilowatt-hour of energy.

Ms. Bradley said that New Yorkers who participate in a community solar project, for example, can save about 10 percent on their monthly electricity bills. “There is no cost to sign up or leave a project,” she added.

While most states allow community solar power, most such projects are only in four states – Florida, Minnesota, New York and Massachusetts – according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.