Those currently looking to discover the cost of solar panels on the internet will most likely end up with false and outdated information.
Admittedly, part of the story here has to do with a quickly falling price for solar panels over the past few years. From 2010-2015, the cost of residential solar power has dropped by 50%. The installed cost went from $6.00/watt to $3.00/watt (See the chart from the Solar Energy Industries Association on this page). Simply put, search engines are still not showing many recently updated web pages for a typical search about solar power prices. Many are from 2011-2012 when prices were twice as much.
The other part of the story is that, as of this posting in early 2015, we are still nowhere close to seeing industry standards on pricing. This can be seen as both a good thing and a bad thing. It’s a good thing in that homeowners who shop around can ultimately find a fair price for solar power. It’s obviously bad in that there are quite a few companies that are offering the same product and service for a much higher cost.
Due to their massive marketing budgets, the large solar companies can afford to have a major presence online. They are easy to find in both the paid search results as well as in the organic section. People who end their search into finding some solar pricing with the first site or two that they find will most likely get quoted overpriced solar. Many homeowners still end up choosing these companies and paying an extra $10,000 or more for their solar panels.
The good news is that some light is beginning to be shed on the business practices of the larger solar companies. Here is a good, relevant story from an Arizona-based news site – ktar.com. The article mentions how the total cost of a system can be hidden from homeowners when only the lease payment is discussed. It also mentions how a home would be more difficult to sell with a lien attached to it in the form of a 20 year solar lease.
Many homeowners will justifiably consider waiting for solar prices to fall even more before considering to purchase a solar panel system. This is generally not advisable for two reasons. Deciding to go solar now means that a homeowner would start saving money right now. The second reason is that prices are not likely to fall much further than $3.00/watt. This price, by the way, is about $0.08 per kilowatt-hour over the life of a system. The average homeowner currently pays $0.12 per kilowatt-hour or more across America.
The reason why the cost for solar does not figure to fall much further is that the price of the panels (about $0.70/watt) is just one part of the total cost. The fees charged by a low cost installer and other utility related fees are not likely to change much. Please see the cost of solar page for more information.
As with any large purchase, some research and shopping around can typically save you a good deal of money. Residential solar power is no exception to this rule. It will be just a matter of time before word of mouth about smaller, more reasonably priced solar companies starts to spread. We should see a much more even playing field in the solar industry real soon. That will be a win for homeowners and a win for the environment.
In conclusion, the true cost of solar panels continues to be a challenge to find online. Despite the increasing popularity of solar energy, many websites lack transparency in providing accurate and comprehensive pricing information. This lack of transparency can make it difficult for consumers to make informed decisions about investing in solar panels. As the demand for renewable energy grows, it is crucial for the industry to address this issue and provide clear and accessible pricing information to potential customers.
In conclusion, the true cost of solar panels remains elusive to find online. Despite the increasing popularity of solar energy and the growing number of websites offering solar panel information, there is still a lack of transparency regarding pricing. This makes it challenging for consumers to accurately assess the financial feasibility of installing solar panels. While some websites provide general cost estimates, these figures often do not take into account various factors such as installation fees, maintenance costs, and government incentives. As a result, potential solar panel buyers are left with an incomplete picture of the true cost and benefits of solar energy. It is crucial for the industry to improve transparency and provide more accessible and accurate pricing information to enable consumers to make informed decisions about adopting solar power.
In conclusion, the true cost of solar panels continues to be a challenge to find online. Despite the increasing popularity and demand for renewable energy sources, the lack of transparency and standardized pricing in the solar panel industry makes it difficult for consumers to accurately determine the costs associated with purchasing and installing solar panels. This lack of information hinders potential buyers from making informed decisions and may discourage them from adopting solar energy as a viable option. It is crucial for industry stakeholders to address this issue by providing more accessible and comprehensive pricing information to promote the widespread adoption of solar panels and contribute to a sustainable future.
In conclusion, the true cost of solar panels remains elusive and challenging to find online. Despite the increasing popularity of solar energy, transparency regarding pricing and installation costs is lacking in the online marketplace. Consumers searching for accurate information often encounter misleading advertisements and incomplete pricing details, making it difficult to make informed decisions about investing in solar panels. As the demand for renewable energy continues to grow, it is crucial for industry stakeholders to prioritize transparency and provide accessible and comprehensive pricing information to empower consumers in their pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.
In conclusion, the true cost of solar panels remains elusive and challenging to find online. Despite the increasing popularity of solar energy, potential buyers still face difficulties in obtaining accurate and transparent pricing information. This lack of transparency hinders the decision-making process and makes it harder for individuals to assess the true financial feasibility of installing solar panels. As the demand for renewable energy continues to rise, it is crucial for industry stakeholders to prioritize providing accessible and comprehensive pricing data to empower consumers and accelerate the adoption of solar panels.
In conclusion, the true cost of solar panels continues to be elusive when searching for information online. Despite the growing popularity and accessibility of solar energy, potential buyers still face challenges in obtaining accurate and transparent pricing details. This lack of transparency hinders consumers’ ability to make informed decisions and may lead to frustration and confusion. As the demand for renewable energy sources increases, it is crucial for companies and online platforms to provide clear and reliable information on solar panel costs to promote a more sustainable future.
In conclusion, the true cost of solar panels still poses a challenge to find online. Despite the increasing popularity and accessibility of solar energy, the lack of transparency in pricing hinders potential customers from making informed decisions. This issue highlights the need for more comprehensive and standardized information on solar panel costs. As the demand for renewable energy continues to grow, it is crucial for the industry to address this issue and provide consumers with transparent and easily accessible pricing information.