Guest Post: Are Home Solar Panels Popular at Last?

If you’ve been paying attention to the rise of solar power the past few years, you’ve probably noticed a certain shift in public perception.

Where solar used to be an unpopular, wildly expensive form of power production, it’s now synonymous with financial gain, environmental progress and energy independence.

The proof is in the numbers.

According to a poll by Applied Materials, over one-fourth, or 27% of Americans surveyed, would consider installing home solar panels on their rooftops.

And the reason is largely financial. Of the same respondents, 65% cited government incentives as their primary motivation, while 54% specified increased home values.

So how does a growing acceptance of solar power impact costs? As you might expect, it makes them more affordable than ever.

In fact, the cost per watt of solar has fallen from $4 to $1 since 2008. That’s a dollar per year decrease. Grid parity, says the experts, is coming faster than we could have anticipated.

And with the explosion of solar power start-up companies, we’ve seen all sorts of new business models that make solar accessible to the public.

Companies like SunRun Home, for example, offer solar financing options that eliminate the huge up-front cost of your system.

Solar leasing typically requires that you pay a low monthly fee, but because you don’t own the panels outright, the company will monitor, insure and maintain your system for the length of the contract (about 18-20 years).

Group buying, another option for those that lack cash up-front, allows you to co-purchase a large solar system with your neighborhood and share collectively in the savings.

Of course, not every home is right for solar panels. It’s best to get an assessment to ensure your rooftop receives adequate sunlight, and that your energy bill is high enough to benefit from the installation.

But with the tides turning in favor of solar, more opportunities are sure to make their entrance.

What about you? Would you consider installing panels on your home?

Let us know in the comments!

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Brittany Mauriss is an editor and solar expert at GreenMarketing.TV, the green entrepreneur’s source for start-up ideas and insightful interviews with the industry’s top thinkers. She also blogs over at EntrepreneursforaChange.com.