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Go Solar

Summary: Solar PV with Sunbug and Boston Solar

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Solar power installed on your roof, on your property, or connected to a community solar project can save you money on your energy bills. When paired with a battery, it can provide you power in the event of the grid being offline. 

You can begin exploring the answers to these questions in our Deep Dive. Our Energy Navigators can help you with the solar process, including helping you to understand the available rebates, tax credits, and financing options, and finding local contractors. 

Deep Dive

How do solar panels work?

Solar panels are sets of photovoltaic cells that absorb energy from sunlight, and in turn create electrical charges that move in response to the cell’s internal electrical field. Photovoltaic panels are grouped in fixed arrays or on trackers that tilt to follow the sun. 

Read more about photovoltaic cells using the Department of Energy’s guide. 

Check out this video to learn about the inner workings of solar cells. 

What type of solar panel is best for my home?

When choosing which type of solar panel to invest in, it is important to consider a few factors: 

Monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or thin-film?

Monocrystalline panels are the most efficient and generally the highest quality, but can be the most expensive. They are constructed from singular crystals of silicone, and the scraps are then used to make polycrystalline solar cells. Their efficiency is around 26%. If you have a limited amount of space, monocrystalline panels are the best option. 

Polycrystalline panels can be more cost-effective but are less efficient. They are made from silicon fragments, hence their lower cost. Their efficiency is around 22%.

Thin-film panels are the least expensive, and are portable and flexible. They are less efficient, but are the most resilient and best suited for RVs and irregular roofs. Their efficiency varies from 13.6% to 22% based on the specific type (amorphous silicon, CdTe, and CIGS). They are a common choice for community solar systems.

These efficiencies were determined by a study on solar cell material. Read the article here. 

Tracking or fixed?

Tracking solar panels allow solar panels to generate more electricity. As a result, fewer panels are required for a system with a tracker. However, they are costly, require more maintenance, and can only be used with ground-mounted arrays. 

Fixed arrays are more common for home solar arrays, because of their lower cost and maintenance requirements. Instead of paying more upfront for a tracker, it might make more sense for you to pay for more panels instead of a tracker.

Read more about the pros and cons of trackers, and the different types of trackers here.

How long do they last and how much maintenance do they require?

Solar panels are relatively low-maintenance, and although it isn’t essential, cleaning 1-2 times per year can ensure optimal performance. During the winter, it could be worth installing a snow melter to clear snow, but most people choose to write off production in December and January. 

Read more about solar panels in the snow here. 

Is my home good for solar?

Is it too shady?

How much energy your home could generate and how much money you can save from going solar depends on how shaded your home is. Google has developed a tool called Project Sunroof, which uses Google Earth imaging to analyze your roof shape, tree cover, and local weather patterns. Using this information and accounting for financial incentives, the tool estimates your potential savings from switching to solar.

Is my roof ready for solar? 

Before installing solar panels on your roof, it is important to ensure that your roof is in good condition and doesn’t need to be replaced soon, because solar panels can last 30-35 years. Solar panels can be installed on any type of roof, but roofing materials like wood and tile are more brittle, which could lead to higher installation costs. Standing seam metal roofs have a lifespan longer than solar panels, and the panels can easily be attached without penetrating the roof.

Roofs angled at a 15-40° pitch facing within 15 degrees  of south are usually best for solar, but east and west facing can work, too. Proper orientation and angle will help you get the most out of your array. 

If you decide that your home is not well suited for solar, it is worth considering buying into a community solar project. 

What is community solar?

Community solar consists of solar projects that send energy to multiple customers via an off-site solar array. Community solar subscribers pay a monthly subscription fee in exchange for a share of the electricity generated by the project. Just like with home solar projects, community solar can generate excess, in which case a local utility will purchase that energy and send energy credits to subscribers. 

Community solar is a good option if you are a renter, can’t afford your own solar panels, or live in a place that is poorly suited for solar.

As of June 2024, Vermont had 30 community solar projects, two of which are located in Addison County. Check out the community solar dataset here. 

Read the Department of Energy’s guide to community solar here. 

How does energy buyback work? What is net metering?

About 20-40% of the energy produced by solar panels is excess. When this happens, net metering allows you to use the energy you need, and exchange the rest back to your power utility for energy credits. For example, at night or on a cloudy day, energy credits can be used to power the home. A bidirectional meter measures how much energy is being supplied and generated. Net metering significantly reduces electricity bills for individual households and enhances the stability of the grid as a whole by balancing supply and demand. 

Read more about the benefits of net metering here. 

Because solar is relatively popular in Vermont, power companies are reaching their net metering capacity in some areas. However, Green Mountain Power has said it will continue to accept net metering applications. Some areas of Addison County, namely Ferrisburgh, Monkton, Starksboro, Goshen, Leicester and parts of Middlebury and Salisbury are further from capacity, and are well suited for net metering. 

Check out the map of Vermont’s net metering capacity here.  

And read Vermont’s net metering policy here.

Do I need a battery backup system?

A battery allows you to store some of the excess energy your solar panels create if you don’t want to sell it back to the grid. In case of the grid going down, you will still have power. Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular type of battery on the market. The average cost of a battery system for a residential battery system can range from $7,000-14,000. Since they are so costly, batteries are typically only a good choice for utilities with demand charges, time-of-use rates, or ones that don’t offer net-metering. Green Mountain Power (GMP) offers battery rental programs for a monthly fee. GMP may draw power from the battery at peak load periods, replacing it later, usually in the middle of the night when loads are lower. 

Read this guide to learn more about why a battery may, or may not make sense for you. 

Sources referenced: 

Steps to Take

Deciding whether and what kind of solar power is right for you takes a bit of work. Here are the steps: 

  1. Research what kind of solar is right for you. Rooftop? Free standing? Community? 
  2. Make sure your roof structure is up to the task. 
  3. Determine whether or not you need to upgrade your electrical panel.
  4. Decide if you want to include a battery along with your solar panels. 
  5. Research the financing and rebate options, as well as the contracts with your utility that are available. 
  6. Find contractors and get quotes.
  7. Install your panels, save your receipts and take pictures for proof, so that you can be eligible for rebates and tax credits. 
  8. Share your solar story as a testimonial to help your neighbors understand the advantages (and challenges) of solar panels. (You’ll need to create an account on the Energy Navigators website to do so).


Our Energy Navigators can help walk you through this process. 

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