The sun comes up every day, folks, and that’s exactly why solar power is such a reliable, renewable, and clean way to light up our lives. It helps us cut back on the dirty stuff like oil, coal, and natural gas that not only mess with our health but our beautiful planet, too.
Back in 2020, ShopSolar kicked off the ‘self-served solar’ model, and ever since, we’ve been pushing hard to make sure our planet runs on the sun, offering Americans energy that’s not just clean but also affordable and reliable. Investing in residential solar isn’t just good for now—it’s a step towards a sustainable future, conserving resources and protecting our world.
Plus, let’s talk about getting bang for your buck—solar panels and home batteries are not just more wallet-friendly these days, they’re also more robust, efficient, and a real peace-of-minder during power outages or when Mother Nature throws a curveball. Unlike the unpredictable costs from your utility company, ShopSolar gives you stable, affordable rates for 20 to 25 years. With home solar, you’re in charge of your energy future.
There are quite a few factors that play into how well your home can take advantage of solar power. Things like your home’s location, the slant of your roof, how much shade covers your house during the day, and even the age of your roof all matter.
Charlie and our humans aka our solar reps are here to help you figure out if your home is ready for solar right now. We use our Ai-driven solar design tech, to do a tailored analysis of your property and really get a handle on your energy needs.
Every home is unique. When you’re figuring out how many solar panels you need, think about these questions:
First off, how much power do you need? Take a look at your electric bills to see your yearly kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage. We can dive into this together during your free solar consultation to pinpoint exactly how much juice your panels will need to crank out.
What’s the weather like where you live? The amount of panels you’ll need hinges on how sunny it is around your place.
And how much direct sunlight does your roof get? Things like shading, the direction your roof faces, and any personal style choices can affect the size of the system you’ll need.
Here at ShopSolar, we’ve got some sharp AI-driven solar design technology that helps us tailor a system that pumps out energy more efficiently and quickly than the old manual way.
Knowing how much electricity you’ve used in the past helps us design a solar system that’s just the right fit for your home.
Electricity usage can really vary from one household to another, and even from season to season. That’s why Charlie asks for a monthly average of a full year of your electricity usage—it lets us build a system that truly matches your needs.
Charlie is all set to estimate a year’s worth of your usage data to get the complete picture. Since energy use can swing with the seasons, we take a close look at 12 months of data to really understand your home’s energy patterns and requirements.
Charlie tailors your home solar system by considering your past electricity usage, the available roof space, and your design preferences to ensure the system fits your home and lifestyle perfectly.
We kick things off by calculating your historical usage to design a solar system that delivers just the right amount of power based on your typical consumption.
Next, we use satellite imagery to check out your roof and figure out how many panels can fit on each section, keeping in mind that south-facing roofs catch the most sun.
We then confirm our measurements and system design with a site survey—this means we’ll pop by your home to inspect the roof and your main electrical panel personally.
Once everything’s checked, we’ll touch base with you to finalize the design, so you know exactly what your setup will look like and the amount of electricity you can expect from your solar system.
If you’re curious about the efficiency of your panels or want to see what the equipment will look like on your home, feel free to chat with a customer service rep.
After switching to solar, you won’t see a difference in how your home runs. Your lights, appliances, TVs, and everything else that uses electricity will work just like they always have.
The main change you’ll notice after going solar is how you pay for your power. You’ll still get a monthly bill from your utility company. If you financed your system, you’ll have two separate bills to handle.
The amount of energy you’ll need to buy from your utility depends on your solar system’s size and your actual electricity usage.
Remember, your utility bill might change month to month due to weather and seasonal shifts, but with ShopSolar, you’ll always know exactly what you owe for the length of our agreement.
Check out where ShopSolar operates and discover what solar incentives might be up for grabs in your state. Common perks include state tax credits, net metering, and rebates from your local utility. Plus, no matter where you’re located in the U.S., you’ll qualify for the federal solar tax credit when you buy your own solar system.
Installing a home solar system is just like any other upgrade—it can bump up your home’s value and make it more attractive to potential buyers. A study from 2019 found that, on average, homes with solar panels fetch about 4.1% more than those without. So, going solar isn’t just good for the planet—it’s great for your property’s market value too.
Source: zillow.com
From the moment you start designing your system to installation and throughout its lifetime, ShopSolar pairs you with the perfect expert to guide you every step of the way.
Our crew does all the final design work to tailor your solar setup. After that, a project coordinator, who knows your region inside out, will take over to smoothly steer the rest of the process.
Once your system is up and buzzing, our customer care team will be on standby to help with any questions or issues you might have.
Just remember, there’s a whole team working behind the scenes to ensure your solar panels are squeezing every bit of power from the sun — both now and for years to come.
Once we’ve got your system design dialed in and all the necessary approvals in hand, it’s time to get those solar panels up on your roof.
Our local installation teams are top-notch—experienced and efficient. Often, they can get the whole job done in just one day. Here’s what you can expect on installation day:
Step 1 – Crew Arrival and Preparation: First off, we introduce ourselves and lay out where we’ll be working and parking.
Step 2 – Review System Design and Equipment Location: Your foreman will go over the plans with you to confirm the equipment and where everything will be set up.
Step 3 – System Installation: While the crew gets the solar panels and wiring in place up on your roof, the foreman will handle the inverter and other electrical equipment.
Step 4 – Crew Clean Up: As we wrap up, we’ll clean up the site, making sure we leave your property just as we found it.
Step 5 – Final Walk-Through: Once everything’s installed, your foreman will show you how your new home solar system works and how to turn it on.
Since ShopSolar home solar systems are mounted on the roof, we do need to drill holes to securely anchor the racking equipment for the panels during installation. But don’t worry—every hole we drill is made watertight and is backed by a workmanship warranty to ensure there are no leaks.
Here’s a little-known perk: once those solar panels are up, they actually protect the covered sections of your roof from everyday weathering, which can help increase its longevity. It’s like getting an energy boost and a roof shield all in one!
Every home is a bit different, so the equipment we install might vary from one place to another. Generally, here’s what you’ll see when we set up your solar system:
1) Solar Panels: These guys take sunlight and turn it into direct current electricity (DC). It’s the first big step in powering your home with solar.
2) Inverter: Think of your inverter as the manager for all that energy—it directs where the energy should go and switches it into alternating current electricity (AC), which is what your home uses.
3) Inverter Meter: This is how we keep tabs on your solar production. The inverter meter makes sure your system is pumping out as much energy as possible.
Now, there are a couple of pieces of gear you probably already have that’ll connect to your new solar setup:
4) Main Electrical Panel: Also known as your ‘Fuse Box,’ this panel spreads the AC electricity throughout your home.
5) Utility Meter: Even with solar, there are times—like on cloudy days, during winter, or at night—when you’ll need energy from the grid. Your utility meter tracks how much energy you pull from and send back to the grid.
Getting a solar system installed on your roof can be a pretty quick affair—many installations wrap up in just one day.
But before our crew shows up, we spend a few weeks getting everything lined up so your installation day goes off without a hitch. We handle most of the heavy lifting and keep you in the loop every step of the way. Here’s what we do:
- Conduct a site survey: We’ll take a good look at your roof, attic, and electrical panel.
- Finalize your custom design: We tailor everything to fit your home perfectly.
- Handle the paperwork: We apply for permits, wait for approvals, and gather any other docs needed, like HOA approvals, specific to your area.
When it’s time to get started, we’ll let you know exactly what to expect on installation day, how long it’ll take, and how you can get your home ready for the big day.
Every homeowners association (HOA) has its own way of doing things. It’s smart to touch base with your HOA early on to understand their process for approving solar installations. Just let your project coordinator know what’s up, and they’ll handle as much of the paperwork as they can for you.
When we flip the switch on your solar system, your home will start drawing power directly from the sun, all produced right atop your roof.
You can keep tabs on your solar energy production through an app we’ll provide.
If you’re on a monthly billing plan, expect your first bill about 30 days after your system gets the go-ahead to power up.
A home solar system is a nifty setup of components that work together to turn sunlight into energy for your lights, appliances, and gadgets.
Solar Panels These are made of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into direct current electricity (DC electricity). Whenever the sun’s rays hit your roof, your panels are busy converting solar radiation into DC electricity. Even on cloudy days, your panels can churn out 10% to 25% of their usual power. But hold on, that electricity isn’t quite ready for use. You’ll need an inverter to transform it into the kind of power that lights up your home.
Inverter The inverter’s job is to take that DC electricity from your solar panels and turn it into alternating current electricity (AC electricity), the type your home uses. It’s usually installed on an exterior wall of your house or in the garage.
Main Electric Service Panel From the inverter, the solar electricity flows to your electrical panel, then zips around your home to power your lights and appliances. If your panels generate more energy than you need, the surplus will head over to the utility grid. And guess what? You might even get energy credits from your utility company for the extra power you feed back.
Inverter Meter This handy device keeps an eye on how much energy your system is producing and sends updates to us via a wireless signal. It monitors your energy production around the clock and lets us know if something’s off. This means we can keep your system in top shape, and you won’t have to worry about a thing.
Utility Meter When your system produces surplus energy, it’s sold back to your utility, helping reduce your monthly electric bill. And if you need more energy than what your system can provide, your home will automatically draw what it needs from your utility. Your utility meter tracks all this energy to and fro, making sure everything’s balanced.
Every home is a bit different, so the equipment we install might vary from one place to another. Generally, here’s what you’ll see when we set up your solar system:
1) Solar Panels: These guys take sunlight and turn it into direct current electricity (DC). It’s the first big step in powering your home with solar.
2) Inverter: Think of your inverter as the manager for all that energy—it directs where the energy should go and switches it into alternating current electricity (AC), which is what your home uses.
3) Inverter Meter: This is how we keep tabs on your solar production. The inverter meter makes sure your system is pumping out as much energy as possible.
Now, there are a couple of pieces of gear you probably already have that’ll connect to your new solar setup:
4) Main Electrical Panel: Also known as your ‘Fuse Box,’ this panel spreads the AC electricity throughout your home.
5) Utility Meter: Even with solar, there are times—like on cloudy days, during winter, or at night—when you’ll need energy from the grid. Your utility meter tracks how much energy you pull from and send back to the grid.
We can’t tack on extra solar panels to an existing system, but if you qualify, ShopSolar can set you up with a second home solar system under a new agreement. If you’re interested in expanding your solar setup, just have a chat with one of our customer service reps.
Right now, our battery storage systems are only up for grabs for new ShopSolar customers. Unfortunately, we can’t set up battery storage if you’ve already got solar installed or if we don’t offer it in your area yet.
If you’re keen on getting battery storage, just let us know. You’ll be the first to hear as soon as we’ve got a solution ready. We’re constantly refining our technology to enhance your customer experience.
ShopSolar currently offers battery storage service in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey.
Depending on where you live, battery storage can be used to store backup electricity in the event of a power outage or for better control over your power costs.
It is currently available in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey for new ShopSolar customers.
Every home is a bit different, so the equipment we install might vary from one place to another. Generally, here’s what you’ll see when we set up your solar system:
1) Solar Panels: These guys take sunlight and turn it into direct current electricity (DC). It’s the first big step in powering your home with solar.
2) Inverter: Think of your inverter as the manager for all that energy—it directs where the energy should go and switches it into alternating current electricity (AC), which is what your home uses.
3) Battery
Your battery stores extra solar energy for later use, like during a power outage.
4) Inverter Meter: This is how we keep tabs on your solar production. The inverter meter makes sure your system is pumping out as much energy as possible.
5) Main Electrical Panel: Also known as your ‘Fuse Box,’ this panel spreads the AC electricity throughout your home.
6) Backup panel
Your backup panel connects your battery to the breakers you chose to backup during installation.
6) Utility Meter: Even with solar, there are times—like on cloudy days, during winter, or at night—when you’ll need energy from the grid. Your utility meter tracks how much energy you pull from and send back to the grid.
ShopSolar batteries can back up four breakers. When we install your system, we’ll help you choose what’s crucial to keep running. Most folks go for backing up their fridge, lights, wifi, and a garage door.
If the power cuts out, your battery will kick in within a few seconds to keep your essential circuits live, and it’ll keep going until the grid’s back or the battery’s juice runs dry. Typically, you can expect about 8 to 12 hours of backup energy, plus whatever extra power the sun can feed it during daylight hours. However, how long your battery lasts can vary based on a few things:
- Whether it’s day or night when the outage strikes
- The season
- What appliances and systems you’re backing up
- How much energy you’re using
The good news is, the battery will juice up again with the sunrise, readying you for even multi-day outages if they happen.
And don’t forget, you can always check your battery’s charge level to better plan your energy use and make sure you stay powered through the night.
During a power outage, your battery keeps the essentials going—like your kitchen (yes, that includes the fridge), bedroom and bathroom lights, garage door opener, and wifi. You can count on about 8 to 12 hours of backup power. Once the sun’s back up, your solar panels will start recharging your battery.
This means the most crucial rooms and appliances in your home will stay powered with your home battery until the grid’s back on its feet.
Opting for a home solar battery service in Maryland means you’ll breeze through blackouts with a clean, quiet alternative to those noisy and sometimes risky diesel generators.
Plus, your system comes with our ShopSolar Guarantee, covering all maintenance and repairs at no extra cost to you. It’s all about keeping things smooth and stress-free.
With battery storage, you’re still on the grid.
ShopSolar doesn’t offer ‘off the grid’ systems. Even with a battery, you’re still hooked up to your utility. This way, you’re covered if your panels or battery have a hiccup.
ShopSolar has dialed in your battery settings for optimal benefits.
You won’t need to fiddle with charging or discharging your battery—ShopSolar has already set it all up to maximize your environmental impact and backup benefits. Tweaking these settings manually could actually end up costing you more.
Your battery springs into action automatically during a power outage.
ShopSolar’s batteries can support four breakers. When we install your system, we’ll help you pick critical things to keep powered. Most folks choose to back up essentials like the fridge, lights, wifi, and the garage door.
Should a blackout hit, your battery will immediately start powering these selected breakers, and it’ll keep going until the grid is back online or the battery is depleted. How long your battery lasts depends on several factors:
- The time of day or night the outage occurs
- The current season
- What exactly you’re backing up
- Your overall energy consumption
Don’t worry—once the sun’s out again, your battery will recharge. This means you’re set even if the outage stretches over several days.
Maryland offers a few incentives for residential solar energy systems, including battery storage:
- Resilient Maryland Revolving Loan Fund:
This program provides low-interest loans to residential customers for installing energy storage systems. It can cover up to 100% of the costs with a $30,000 cap per project.
Maryland Energy Storage Income Tax Credit:
Although the specific income tax credit for energy storage systems expired at the end of 2022, it was a significant incentive while active. There hasn’t been an update yet on whether this program will be renewed for 2023 and beyond.
- Net Metering:
While primarily for solar PV systems, net metering in Maryland can indirectly benefit battery storage owners by allowing them to store excess solar energy generated during peak times for use during non-peak times, effectively using the grid as a battery.
- Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC):
While not specific to Maryland, the federal ITC applies to solar batteries when charged by renewable energy (like solar panels) and can reduce the cost of the solar+battery system by 30%. This incentive was extended and can provide substantial savings.
- Property Tax Exemption for Solar and Wind Energy Systems:
In Maryland, solar energy systems (including associated energy storage when installed with solar) are exempt from property tax assessments, meaning the added value of a solar system won’t increase your property taxes.
- Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Equipment:
Solar energy equipment and related devices are exempt from Maryland’s sales and use tax, which includes solar batteries when installed as part of a solar energy system.
These incentives make installing a solar battery system more affordable and attractive for Maryland residents. Always check with local installers or energy advisors to get the latest information on available incentives as policies can change.
For most homes, just one solar battery will do the trick to keep your key appliances running. If the power goes out, your battery can keep things humming for about 8 to 12 hours.
Come sunrise, your solar panels will start charging up that battery again, so you can keep your home backed up until the utility power kicks back in.
Opting for a home solar battery service in New Jersey means you’ll breeze through blackouts with a clean, quiet alternative to those noisy and sometimes risky diesel generators.
Plus, your system comes with our ShopSolar Guarantee, covering all maintenance and repairs at no extra cost to you. It’s all about keeping things smooth and stress-free.
With battery storage, you’re still on the grid.
ShopSolar doesn’t offer ‘off the grid’ systems. Even with a battery, you’re still hooked up to your utility. This way, you’re covered if your panels or battery have a hiccup.
ShopSolar has dialed in your battery settings for optimal benefits.
You won’t need to fiddle with charging or discharging your battery—ShopSolar has already set it all up to maximize your environmental impact and backup benefits. Tweaking these settings manually could actually end up costing you more.
Your battery springs into action automatically during a power outage.
ShopSolar’s batteries can support four breakers. When we install your system, we’ll help you pick critical things to keep powered. Most folks choose to back up essentials like the fridge, lights, wifi, and the garage door.
Should a blackout hit, your battery will immediately start powering these selected breakers, and it’ll keep going until the grid is back online or the battery is depleted. How long your battery lasts depends on several factors:
- The time of day or night the outage occurs
- The current season
- What exactly you’re backing up
- Your overall energy consumption
Don’t worry—once the sun’s out again, your battery will recharge. This means you’re set even if the outage stretches over several days.
New Jersey’s biggest solar storage incentive is the federal solar tax credit offered to homeowners who purchase their system.
The federal solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for residential solar systems is set at 30% through 2032. This tax credit allows homeowners to deduct 30% of the cost of installing a solar energy system from their federal taxes, with no upper limit. The ITC was extended at this rate as part of the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law in August 2022. This extension provides significant ongoing support for residential solar installations.
For most homes, just one solar battery will do the trick to keep your key appliances running. If the power goes out, your battery can keep things humming for about 8 to 12 hours.
Come sunrise, your solar panels will start charging up that battery again, so you can keep your home backed up until the utility power kicks back in.