If you can afford to pay your electricity bill, you can afford to go solar. $0-down solar financing options, including both solar loans and solar leases, make it easy for homeowners with good credit to start saving on their electricity bills by going solar. You can quickly find Solar installers and financing options by answering a couple of questions on the SolarSesame marketplace.

There are three solar financing options: you can purchase your system in cash, take out a solar loan to buy your system, or sign a solar lease/power purchase agreement (PPA). Homeowners save money starting form month 1 even when they take out a loan to finance the solar panels. Cost of financing has significantly dropped and you can finance your solar panels for as low as 0.99% APR with no upfront payment.

Solar rebates and incentives vary depending on where you live. The most significant is the 26 percent federal investment tax credit (ITC), which allows you to deduct 26 percent of the cost of your solar energy system from your taxes. Some states offer additional tax credits, and certain municipalities and utilities also offer cash rebates or other incentives. You can check the incentives available in your state by checking our Solar Incentives page.

Unless your solar energy system includes battery storage and you are fully off the grid, you will still receive a bill from your utility. However, you can dramatically reduce your bill, or even cut the amount you owe to $0, with a solar panel system that matches your energy use.

The size of your solar energy system will depend on how much electricity you use on a monthly basis, as well as the weather conditions where you live. Take a look at your past electricity bills and use SolarSesame’s free calculator to determine the best system size for your needs.

Solar power systems that include solar batteries, known as solar-plus-storage, are increasingly popular, but can be pricey. Luckily, batteries are not necessary for most solar homeowners. As long as you are connected to the grid, your system does not need a battery: excess power goes back into the grid, and you can draw from the grid if you need more electricity than your panels can generate.

Solar panel systems are made of durable tempered glass and require little to no maintenance for the life of the panel. If something does go wrong, most equipment manufacturers include warranties. With regular maintenance, your system should continue to generate electricity for 25 to 35 years. Maintenance is usually covered by your contract.

Depending on where you live, shingled roofs can last up to 30 years. Foam roofing will last anywhere from 15-25 years, and tile roofs can last up to 50 years. If your existing roof is nearing the end of its lifespan or needs maintenance, it makes sense to repair or replace it before installing solar. Since solar energy systems are designed to last for 25 to 35 years, it can be costly to remove your solar panels and reinstall them to repair or replace your roof.

When you install solar panels on your property, you will still be connected to the grid. This allows you to draw from the grid when your system is not producing all of the power that you need, and send power back to the grid when you produce more than you use. It is possible to go off the grid with a solar energy system that includes battery storage, but it will cost significantly more and is unnecessary for most of homeowners.