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Renewable Energy How Do I Begin? First If you are a condo or a co-op you should clear any decisions with your homeowners association. Ask if there are any covenants that restrict, or require an approval process for solar or wind systems before you commit to a site assessment. Use this site to locate Federal, state and local utility rebates and incentive programs for your project. Some utilities will have a list of preferred vendors and will share the cost. Check there before you call for an assessor. Go to http://www.dsireusa.org/ for incentives in your area. Check to see what programs they will finance/rebate in your area. Read the article Rebate and Tax Incentive Programs for Federal as well as local incentives Often, there will be multiple programs providing incentives using Federal and local agencies. Maximize your savings by choosing the best energy efficiency incentives for the best of the assessor's recommendations. Contact your insurance agent. What, if any, renewable energy system are covered by your homeowners liability insurance policy. What is the process and additional cost of adding a particular system to your policy cost? Are there any systems not covered? You certainly wouldn’t want to choose an expensive system that isnt protected. Then get a site assessment. The best way to find out what renewable energy source for your location is to have a site assessment. A renewable energy professional can evaluate your energy needs and make recommendations for site specific renewable systems. You wouldnt install wind turbines without assessing the power and consistency of available wind. The assessment will provide a general cost estimate for purchase and installation. Call a Contractor and a get estimates Your best source for a reputable contractor may be word of mouth. A happy customer is a fact on the ground. You may check our contractor directory as an alternative source. The Yellow Pages can also help you to find a contractor near you. A good contractor will also help you with material, costs and necessary permits. Please see our How to hire a contractor which will help you find a good contractor and really check them out. By the way, always get two or three bids and use our helpful process. It can save you a ton of grief and money. Estimates should include the cost of hardware, shipping, installation and any connection fees to the utility grid, travel time and sales tax. Many people consider installing their own system. Unless you have specific experience with product and installation, you should hire a professional. Check zoning, utility requirements, Insurance and permit needs and any community requirements. The energy system installation must comply with the zoning and building codes of your State, City or county it is installed. Permits may not be needed until you are ready to do the work. Many installers may even get the permits for you. If you want to connect your renewable energy system to your utility grid, contact your electric utility for any paper process or regulations you may need to follow before you commit to buying/installing an energy saving system. Be sure your choice is compatible with local law and utility regulations. Many utilities are required to connect a renewable energy, electric-generating installation to its utility system, business or organization. Need financing? There are several places to turn for funding your renewable energy system. Financing for a renewable energy might come from a home equity loan or a capital improvement loan if it's a commercial project. You can contact Federal or State programs links ( Go to our article Rebate and Tax Incentive Programs to find out about financial incentives offered in your state. ) on this site to see whether your project qualifies for a Cash-Back Reward, grant, or low-interest rate loan to help you recover costs. Be sure to research and apply for any incentives before purchasing equipment or signing a contract with an installer. Certain systems may not be included and certain systems may have better incentives. Doing this first can help you make the best decision for yourself. Some states allow for a property tax exemption for renewable energy equipment, so your renewable energy system will not affect your property tax bill. The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy. To access information, state by state, link to http://www.dsireusa.org/ . Learn how to maintain your system — safely. Ask your installer how to maintain your system properly. Read all written materials provided by the manufacturer. Keep an eye on meters and utility bills to be sure your system is functioning. You should see significant savings. You might also ask your installer if you should perform simple troubleshooting or maintenance. It's a good idea to learn basic safety procedures, like how to shut down the system in emergencies. Floods, fires or earthquakes that could damage the system; and how to power back.
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