More Fairfax County residents are opting to install solar panels on their homes. Press play to hear from them how they made the switch and how it changed their lives for the better!

Solar energy uses a renewable energy source – the sun! In addition to reducing your electricity bill, using solar energy reduces your environmental impact and Fairfax County’s carbon footprint. You will also help reduce demand on the electricity grid during peak, sunny hours. Plus, installing solar panels can increase the value of your home. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, every dollar that a solar panel saves you on your electrical bills increases the value of your home by $20.

The first step in getting solar is assessing whether your home or building is a good candidate. A few questions to ask when considering going solar:

• Is your roof shaded by trees or other obstacles? Direct sunlight for six or more hours a day is ideal.
• Is your roof relatively new? Solar installations can last 20-25 years, so your roof should be less than five years old.
• What direction does your roof primarily face? Solar arrays can be configured in many different ways to allow for maximum exposure to sunlight throughout the day but ideally your roof should face south or west for the most exposure.

You can investigate your property’s solar potential by visiting the Northern Virginia Regional Commission's NOVA Solar Map. You can also estimate the performance of potential solar projects using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PVWatts Calculator.

Certified solar installers can be found through the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners®. Visit the county's Consumer Services webpage for general tips about hiring a contractor. 

By going through a solar co-op purchasing program, homeowners are granted access to a pre-qualified solar installer for a no-cost evaluation of their property and can take advantage of cost savings should they decide to pursue a solar installation. More information on solar co-op purchasing programs can be found below.

Your electricity bill is based on how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity you use. Most homes use between 800 kWh and 1,500 kWh each month depending on weather, home size, energy efficiency and how many electric appliances are used.

The price of solar electricity is typically expressed in terms of dollars per watt of installed power. Typical pricing for residential systems is in the range of $2.50 to $4.00 per watt, depending on the size and market economics. A 5 kilowatt (5 kW) solar system will produce about 8,000 kWh of electricity per year. At $3 per watt, that system would cost about $15,000 to install. 

By reducing electricity costs and taking advantage of tax incentives,  the $15,000 investment can pay for itself in about 10-15 years.

Residential solar panels can be purchased outright or financed with a loan from a solar installer, bank, or other financial institution.

Solar group purchasing programs make getting solar easier and less expensive by providing information and benefits to participants. These programs typically offer:

• A free assessment to find out whether your home is a good candidate for solar installation 
• Bulk discounts on solar systems, ranging from 10 to 15 percent off 
• Access to a qualified solar installer 
• Discounted opportunities to bundle your solar system with electric vehicle charging stations and solar battery storage 

Additionally, some programs offer participants a complimentary, virtual home energy assessment to help improve their home energy performance holistically. Those who decide to pursue solar through a group purchasing program typically receive a 10 to 15 percent discount off current consumer rates for solar arrays and systems. 

Solarize Virginia: This program is run by the Virginia nonprofit Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP-VA). Since 2014, 930 solar systems have been installed in Northern Virginia through the Solarize program. More information is available at the Solarize Virginia website.

Solar Switch: This program is run by the national nonprofit Solar United Neighbors (SUN) and is available to people living in and around the DC area. More information is available at the Solar Switch website.

Under Virginia state law (§56-594), residential customers may install systems up to 20 kilowatts and non-residential customers may install systems up to 500 kilowatts. Electric utilities must credit solar panel owners for excess electricity generated through something called "net metering." Your solar contractor should coordinate with your electric utility to replace your standard meter with a net meter after your panels are installed. The net meter is bi-directional, tracking electrons flowing both out of and into the grid. 

Under Virginia state law (§55.1-1820.1), homeowner associations (HOAs) typically cannot prohibit solar installations. However, the law allows "reasonable restrictions concerning the size, place, and manner of placement." For more information refer to this Solarize webpage or talk to your solar installer. 

Under Virginia state law (§55-353), property owners can form solar easements with their neighbors. A solar easement enables you and a neighbor to voluntarily form an agreement under which the neighbor will not shade your property. The easement then applies to later owners of the neighboring property.

Solar panels are permitted accessory structures on all developed properties in Fairfax County provided that they serve the property and are subordinate in purpose, area and extent to the building or use served. For more information, refer to the last entry on the Department of Planning and Zoning's FAQ page.