Chic vs. Geek: Why go solar?

After watching massive power grid failures during the recent Texas winter storms, we’re considering adding solar panels to our home. What are some of the pros and cons?

CHIC (PEARL)

Going solar can make your home more energy efficient and independent, but it’s important to plan ahead and make sure it’s the right fit financially and feasibly. There are big costs up front for installation — which means getting a loan — and some homes just aren’t built to support the number of panels you need to reach 100% energy independence. I recommend following these simple steps to see if solar makes sense for you before taking the leap.

GEEK (KEVIN)

The dollars and cents of going solar are a lot easier now with tax credits and the ability to sell excess energy back to PG&E (aka net metering). But those incentives could be gone soon, so now is the time to make the leap. Just be sure to get all the facts first. We recently helped some buyers make an offer on a home, but we had to do it under contingency because the seller’s disclosure didn’t have enough information about the solar panels.