<commit_before>---
layout: post
title: Running on Sunshine
---

You can learn everything about installing solar PV panels from other sources. And you definitely should do that. I just thought I'd write about my experience all in one place. Maybe something here will answer a question you have or inspire you to look into the possibility yourself. 

## Background ##
I have wanted to install solar for several years ever since I started learning about the effects of climate change around 2006 or 2007. It just made sense to me and I wanted to make a difference. But I put it off. The prices were always coming down but it was still too expensive up front for me. Also I was living in a smaller townhouse and I knew I wouldn't be there forever. So I put it off. We moved into a single family home in the summer of 2010. One great thing about this house is that it faces almost due south and has no obstructions around the roof. Great for solar. But I still put it off.

## Getting Estimates ##
Just like any home improvement project you should get multiple estimates. I did that as well. But I did it over several years. Fortunately I met several solar installers through local organizations I became involved with. I asked a lot of questions. I had known the installer I chose for a while. The company is a small local business. And the owner took a lot of time answering my many questions over the last couple years. He thinks I now know more about solar than most of his customers. That might be true if I could only remember all the answers.

You should have no trouble finding installers in your area with a quick search online. Like finding any other contractor, do your homework. Don't necessarily go with the cheapest company. Check references and any complaints with the BBB and other online sites.

Definitely check out [One Block Off The Grid](http://1bog.org). They can hook you up with estimates from a few companies. But they don't deal with every company out there so check if there are some smaller companies local to you. It's always good to support local small businesses.

Ask about what equipment each company uses. Some solar panels have higher quality than others. You might want to stick with a better known brand. Most have a 25 year warranty but you don't want to pick a company they might not be around anymore. 

## Finally Pulling the Trigger ##
Took me long enough. Spring of 2013. There were three things that finally got me motivated to finally go ahead with the installation. 

First, my utility, Dominion Virginia Power, was implementing a pilot Solar Purchase Program and it sounded really good. They were going to pay for all of the solar electricity produced at a higher rate than the rate at which we would buy electricity. Now we could break even a lot sooner. And we wouldn't have to worry about producing more electricity than we used because we would be paid for it. But in the end, at the last minute actually, I decided not to participate in the program. After talking to some other people I found there were downsides beside the fact that the utility still didn't seem to have their act together on this program. The rate they would pay us just wasn't high enough. I learned many people complained about this when they first introduced the idea. And the money they would pay us would be taxed, probably as regular income. It would have wiped out most of the benefit. I decided to go with regular [net metering] (http://www.seia.org/policy/distributed-solar/net-metering) instead. If something better comes along later, great! 

Second was the worry that prices might not stay as low as they were at the time and that the federal incentives may go away. Of course now I know the prices did not go back up. But at the time the signs were pointing to a possible increase. I had already missed an opportunity for a really good deal a couple years before. I didn't want to make the same mistake again.

Third, when I got the most recent estimate, my installer told me there was a sale until the end of the month that would save me a little more money.

## The HOA Fight ##
My community is relatively new. I think the first residents moved in around 2007 or 2008. And it's small, about 200 homes. The community standards guide didn't mention solar at all. So I put in an application. I expected to get an approval fairly quickly like my other change applications. But since my house faces south, the panels would be on the front of my house. The board took a long time to make a decision delaying the installation by a few weeks. They were checking with their lawyers about whether they could say no or if they could ask me to move the panels. They had a lot of other more minor questions like "Could the panels be painted?".

[![P1030826.JPG](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mikefeldmangh/mikefeldmangh.github.io/master/images/P1030826.jpg)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mikefeldmangh/mikefeldmangh.github.io/master/images/P1030826.jpg)
*All of the equipment in my garage waiting for HOA approval*

My installer and I were under the impression that the HOA could not prohibit me from installing solar panels because of Virginia code about [covenants regarding solar power](http://vacode.org/67-701/).<commit_msg>Fix image extension.<commit_after>---
layout: post
title: Running on Sunshine
---

You can learn everything about installing solar PV panels from other sources. And you definitely should do that. I just thought I'd write about my experience all in one place. Maybe something here will answer a question you have or inspire you to look into the possibility yourself. 

## Background ##
I have wanted to install solar for several years ever since I started learning about the effects of climate change around 2006 or 2007. It just made sense to me and I wanted to make a difference. But I put it off. The prices were always coming down but it was still too expensive up front for me. Also I was living in a smaller townhouse and I knew I wouldn't be there forever. So I put it off. We moved into a single family home in the summer of 2010. One great thing about this house is that it faces almost due south and has no obstructions around the roof. Great for solar. But I still put it off.

## Getting Estimates ##
Just like any home improvement project you should get multiple estimates. I did that as well. But I did it over several years. Fortunately I met several solar installers through local organizations I became involved with. I asked a lot of questions. I had known the installer I chose for a while. The company is a small local business. And the owner took a lot of time answering my many questions over the last couple years. He thinks I now know more about solar than most of his customers. That might be true if I could only remember all the answers.

You should have no trouble finding installers in your area with a quick search online. Like finding any other contractor, do your homework. Don't necessarily go with the cheapest company. Check references and any complaints with the BBB and other online sites.

Definitely check out [One Block Off The Grid](http://1bog.org). They can hook you up with estimates from a few companies. But they don't deal with every company out there so check if there are some smaller companies local to you. It's always good to support local small businesses.

Ask about what equipment each company uses. Some solar panels have higher quality than others. You might want to stick with a better known brand. Most have a 25 year warranty but you don't want to pick a company they might not be around anymore. 

## Finally Pulling the Trigger ##
Took me long enough. Spring of 2013. There were three things that finally got me motivated to finally go ahead with the installation. 

First, my utility, Dominion Virginia Power, was implementing a pilot Solar Purchase Program and it sounded really good. They were going to pay for all of the solar electricity produced at a higher rate than the rate at which we would buy electricity. Now we could break even a lot sooner. And we wouldn't have to worry about producing more electricity than we used because we would be paid for it. But in the end, at the last minute actually, I decided not to participate in the program. After talking to some other people I found there were downsides beside the fact that the utility still didn't seem to have their act together on this program. The rate they would pay us just wasn't high enough. I learned many people complained about this when they first introduced the idea. And the money they would pay us would be taxed, probably as regular income. It would have wiped out most of the benefit. I decided to go with regular [net metering] (http://www.seia.org/policy/distributed-solar/net-metering) instead. If something better comes along later, great! 

Second was the worry that prices might not stay as low as they were at the time and that the federal incentives may go away. Of course now I know the prices did not go back up. But at the time the signs were pointing to a possible increase. I had already missed an opportunity for a really good deal a couple years before. I didn't want to make the same mistake again.

Third, when I got the most recent estimate, my installer told me there was a sale until the end of the month that would save me a little more money.

## The HOA Fight ##
My community is relatively new. I think the first residents moved in around 2007 or 2008. And it's small, about 200 homes. The community standards guide didn't mention solar at all. So I put in an application. I expected to get an approval fairly quickly like my other change applications. But since my house faces south, the panels would be on the front of my house. The board took a long time to make a decision delaying the installation by a few weeks. They were checking with their lawyers about whether they could say no or if they could ask me to move the panels. They had a lot of other more minor questions like "Could the panels be painted?".

[![P1030826.JPG](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mikefeldmangh/mikefeldmangh.github.io/master/images/P1030826.JPG)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mikefeldmangh/mikefeldmangh.github.io/master/images/P1030826.JPG)
*All of the equipment in my garage waiting for HOA approval*

My installer and I were under the impression that the HOA could not prohibit me from installing solar panels because of Virginia code about [covenants regarding solar power](http://vacode.org/67-701/).
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