Transitioning to a Clean Energy Home: A Comprehensive Guide

Renewable energy is more accessible than ever for homeowners in the US.

Today, you can reduce your home's fossil fuel consumption, increase its energy efficiency, and even reduce your monthly electricity bills with the help of renewable power sources, like solar.

In this quick guide, we break down what it takes to live in a clean-energy home and detail how solar panels can reduce your carbon footprint and save money on long-term electricity costs.

Understanding the Shift to Clean Energy

When someone says “clean energy" or "clean electricity," they generally mean any renewable energy source that does not produce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For this reason, coal-fired power plants, natural gas, and other fossil fuels are not considered clean electricity sources.

Solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric are among the world's most popular and fastest-growing clean energy sources. All across the planet, the shift to clean energy is part of a push to reduce carbon emissions and avoid the worst effects of climate change, improve air quality, and fortify electricity supplies.

How to Create Your Clean Energy Home

Renewable energy systems on your property can help offset local GHG emissions from grid-supplied power, benefiting your community and reducing your electricity bills.

There are two key steps to jump into your clean energy future at home: evaluation and action.

Step 1: Evaluate your home's energy profile

Whether you are building a new residence or making improvements to an existing property, you should evaluate your home's energy profile to find opportunities for adopting clean electricity and energy efficiency.

Replacing any fossil fuel-powered appliances in your home, such as a gas range or furnace, is an excellent way to set yourself up for a greener future. Additionally, your utility bills can give you an idea of your seasonal energy use. Devices like smart plugs can give you insight into specific devices’ energy consumption.

Consider partnering with a professional to conduct a full-home energy audit. With the help of an expert, you can further identify efficiency improvements, track down energy leakages, and determine what upgrades should be prioritized.

Whether you audit your energy use yourself or with professional help, getting to know your home's energy usage is essential to draw a line in the sand and measure the direct impact of your clean energy efforts.

Credit: Department of Energy

Step 2: Make small steps and huge leaps

Once you've developed your road map, it's time to take action and adopt clean energy improvements at home. Small but thoughtful home improvements like solar-powered garden lights, LED light bulbs, or a smart thermostat can help you reduce unnecessary energy consumption and save money on utility bills.

Then, you can look at larger items, like swapping your furnace for a heat pump, installing energy-efficient windows, or exploring rooftop solar panels. 

In rare instances, you may also be able to reduce your home's operating costs and carbon emissions using micro-hydroelectric systems or a small wind turbine, depending on available renewable energy sources and local building codes.

Why Solar is the Leading Home Renewable Energy Source

For a clean energy home, photovoltaic (PV) solar power is the easiest and most effective way to lower your carbon footprint and utility bills for multiple decades in one fell swoop.

There are many reasons why solar energy has risen to popularity both in the US and around the world, including its sustainability, versatility, and accessibility to homeowners.

Sustainability

Solar panels do not create any GHGs while generating new electricity. That’s great for the planet and local air quality. Although there are some emissions associated with the manufacturing and transportation of the equipment (processes that are getting greener by the day), solar systems have significantly lower lifetime carbon footprints than fossil fuel resources.

Versatility

The popularity of solar panels may also be attributed to the fact that they can be safely and effectively installed on rooftops (and in fields, floating on lakes, in space, and just about anywhere the sun shines). So, while logistics and building codes often make it difficult to install other renewable energy sources on a residential property, noninvasive solar panels can be seen on millions of American homes today.

Credit: Solar Energy Industries Association

Access

The costs of adopting solar have plummeted in the last 15 years, thanks to technological advancements, supply chain improvements, and support from local and federal governments. Although costs have stabilized over the last few years, the maturing residential solar panel marketplace is now filled with programs and incentives that make renewable energy adoption affordable.

The Solar Installation Journey

When renewable energy at home is just a few solar panels away, making the right decisions for your installation is critical for long-term success. Partner with a reputable solar installer with a track record of smooth, quality solar panel installation and conscientious customer care before, during, and after your installation.

Here is a look at the solar installation journey broken down into three steps.

Step 1: Tailored solar panel solutions for homeowners

First and foremost, a solar installer should tailor a solar panel system to your specific roof and energy needs. An advisor may develop multiple solar options for your home while working to find the best one

Step 2: Financing your clean energy transition

The upfront price of solar panels can stop homeowners from going solar. It doesn’t need to, as there are many ways to reduce your upfront total solar investment costs.

You can take one of two main routes: purchasing your system or exploring third-party ownership options.

Purchasing solar panels

If you purchase solar panels, you are more likely to be eligible for federal, state, and local tax breaks, rebates, and other incentives. While paying outright for your installation will likely provide the highest return on investment, there are also many ways to finance solar panels with terms optimized for your future savings.

Leasing solar panels

Leasing solar can reduce your energy bills while your installer owns, maintains, and monitors the panels on your roof. Palmetto's LightReach Energy Plan gives you rooftop solar panels for no upfront money and can deliver savings in its first year.

Credit: Solar Energy Industries Association

Step 3: Optimizing savings and renewable energy system management

If you decide to go solar with Palmetto, you can track every aspect of your renewable energy project's development in the Palmetto App. But remember, your clean energy home journey will not end on installation day because solar systems last for 25 years and more.

Performance tracking

The Palmetto App allows you to track your solar production and electricity consumption side-by-side. This allows you to identify when you are spending and saving the most and adjust your energy consumption to maximize your solar benefits. Regularly tracking your system's performance can also help you spot dips in production due to equipment damage or malfunction.

Solar system maintenance

In the event of a production loss, quick maintenance is critical to ensure ongoing solar power generation and savings. With the Palmetto App, you can schedule routine or emergency maintenance anytime to ensure your system always operates at peak performance. Palmetto Protect customers get proactive monitoring and comprehensive service.

Bottom Line: The Clean Energy Home Advantage

Every clean energy home improvement will help you lower your grid power or fossil fuel consumption, though nothing can do the trick quite like solar. If you are ready to learn more about the potential financial and environmental benefits of renewable energy on your property, check out Palmetto’s solar saving calculator or contact a solar advisor today.