What to Expect When Buying Solar for Your Home

Step 1: Request a free home solar evaluation.

Step 2:  A Smart Energy solar panel installer will visit your home to conduct a residential solar energy assessment and develop a customized proposal tailored to your energy needs, location of your house, and style of your roof.

Step 3:  Your Smart Energy solar installer will walk you through a range of solar power financing options to help you find the best solution at the most competitive rate.

Step 4:  All aspects of the home solar installation will be handled by your Smart Energy solar energy installer including permitting, tax incentive applications, testing and connection.

Step 5:  That’s it! Your residential solar system is installed, and you start saving on your energy bills. Your Smart Energy solar energy monitoring system and 25-year performance warranty provide peace of mind for years to come.

 How to Buy Residential Solar Power

Ready to take the first step toward energy independence? Below are some questions to consider when buying solar for your home. We’ve made purchasing a residential solar system from Smart Energy simple and straightforward.

Is your solar panel installer a certified, trained professional? Do they have a valid, unexpired, contractor's license?

Ask if he or she is a licensed and insured solar energy specialist trained for residential solar power installation. All Smart Energy solar installers are handpicked and rigorously trained to be your solar advocates, providing careful but timely installation and responsive service.

Should your household be 100% solar?

Generally, the most economical choice for homeowners is to combine solar energy with electricity provided by your utility. With solar, you can offset the most expensive electricity (usually during the day) and purchase electricity from the utility when it’s cheaper (usually at night).

Is your solar installer recommending storing solar energy with battery systems?

We believe this is unnecessary. Batteries are complicated, expensive, short-lived and require more maintenance.   Excess solar energy generated by a Smart Energy solar system is sent to your utility’s power grid and will offset portions (or all) of your electricity bill. This is called Net Metering and could offset your bill by up to 100%.

How does the amount of power my solar energy system is capable of producing differ from the amount of actual electricity it will generate?

Residential solar systems are often described in terms of the amount of power they are capable of producing in a given instant (measured in watts or kilowatts).   The most important factor to take into account, however, is the amount of actual electricity the system is expected to generate during its lifetime (measured in kilowatt-hours). When compared to other brands, Smart Energy's solar panels produce the most electricity in a range of conditions, over the lifetime of your solar energy system.

Are there other energy efficiency measures you can take for even greater cost savings?

Yes. And they’ll not only save you money, they’ll also help save the environment. Your residential solar system is just the first step toward a carbon-neutral home. Check out TLC's checklist to learn more.

What kind of warranty does the solar panel manufacturer offer?

A good solar provider should guarantee their product for a large part of a panels life. Most companies will however warranty only 10 years. Smart Energy's  warranty is one of the best in the industry and covers performance and product for 25 years.

Do you think that all solar power is created equal?

Solar technology can vary widely. Smart Energy's suppliers  hold the world record in solar efficiency—These solar panels generate about 50% more power than other solar panels and about four times more power than thin-film technology. More power cuts your electricity bill and delivers a greater return on your solar power investment for years to come. High efficiency solar panels from Smart Energy take up a fraction of the space compared with other systems, while delivering the same amount of power. That’s a big plus if you have limited roof space.

Does the monthly payment option sound too good to be true?

You should review the solar lease proposal and contract carefully before choosing the one that's right for you. The best solution will maximize the amount of energy the system produces while minimizing your monthly utility bill for both the short and long term.

How much will I need for the initial deposit on my solar system lease?

If you are leasing the solar system your installer should not request or accept any deposit from you. If you are getting a pre-paid or partial pre-paid lease your first payment will not be due until the system is fully installed.

Best-In-Class Solar Panel Installers

Of course you’d like to choose the highest quality solar panels for your home. So shouldn’t your installer be selected with the same level of care? When you work with the Smart Energy network of solar power dealers, you can count on your local solar installer to provide the highest standard of quality and customer service when it comes to installation of your home solar panels.

About the Smart Energy Dealer Network


Smart Energy solar energy installers are the most qualified and professional installers of residential solar systems in your community. We know because we train them to the highest standards in the industry. In fact, Smart Energy is the only solar panel manufacturer with an ISPQ-accredited technical training program, an international standard that ensures continuity, consistency and quality in the delivery of training. We even inspect our dealers’ work to ensure that the highest quality standards are upheld.


Our network of dealers has installed tens of thousands of home solar energy systems around the globe. You can rely on your Smart Energy dealer to handle all aspects of your residential solar panel installation, including design, permitting, rebate processing and system maintenance. Find a local Smart Energy solar installer.

Smart Energy Elite Dealers: The Best in the Business

Elite Dealers are equipped with the most advanced training, products and services and must:

•     Complete Smart Energy Advanced+ Training


•     Consistently achieve exceptionally high levels of customer satisfaction


•     Exceed a stringent set of performance for covering design, quality, and service

Smart Energy Premier Dealers: Held to a Higher Standard

Premier Dealers provide superior service to match our superior products and must:

•     Complete Smart Energy Advanced Training


•     Consistently achieve high customer satisfaction scores


•     Meet performance standards for design, quality, and service