Fast facts

Solar Energy in Lane County

Solar energy: it's clean, renewable, and has the potential to dramatically reduce energy bills. Recently, Jeremiah Chavez, general manager at Energy Design, shared some interesting facts about solar.

• The two most important factors for determining if your home is a good candidate are roof age & sun exposure. “Most rebate and incentive programs, if available through the state or a local (utility company), require the roof to have at least 15 years remaining roof life,” he said. “Ideally, we’re looking for 20 to 25 (years of remaining life)."
• If you want to reduce your home's energy footprint, look to weatherization and heating/cooling systems first, before solar. “We always recommend that people first look at heating and air conditioning upgrades and weatherization (before considering solar),” Chavez said. “Those programs are not as ‘sexy,’ but…long term…(they) are the best way to invest in the home, and solar should really just be considered after those.”
• Chavez said most local power in Lane County is already cheap and clean, so solar may not always make sense for owners.
• Chavez said the cost of solar panel installation has come down approximately 80 percent during his two decades at Energy Design, and most people can “pay for a solar electric system that offsets 100 percent of their consumption annually in about 12 years.
• Solar systems today produce approximately 10 percent more power annually than 15 years ago.
• The cost of solar panel installation has come down by approximately 80 percent in the past two decades.