Considering getting solar panels? Here are the right questions to ask.

The location and size of your roof matter, but so does the state you live in.

Solar panels are no longer just for hippies. If you’re just as interested in saving money as you are in saving the planet, solar panels can help you do that. Their price has come down, their effectiveness has gone up, and Congress extended a 30 percent federal tax credit for installing them until the end of 2019. All of this means solar panels can now pay for themselves in as little as five years, depending where you live. But are they right for your particular home? That’s a question that raises more questions. Ask yourself these things before making a decision.

Questions about your house

Which way does your roof slant? Because of the United States’ position in relation to the sun, south-facing roofs are the most productive for solar, followed by west-facing and then east-facing roofs. North-facing roofs are the least desirable for solar, and many people rule them out.

Is your roof shaded? Ideally, the sun will hit your panels for at least five hours a day. If trees, hills or other buildings block the sun from reaching your roof, that’s a problem. 

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