One homeowner living in a historic district in Georgia was deeply frustrated to find that they would not be allowed street-facing solar panels under any circumstances — even after appealing that decision to the city. They shared their experience in a Reddit post.
"We paid $50 and went to the board meeting knowing we'd probably lose and have to appeal," said the original poster. "Shockingly, half the board voted yes, but the chair broke the tie with a denial. So, off to the city we went for a $200 appeal. … As much as we tried, we lost again."
Solar panels may not appear historic, but they have benefits that outweigh appearances. They save you money on utility bills, insulating you against rising energy prices, and when tied to the appropriate battery storage, can even make your home more resilient against power outages and disasters. With all that in mind, it's no wonder that the original poster wanted to install solar panels — regardless of the classic look of their home.
If you want to know more about your options and find ways to save money when going solar yourself, visit TCD's Solar Explorer.
The original poster was annoyed that they wouldn't have the option to do so. "We could appeal to the superior court of the county, but it's another $200 and the same standard but even tougher," they said. "The whole process was a waste of time."
However, most people don't have the same restrictions in place. If you want to install solar panels, the Solar Explorer can help you discover and connect with trusted installers in your area. TCD's partners will make the process of installing solar panels simple by offering concierge-level service and can even help you save up to $10,000 on the cost of installation by curating bids from local installers.
If you're looking for subscription options, it'll help you find programs for $0 down, such as Palmetto's LightReach solar leasing program, which can reduce your utility rate by up to 20%. Leasing programs like this one allow you to benefit from federal tax credits that have been retired for direct purchases, because you will receive lower rates thanks to the savings the lessor enjoyed when purchasing the panels.
Other electric appliances, like heat pumps, can help you save even more on electricity by improving your home's efficiency. To make it easy to find the right installer and heat pump, choose Mitsubishi.
Get $1,000 cash to slash your bills with rooftop solar panels for $0 down and low monthly payments Whatever your solar budget, Palmetto can help you save. If you want to buy your own panels, Palmetto's advisors can help you save up to $10,000 on installation through a network of preferred installers. And if you'd rather get solar savings without upfront costs, Palmetto's revolutionary LightReach subscription program can deliver — including an exclusive $1,000 cashback offer for TCD readers. LightReach lets you lease solar panels with no money down, making it painless to lock in long-term savings of up to 33% off your current power bill. Palmetto covers a 25-year warranty for the panels, which means you'll get reliable performance without unforeseen costs. To get started, just book a short meeting with Palmetto's experts to explore your options and find the solution that's right for you. |
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If you don't have solar panels on your home, which of these factors is the biggest barrier to installing them? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
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