Solar proposals tend to lead with savings. The better place to start is your house: how much electricity you use, where your roof faces, and what's shading it.
How much power do you actually use? A year of electric bills shows your real usage across summer cooling and winter heating. Sizing a system to that number, rather than to the largest system your roof can hold, is what makes the payback math work.
Which way does your roof face, and what shades it? South- and west-facing roof planes generally produce the most. Mature trees, which are common across the Triangle, can cut output significantly, and it's better to know that before you sign.
How old is your roof? If it will need replacing within a few years, do it first. Removing and reinstalling panels later adds cost that wipes out part of your savings.
What does your utility's current program look like? Interconnection rules and bill credits change, so ask your installer to walk you through how the current program applies to your account.
Our free energy analysis covers all of this, and we'll tell you plainly if solar doesn't make sense for your home.