Tag Archives: financing

Solar fees

Understanding solar loan fees

If you’re looking to finance solar panels for your home, there are a few things you’ll need to be aware of to select the best option for you. A typical 10-kilowatt solar installation can cost anywhere from $20,500 to $25,800 and financing options are widely available. Several factors may impact the cost of your solar loan, including your credit score and current debt-to-income ratio (DTI), the loan’s interest rate, and any solar loan fees.  

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Green Banks

What are green banks?

We continue to get closer to achieving net neutrality thanks to local, state, and federal climate policies and goals. Generous rebate and incentive programs lower the financial burden to develop and implement clean technologies, but oftentimes consumers and green organizations still rely on private loans, investments, and financial backing. However, lending and investing in new technology from a young industry doesn’t come without its perceived risks, so, it can be difficult to obtain funds from traditional lenders to upgrade to green technology. 

This is where green banks can come in – they’re specialized lenders created to address gaps in traditional lending, helping accelerate investments in clean energy. In this article, we explain what green banks are and the benefits of working with them.

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Mass Save Heat Loan ASHP

Complete guide to the Mass Save® HEAT Loan for air source heat pumps

If you live in Massachusetts, there are excellent financial incentives to help heat and cool your home more efficiently with air source heat pumps. Mass Save® Sponsors help Massachusetts residents save money through energy efficiency with a HEAT Loan to help make installing air source heat pumps more accessible and affordable. In this guide, we’ll explain what you need to know about the HEAT Loan for air source heat pumps, including how to apply for it and common questions about how it works. Pro tip: you can also use the HEAT Loan for other energy-efficient updates – we’re just focusing on how you can use it for heat pumps here since there’s a lot to know!

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Q&A with Sunstone Credit

Q&A with Sunstone Credit

When homeowners go solar, there are a few different ways to finance your project: you can pay with cash, take out a loan, or choose to lease your system. When businesses or nonprofits go solar, cash often isn’t an option given the size of the investment, so having an attractive range of financing options becomes even more important. And often, the only businesses that can access financing are larger organizations, leaving small-to-midsize businesses struggling to find a reasonable solar financing solution. Sunstone Credit has solved that gap by, in their own words, providing “flexible financing solutions for businesses of all sizes,” making it easier for your business–or nonprofit!–to install a solar system. We sat down with Sunstone Credit to learn more about their background, offerings, and advice for businesses looking to go solar. 

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Alternative solar financing

Alternative ways to pay for solar

Adding solar to your home almost always pays off! However, assuming you purchase your solar system, you’ll have to either provide an upfront cash payment or monthly payments (like if you choose a $0 down loan). While there are several options to finance solar panels for your home, there are a few things you’ll need to be aware of to select the best option for you. In this article, we’ll discuss some alternative solar financing options that you may not know about! 

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solar scams

Solar scams: common scams and how to avoid them

There are many outstanding solar panel installers (as proven by the excellent reviews you can find here on EnergySage!). However, like all industries, solar has some companies that unfortunately take advantage of consumers looking to save money and help the environment. That’s why it’s essential to approach buying solar just like any other major purchase by researching your options, comparing quotes, and vetting the company you use. So, we’re sharing some common solar scams for you to be aware of and tips for avoiding them. (Pro tip: you can use EnergySage to take advantage of the research we’ve already done for you to know you have a trusted installer on your side!)

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low credit solar

Can you go solar with low credit?

If your credit score isn’t the highest, it can sometimes feel challenging to get larger purchases covered. Going solar is a big purchase, so many homeowners look to finance their solar system. While your credit score and current debt-to-income ratio (DTI) are usually factors in your approval and interest rate with a lender, there are ways to go solar even without stellar credit. In this article, we’ll share some resources and options for you to consider. 

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Consumer protection

Protecting your solar investment: what to know about consumer protections

If you’re considering solar panels for your home, there are a few things you’ll need to be aware of to select the best option for you. While installing solar panels can put money back in your pocket in a few different ways (such as reducing or eliminating your electricity bills, providing you with incentives, and getting you credits through net metering), they are no doubt an expensive purchase so you’ll want to make sure you’re confident and feel secure in protecting your investment. Just like many other big ticket items, there are consumer protections you should know about for solar, as well as other ways you can be an informed buyer when choosing your installer, equipment, and financing.

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