Solar for Your Home or Business

Solar technologies can be used to generate two useful forms of energy for your home or business: electricity and heat. Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight directly into electricity using solar panels, which are mounted on the roof or the ground. Solar thermal systems collect the sun’s energy to heat water or living areas. Space heating can be passive (solar greenhouses, south-facing windows, masonry walls) or active (pumps that move solar-heated air or water to living or storage areas).

Solar Advantages

• Sunshine is free and clean
• PV systems can be installed quickly and start generating electricity right away; easy to expand
• Offsets the use of fossil fuels

Solar Limitations

• Limited amount of sunshine in New Hampshire
• Panels must be south-facing with no shading
• Not always available (e.g. cloudy days, night)

How much does solar cost?

Click here to compare the cost of a solar system to other renewable energy options, then learn about potential rebates and tax incentives that could help you pay for your project.

Learn More About Solar

• U.S. Department of Energy
• Solar Estimator (Calculate Solar Costs for Your Home)