Solar panels becoming popular option for energy savings

by Dan Holland

The installation of solar panels on residential homes has become a popular option in recent years in Independence and nearby communities.

Certain groups, such as the nonprofit solar advocacy group Solar United Neighbors, provide cooperative buying programs throughout Cuyahoga County.

Independence residents David Sagerser and his wife, Christine Krol, went through SUN for a recent installation of solar panels on their Brookside Road home.

“I’ve been thinking about it for some time now,“ said Sagerser. “I’m aware of the effect of carbon on the climate, and my wife and I saw this as the most environmentally-friendly way to generate electricity. It doesn’t block any trees or anything else, and it provides enough power to meet our needs.”

“Solar United Neighbors put on a webinar that made it seem a very doable thing,” he continued. “They help you through the selection process and have the potential contractors bid on the work, and you use one of their contractors to have the work done. It’s not a big money maker; it will take ten years or more to recover the cost of the initial expense, but I feel good about our contribution.”

Residents and their contractors must first submit a permit application and complete an architectural board of review application if required, according to Building Commissioner Michael Gero.

“The city follows the Residential Code of Ohio and the National Electric Code requirements for installation,” Gero explained. “Review and approval from the architectural board of review is required when the panels are to be installed on the front elevation of the dwelling.”

Eight installations have been approved so far in 2024, according to Gero.

“We‘ve been wanting to do this for a long time, and we saw news reports about how the tax on solar panels from China was going to be increasing significantly,” said Raul Gongora of Hawthorn Trace. “So, we thought there was no better time than the present to get them.”

Gongora said he expects to receive a tax credit somewhere between $12,000-$14,000 on the solar panel system. The system is expected to offset approximately 90% of his monthly electric bill.

“If you look at where utility prices are going, it’s a no-brainer,” Gongora added. “It will pay for itself in about ten years.”

Gongora added that homeowners must first check with their HOA, if applicable, about having solar panels installed.

Homes fitted with solar energy panels still maintain a connection with the electric power grid, explained Tristan Rader, Ohio program director for SUN. The panels will produce some amount of energy during the daytime, even on less sunny days, he added.

Despite the benefits to homeowners, installation of a solar panel system can sometimes add an additional level of strategy in the event of a house fire, said Fire Chief Steve Rega.

“They do add another level of complexity to a fire,” said Rega. “Typically, [panels] are south-facing, so if we have the opportunity to approach the roof from the other side, that’s what we would do. But sometimes in looking at a house, it depends on which way the wind is blowing too, because when we ventilate, we try not to ventilate so that the wind blows right in through the ventilation hole; that can limit us on our choices depending on how the house is situated.”

A solar panel system also adds additional weight to the roof, Rega noted. “When a house is under fire conditions, depending on whether you have a traditionally-built home with dimensional lumber versus engineered trusses, that can make a big difference in fire conditions,” he said. “Anything added to a roof can impact a collapse condition, so that’s something we need to be concerned with.” ∞