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Powering your living space with solar energy has become a goal for many people with the increasing popularity of solar panels. However, living in an apartment creates unique challenges to incorporate solar energy.
The options for those living in an apartment may not be as straightforward as for traditional homeowners, but incorporating solar panels into your home energy plan is possible. Whether you own your apartment or rent, tapping into this clean, renewable energy source could be an investment worth considering.
Keep reading to learn how to incorporate solar power into your apartment life.
Can I Use a Solar Panel in an Apartment?
Absolutely – but there are fewer options for apartment owners or renters wanting solar energy. For example, a lack of roof space or apartment policies may limit one’s ability to install solar panels. Even if there’s an open area of outdoor space or you’re near the rooftop, apartment policies likely prohibit the installation of solar panels since these are considered common areas.
While powering your entire apartment with solar energy may not be an option, you can still power parts of it. There are many options for renters to incorporate solar energy into their apartment living space.
EcoFlow’s Portable Solar Panels are a great option for apartment tenants. These can be attached to a portable power station to provide electricity for everyday appliances. They’re made of lightweight monocrystalline silicon, allowing maximized sunlight absorbance.
The EcoFlow 400W Portable Solar Panel is the largest, most powerful portable solar panel at EcoFlow, and it’s compatible with several of EcoFlow’s Portable Power Stations. The EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel is an excellent solar panel for apartment living because its bifacial design promotes rapid solar charging, and it can easily be set up in direct sunlight near a window or balcony door.
Available Solar Options for Apartments?
Ask Your Landlord To Install Solar Panels
You can talk with your landlord or the office building about installing solar panels. There are many benefits for apartment complexes utilizing solar energy. Although the initial investment for solar panel installation can be expensive, the long-term savings make it worth the cost.
EcoFlow Rigid Solar Panels are an excellent, efficient option for permanent mounting. They can be installed on rooftops to provide electricity for the home. You have the option of connecting these panels directly to the grid or collecting the energy generated with a portable power station for later use. Made of monocrystalline solar cells, they can convert up to 23% of solar energy into electrical energy.
Whether you’re a renter working with a landlord or own your apartment and need permission from your building’s co-op, you should consider whether you’re eligible for Federal Solar Tax Credits. This tax credit, also known as the Residential Clean Energy Credit, can be claimed for up to 30% of the price of a solar energy system and photovoltaic panel purchase and installation cost. Further, if surplus energy is produced from the panels, a net metering credit could be received.
Use a Portable Solar Generator
Portable solar generators include a portable solar panel and a portable power station. Portable solar generators are popular for various electrical needs, whether you want an on-the-go solution for the outdoors or a whole-home backup option. They’re lightweight and since they’re portable, it means you can take your investment with you when you move.
An entry-level solution is the EcoFlow DELTA 2 + 220W Solar Panel, as it provides compact power. Operating at 1800W AC output, you can energize essential home devices and capitalize on the unique design of the bifacial portable panel, which can charge this PPS in just 6 hours.
If you live in a large apartment and want a whole-home backup solution, the EcoFlow Delta Pro + 400W Portable Solar Panel may be the ideal option. Operating at 4500W AC output, it can provide enough power to be a backup solution for your entire apartment.
Join A Community Solar Project
Another great option for renters is to join a community solar project. This is a great option when traditional solar power isn’t available. Utility companies, nonprofit organizations, or other third parties own a solar array that you can subscribe to.
Once subscribed, you’ll pay for a portion of the electricity produced. Depending on your location, you might receive two bills, one from the electric company and one from the solar community. Or, you may receive one bill with the solar energy subtracted from the overall total.
Community solar arrays are located in spots for optimal sun exposure, meaning you’re getting the most out of your solar array experience. Further, if you decide to move out of the apartment, you can remain subscribed to the community solar panels since the scheme isn’t tied to the location of your home.
Switch To A Green Powered Solar Energy Provider
No matter where you live, there are options to switch to green power and reduce your carbon footprint. States with deregulated energy markets allow consumers to choose their energy provider. So, instead of purchasing electricity from the utility company, it’s purchased from a third-party energy supplier. Sustainable third-party energy providers are often called green power products.
Even if you opt for a green power product, the electricity is still transmitted through the utility company, meaning you’ll still be charged a fee for the transmission and distribution of the electricity. Green-powered solar energy providers utilize renewable energies, such as sunlight, to generate electricity instead of relying solely on fossil fuels.
If you live in a regulated energy market, you can contact your utility company to see if they directly offer green power products.
What Are the Benefits of Going Solar as a Renter?
Whether you’re excited or a little intimidated by transitioning your apartment to solar energy, you should understand the benefits of doing so. Solar energy offers the opportunity for reduced energy costs and carbon emissions, an advantageous portable energy source, and solar energy incentives.
- Less Expense & Smaller Carbon Footprint: Reducing energy expenses and carbon emissions is arguably the most significant benefit of transitioning to solar energy. By generating your electricity from captured sunlight energy, you can expect your energy bill to be lower. Since solar energy is a renewable and clean energy source, you’ll undoubtedly reduce your carbon footprint by powering your apartment with solar energy.
- Peace of Mind: Having a portable and clean energy source means you can access electricity no matter the circumstance. Whether you’re using a solar generator to provide daily power to your entire home or you’re using solar energy as a backup solution for emergencies, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll always have power. Solar generators are also an excellent investment if you ever decide to move because you can take them with you, further protecting your investment.
- Tapping Into Tax Credit for Savings: The availability of solar energy incentives for renters is also a key benefit. If you’re going solar, savings can come from government tax credits or new meter savings. While the initial investment for solar energy may be high, the Residential Clean Energy Credit may be able to offset the expense and put solar energy users on the path toward long-term energy savings.
The Downsides of Using Solar Energy as a Renter
While there are many great reasons to utilize solar energy as a renter, there may be a couple of drawbacks. Orienting portable solar panels may not always yield as good results as traditional rooftop systems, especially depending on which direction your apartment is to the sun and your access to direct sunlight. This also means you may save less money on your electric bill than rooftop solar panel users, which may be discouraging for some users whose apartments aren’t optimally oriented.
Regardless, investing in a portable power station or looking into other ways to go solar as a renter is worth it simply for the environmental benefits alone. While you may not save as much money as rooftop solar panel users, you’ll still rack up some savings while reducing your carbon emissions.
Final Thoughts
Using solar panels in an apartment is more attainable than people may initially believe. Portable solar panels eliminate the barrier of only relying on rooftop, mountable solar panels. Pair the use of portable solar panels with portable power stations, and apartment dwellers have as much access and option to solar energy in their homes as traditional homeowners do. With the Federal Solar Tax Credit or the Residential Clean Energy Credit, there may even be an option for tax subsidies to make the investment into solar a reality.
Of course, not all apartments lend themselves to using solar energy because of the orientation to the sun, but with community solar projects and the option of green power utility companies, those enjoying apartment living have plenty of renewable energy options.
If you’re ready to invest in solar energy for your apartment, shop Ecoflow Solar Panels and EcoFlow Solar Generators for the many products that qualify for the 30% solar tax credit.