Tips to hire the right solar panel installer

Installing solar panels is a smart, not to mention, eco-friendly way to heat your home. However, buying them may be too pricey for the average consumer. They cost roughly $25,000 ... and that includes a potential 30-percent tax credit.

Looking to turn up the heat, but don't want to get burned by the big investment? You're in luck.

It's important to do your homework and to make sure you hire the right solar installer before shelling out the cold, hard cash. Here are a few tips to help you navigate through the complexities of selecting the right installer.

1. Certification Make sure the solar panel installer is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) before committing. The NABCEP maintains high standards and requires all of their installers to pass an exam before they're given the greenlight. Some legit installers aren't a part of the NABCEP, but make sure they have the proper training from panel-centric groups like the Solar Living Institute or Solar Energy International.

2. Subcontracting
While the installer may be certifed by the NABCEP, make sure that he or she isn't subcontracting the work to outside groups who aren't certified.

3. Insurance
Is the installer insured in case of an accident? Before you allow the installer to work on your home, make sure they have general liability insurance before signing up.

4. Shop around
It's important to request multiple bids before selecting an installer. Make sure the bids explicitly state how much you'll save on your energy bill after adding solar panels to your home. It may be worth the extra investment if the payback higher by using higher quality products or offers an extended warranty (it generally takes up to 10 years to finance a solar-panel system).

5. Location
Is the solar panel installer regional? Knowing the environment and typical weather patterns of your area is a must when selecting the right solar installer.

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Corporate giants go solar for savings

The biggest store chains in the U.S. are now seeing solar panels as a huge way to save energy and money.

According to The New York Times article, Stores such as Wal Mart, Kohls, Safeway and Wholefoods Market have installed solar panels on their roofs to generate electricity.

At this point, around 10 percent of each chain has solar coverage, but a large increase can be expected. There is a race in place, to beat the Dec. 31 deadline to gain tax advantages for these projects. Although coal is less expensive, companies believe they can save money by economies of scale.

Cutting back on coal and going solar will save these companies a lot of money and help the environment by using renewable resources.

"It's very clear that green energy is now front and center in the minds of the business sector," says Daniel M. Kammen, an energy expert at the University of California, Berkeley. "Not only will you see panels on the roofs of your local stores, but I suspect very soon retailers will have stickers in their windows saying, "This is a green energy store."

Most companies buy their own solar power systems up front, which may cost between $4 and $6 million dollars for a large store. Agreements can be made as well, where the utility company pays the up-front costs and gives stores a break on the high solar power bills.

Corporations are also looking to other forms of renewable energy, such as wind turbines, sky lights and white roofs that help to save money on cooling. Bernard Sosnick, an analyst with Gilford Securities believes, “It’s not as over the horizon as it might seem."

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