Which should come first: solar panels or better home insulation?

I spent about 8 months trying to lower my electric bill starting with solar panels. Got quotes, installed 12 panels on my roof, and saved maybe $40 a month. Then a neighbor pointed out my attic insulation was from 1985 and basically useless. Had a company blow in R-49 insulation for $1,800 and my AC usage dropped by half in two weeks. So for anyone trying to cut their carbon footprint, do you tackle the efficiency side first or jump straight to generation? I'm curious what order actually works best for people on a budget.

2 comments

2 Comments

gavinperez2d ago

Respectfully, I gotta push back on this one. I mean, if you start with insulation before solar, you're basically admitting your house is leaky and inefficient. But if you go solar first, at least you're generating something right away. Idk, maybe it's just me, but those $40 a month savings from your panels would add up to $480 a year, plus if you factor in state incentives or net metering, you could be looking at way more over time. Insulation is a short term fix that degrades and needs to be redone every decade or two, but solar panels are a 25 year asset that actually pays you back. Maybe your insulation was a good deal for $1,800, but what if someone can't afford that lump sum right now? Solar leasing or financing spreads the cost out, and you're still making power while you save up for the insulation later.

karent752d agoMost Upvoted

Basements lose 30% of heat and nobody talks about sealing rim joists first.