Solar Success Story: Bob’s Journey to Energy Independence

Bob Padula, of Syracuse, New York, had always been environmentally conscious, but the idea of installing solar panels on his home felt like a distant goal. The motivation first stemmed from his desire to lower his carbon footprint for his family and the planet, but the more he looked into it, the more the investment seemed like a smart decision.

He recalled a childhood memory of a neighbor who had installed solar panels back in the 1980s. If someone could make solar work then, surely it had to be even more feasible now. Despite initial skepticism from his friends, Bob pressed forward. He stumbled upon Energy Sage through a promotion in his electric bill. The service provided him with multiple proposals, organized by quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness; the ease of comparing options gave him the
confidence to move forward.

Financially, the biggest challenge was the upfront cost. His project began at about $28,000. However, state incentives helped cover some costs and tax credits reduced his out-of-pocket expense to about $11,000. The process was smoother than he had expected; from the moment he signed with an installer, everything moved quickly. Within two months, the system was installed and ready to go. He was amazed at how seamless the installation process was, taking
only a day and a half.

One surprise for Bob was that solar panels don’t work during power outages, they need a battery backup to function. While he understood the technical reasons behind it, he found it disappointing. Another surprise came during his first winter with solar. Despite the cold temperatures and limited daylight, his panels were producing significant electricity. The only real downtime happened when snow covered the panels.

His system consists of 31 panels, generating about 11,000 kilowatt-hours per year. Bob designed it to cover 108% of his household needs. However, he quickly learned about the importance of utility agreements. Initially, his utility company tried to buy back his excess energy at wholesale rates while selling it back to him at retail prices. After some discussion, he got on a net metering plan. This plan offered a true one-to-one energy credit exchange.

Reflecting on his journey, Bob wishes he had planned even further ahead. If he had factored in his future electric vehicle earlier, he would have built a larger system from the start. He realized that using a bit more energy the year before installation might have let him install a larger system according to state rules. Despite these minor regrets, he had no doubts that going solar was the right decision.

For anyone considering solar, Bob had simple advice: if you plan to stay in your home for at least 10 years, it’s a no-brainer. Between incentives, tax credits, and utility savings, the investment pays for itself. He stressed the need to pick a trusted installer and to research well.

Today, Bob continues to advocate for solar energy by sharing his experience to help others understand the process. He also encourages more people to switch to renewable energy. His savings on utility bills and the joy of seeing his energy production rise each day prove that going solar was one of his best decisions.