by Michael Richards

Created on: August 29, 2009   Last Updated: August 30, 2009

There are several different grants available for using renewable energy solutions. When choosing a grant for solar powered installations there are a few steps to take to make sure you get all appropriate funding allowed. You have to determine what type of installation you want and how much it is going to cost. When you determine these two factors you are ready to look into what kind of grants are offered for your needs. You want to read the details of what is required for the grant, then fill out and submit the appropriate paperwork.

Types of solar powered installations

There are two types of solar installations. There are solar water heating systems as well as photovoltaic systems. Solar water heating systems only heat the water with solar power. Photovoltaic systems provide a portion or even all of the electricity for your application.

Budget

Once you have determined what type of solar powered installation is the right fit for your application, it is time to start looking at costs. You need an estimation of what the system is going to cost to install so you know how much grant money you are going to need. Solar water heating systems are going to cost less than photovoltaic installations.

Contact energy office

Once you have an idea of what the installation is going to cost you want to check with your local energy office. Start by finding out about local grant programs, then expand to the state and federal levels for grants from there. A good resource for finding out what kinds of grants are available in your state is dsireusa.org. Dsireusa.org is a comprehensive database of grants available on the state level.

Read details of the grants

Once you have found the grants you want to apply for, read up on all the details. Make sure you read all the fine print so you know everything that is expected of you. Some grants require you to pay for the installation then they will reimburse your money once it is complete. Other grants offer money contingent on future completion of the installation.

Submit paperwork

The final step in receiving a grant for solar powered installation is to submit your paperwork. Make sure you provide all information required for the grants you are applying for. The required information varies based on each particular grant. Make sure you dot your I's and cross your t's and include all relevant information.

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