Lakewood, with its tree-lined neighborhoods, foothill views, and abundant sunshine, is an ideal place for residential solar energy. Homeowners here benefit from more than 245 days of sun each year, a strong utility net metering program, and growing interest in clean energy solutions that support both savings and sustainability.
At Solar Side Up, we’ve worked with homeowners across Lakewood—from Applewood to Green Mountain—helping them explore whether solar makes sense for their homes and long-term plans. If you’ve been thinking about solar but aren’t sure where to begin, this page is for you.
We’ll walk you through the questions most Lakewood residents ask, explain how the process works, and help you understand what to expect when you partner with a local, experienced solar installer who puts transparency and quality first.
If you’re feeling uncertain about solar, you’re not alone. Most homeowners have important questions about how solar works, how much it costs, and what kind of impact it will have, not just on their bills, but on their homes and daily lives.
Common concerns we hear in Lakewood include:
These are all valid questions. We never assume solar is the right solution for every homeowner. Instead, we listen to your concerns, evaluate your property, and provide honest feedback based on site-specific conditions, not generic promises.
Solar Side Up isn’t a large chain or a company focused on selling as many systems as possible. We’re a local business built on long-term relationships, quality work, and upfront communication. Lakewood homeowners choose us because we take the time to educate and never pressure.
Every home is different. Your roof angle, shading, electrical panel, and energy goals will guide how we design your solar system. We don’t sell prepackaged deals, we create custom designs that prioritize performance, durability, and future flexibility.
We also remain involved after installation. Our team is here for monitoring, maintenance, and future system expansion. When you work with Solar Side Up, you gain a partner, not just a product.
If you decide to explore solar for your Lakewood home, we begin with a detailed site evaluation. This includes analyzing your roof’s orientation, pitch, age, and sun exposure throughout the year. We also review your historical energy usage to right-size your system.
Homes in neighborhoods like Belmar, Green Mountain Village, and Lochwood can vary widely in roof design and electrical setup. We take all of these factors into account when designing your system.
Once the design is finalized and approved by you, we manage the entire permitting process with the City of Lakewood and Jefferson County. Our team ensures that every part of the project complies with local code, inspection requirements, and utility interconnection rules.
Installation typically takes one to two days. After your system is in place, we schedule final inspections and coordinate with Xcel Energy to activate net metering. You’ll then begin generating your own clean electricity and seeing your savings in real time.
Thanks to federal and utility-level programs, going solar in Lakewood is more affordable than ever. The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) allows you to deduct 30% of your total system cost from your federal tax bill. This applies whether you purchase your system outright or finance it.
For example, a $20,000 solar system may qualify for a $6,000 tax credit, bringing your net cost down to $14,000. If you choose to finance the system, many homeowners find that monthly loan payments are comparable to, or lower than, their current energy bills.
Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards program is available in Lakewood and offers payment for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) generated by your system. This is in addition to standard net metering, which credits you for any excess power sent back to the grid.
Our team helps you evaluate all available savings and walks you through your estimated payback timeline, which typically ranges from 8 to 12 years, depending on system size and energy usage.
Lakewood includes a mix of older neighborhoods and newer subdivisions, many with active HOAs. If your home is in an HOA-regulated community, you may be wondering how that affects your ability to install solar.
The good news: Colorado law protects your right to generate your own energy. While HOAs can make requests related to aesthetics or placement, they cannot prevent you from installing a solar system.
Solar Side Up has extensive experience working with HOAs across Jefferson County. We assist in submitting design plans, renderings, and product details for HOA approval. We also ensure your system meets all visual and structural standards, keeping both performance and curb appeal in mind.
Lakewood homeowners sometimes ask how solar works during winter or cloudy weather. While production naturally varies with the seasons, solar panels are designed to function efficiently in Colorado’s high-altitude climate. Solar panels tend to perform better in colder temperatures.
Snow may temporarily cover panels, but most systems are installed at a tilt that allows for self-shedding. Direct winter sun and quick snowmelt keep downtime to a minimum. Any production lost during snowy months is typically balanced out by high summer output.
Systems are also designed with your full year’s energy usage in mind, so even if January has lower production, the credits built up in June and July help level things out.
Battery storage is becoming a more popular option in Lakewood, especially for homeowners interested in backup power during outages. While most solar systems are grid-tied and rely on net metering, adding a battery allows you to store and use your power on demand.
We install battery-ready systems and help you decide if storage is right for your situation. Common reasons to include a battery include medical equipment at home, remote work requirements, or a desire for greater self-sufficiency.
Our team explains the difference between full and partial backup, system sizing, and potential rebates. If storage isn’t needed now, we’ll still make sure your system is compatible for future upgrades.
Installing solar isn’t just about today’s utility bill—it’s also about preparing your home for tomorrow’s energy landscape.
As Lakewood homeowners consider adding electric vehicles, heat pumps, or smart appliances, their energy needs grow. A well-designed solar system helps meet these needs while keeping long-term costs predictable.
Homes with solar tend to sell faster and at a premium. Buyers value the combination of energy savings, reduced carbon footprint, and system warranties that transfer with ownership. In a competitive housing market like Lakewood, solar helps homes stand out in meaningful ways.
At Solar Side Up, we design systems that consider these future needs from the beginning. We build flexible solutions that support your home’s evolution, so you don’t outgrow your system too soon.
Solar Side Up is proud to serve Lakewood and the surrounding communities with integrity, experience, and a no-pressure approach. We’re not interested in quick sales—we’re here to help you make an informed, confident decision about solar.
We believe that quality installation, clear communication, and long-term support are just as important as the equipment on your roof. Our customers return to us for service, upgrades, and referrals because they know we deliver what we promise.
We’ll be honest with you about the pros and cons, system sizing, savings estimates, and financing. If solar makes sense, we’ll build a system that works. If it doesn’t, we’ll tell you that too.
Interested in learning more? Schedule a free site evaluation with Solar Side Up today. We’ll assess your roof, review your energy usage, and prepare a custom proposal that answers your questions and shows you the numbers. No obligation required.
We look forward to helping you explore solar in Lakewood and supporting you every step of the way.
Copyright © 2023 Solar Side Up
