Planning solar for a new-construction home

Prewiring

Ask your builder to include solar-ready conduit from the electrical panel to the attic. This adds little cost during construction and saves several hundred to a few thousand dollars later.

Roof orientation and shading

If you have any input on the home's orientation or roof design, favor unbroken south, southeast, or southwest roof planes. Minimize obstructions on those planes (vents, HVAC penetrations, chimneys).

Electrical panel capacity

Ask for a 200A panel with room for a solar breaker and — if you plan an EV charger or heat pump — enough capacity to interconnect all of it. Adding panel capacity later is one of the more expensive retrofits.

Builder-integrated solar programs

Some Colorado builders offer solar as a built-in option. These can be convenient, but the pricing, equipment, and financing terms should be compared against a stand-alone third-party quote before committing.