11 Best Solar Companies in Berkeley, CA (Oct 2022 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Berkeley

Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you first need to pay to install your panels. The installation cost is just one important factor you should take into account when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:

• Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, lets you deduct 30% of the cost of your solar system installation from your taxes. Additionally, not including incentives, you can save about $33,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
• Where your home is: This influences the average daily sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
• System size and type: Some models are more costly than others, so the one you want to get can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need to get, the more it'll cost.
• Electricity consumption: The average home in Berkeley doesn't use much energy, and consequently may not see as many savings on their power bills.

Thanks to solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a solid investment for the majority of homeowners.

Solar Incentives in Berkeley

In order to increase the number of homes and businesses that use solar power, incentives are offered by the government — and even some utility companies — to help make going solar more affordable and accessible. State and city solar incentives depend on the location and, sometimes, utility company. A lot of states offer rebates for solar power systems, in addition to the federal solar tax credit. Check out the table below to see what incentives are available to you.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Berkeley

Lots of people want to do their part to help the planet, which in many cases is the prime reason they're interested in installing a solar system. But you may be curious — how much exactly can you help the environment by making the switch to solar? An important thing to keep in mind is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you spend a lot of time driving to work, your footprint may be larger, so adopting solar power for your house can help offset that. In Berkeley, the average homeowner can lower their carbon footprint by 50 pounds a year after going solar. For homeowners who are concerned about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for reducing your carbon footprint.