14 Best Solar Companies in Durham, CA (Mar 2023 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Durham

The cost of installing a solar panel system has dropped greatly over the past few years, but it's still a large investment for most homeowners. There are a few factors you should consider when trying to determine how much it will cost and how much you can save, including:

• Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you receive a tax credit curretnly worth 30% of your total installation cost, your local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that can help you save even more. Not including incentives, you can save an average of $32,000 over the first 20 years with your system, too.
• Your income and budget: This affects what type of solar panels you can afford.
• How much sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop gets limited direct sunlight, your solar panels won't be able to produce as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on electricity bills than a house with a roof that gets lots of sunlight.
• Electricity consumption: The average home in Durham doesn't use much energy, and so may not see as many savings on their power bills.

Even though a solar panel system costs a decent chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount in the long term. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, including the kind of solar panels you get and your local electricity rates.

Solar Incentives in Durham

Although solar power is typically a $15,000 to $25,000 investment, it can save you a lot of money over the lifespan of your solar panels due to reduced power bills and government incentives. You can qualify for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your a solar panel system. You can also possibly stack the ITC with other state and city rebates and benefits. Our article on solar incentives has more information on the incentives you can take advantage of in Durham.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Durham

One of the best reasons to tap into solar energy is to cut your reliance on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are hazardous for the environment. Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Durham, though. The more energy you use, the the more the environment will benefit from you switching to solar as you won't have to use as much nonrenewable energy. Because solar panels don't release greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they're a good substitute for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could expect to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. Since energy from the sun is renewable and produces electricity without free from carbon dioxide emissions, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help preserve the environment.