13 Best Solar Companies in Merced, CA (Oct 2022 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Merced

Even though solar panels can help save you money on energy over time, it's necessary to consider the upfront costs. There are a few factors you should consider when trying to figure out how much it will cost and how much you can save, such as:

• Incentives: Something that can save you money on your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your utility bills, which can result in an average of $33,000 of savings over 20 years.
• Your power bills: This will affect how much you can save. In Merced, the average resident can save about $1,000 a year on their electricity bills.
• System size and type: Some models are more expensive than others, so the one you get can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need, the more it'll cost.
• The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your roof doesn't see much direct sunlight, your solar panels won't be able to produce as much energy, which will give you lower savings on energy bills than someone with a roof that gets plenty of sunlight.

As a result of the cost of solar panels being lower than before as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a cost-effective investment for most homeowners.

Solar Incentives in Merced

In order to increase solar panel installation and usage, incentives are offered by the government — and even some utility companies — to help make switching to solar power more economical and accessible. These incentives usually consist of cash rebates, tax benefits and/or solar renewable energy credits. They can lower the cost you pay for going solar by 26 to 50% in some cases. Check out the table below to find out what incentives you can benefit from.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Merced

Making the switch to solar power is a good way to do your part for a greener future. Something many people might be asking themselves is how much can they really help the environment by going solar anyway? The average person has a substantial carbon footprint. Between their car, which is responsible for over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year, and powering their home, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to do. Going solar is a practical thing you can do to help. After you go solar, your carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by about 50 pounds a year. For homeowners who care about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for offsetting your carbon emissions.