12 Best Solar Companies in Salinas, CA (Jan 2023 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Salinas

Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you will need to pay to set up your panels. A few key factors that affect how much it will cost to install solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time are:

• Your energy bills: This will impact how much you can save. In Salinas, the average homeowner can save about $1,100 a year on their electricity bills.
• The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your roof doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight, your solar system won't be able to make as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on power bills than someone with a roof that gets lots of sunlight.
• Your income and budget: This guides what type of solar panels you can get.
• Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, allows you to deduct 30% of the cost of your solar system installation from your federal taxes. Plus, not including incentives, you can save about $34,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.

Although a solar panel system costs a decent chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, like the angle of your roof and incentives.

Solar Incentives in Salinas

Although a solar power system is typically a large investment, it can save you a substantial amount of money over several years due to lower utility bills and government incentives. You are eligible for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your solar panels. You can also possibly pair the ITC with other state and city rebates and benefits. In our article on solar incentives, you can read about the incentives you qualify for in Salinas.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Salinas

One of the reasons so many people consider going solar is to help lower their environmental impact. But how much can using solar energy instead of traditional energy actually help the environment? One thing that can drastically influence your carbon footprint is your commute time and how much you drive in general. If you install solar panels and have an electric car, you can vastly lower your carbon dioxide emissions by charging your car at home. Although making solar panels releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by greatly reducing the amount of CO2 you would have released if you still used traditional energy. In Salinas, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 50 pounds a year with solar panels. For homeowners who want to help the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for offsetting your carbon emissions.