16 Best Solar Companies in Solvang, CA (Jan 2023 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Solvang

For a lot of homeowners, the decision to invest in a solar energy system depends the most on the cost. There are quite a few factors you should consider when trying to determine how much it will cost and how much you can save, such as:

• How much energy you use: If your home regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll benefit more from going solar.
• Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who buy and install a solar system this year can save 30% of their solar installation costs by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $30,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years excluding incentives.
• Average daily sunlight: Since Solvang gets lots of sunlight, your solar panel system will most likely be able to produce enough energy to power your whole home, which affects how much your solar panels can save you on your electricity bills.
• Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you choose will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also lead to more savings over the lifetime of your system. If you don't need to maximize efficiency, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.

Solar is a fruitful investment for most homeowners. You can make your own electricity instead of paying for it from a utility company and take advantage of solar incentives, all while helping the environment.

Solar Incentives in Solvang

Although a solar power system is typically a $15,000 to $25,000 investment, it can save you a significant amount of money in the long term because of smaller utility bills and government incentives. When you install a solar panel system on your home, you become eligible to claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you reduce your tax bill by 30% of the cost of your solar panels. Additionally, there may often be some state and city incentives that you can benefit from to further save. For detailed information about incentives that apply to you, visit our our article on solar incentives.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Solvang

There are a few primary reasons why many people want to invest in solar energy: to help their wallet and the environment. But you may be wondering — how much exactly can you help by using solar power? One thing that can dramatically shape your carbon footprint is how long your commute is and how much you drive in general. If you switch to solar power and have an electric car, you can vastly lower your carbon dioxide emissions by charging your car at home. Since solar panels don't release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they're a good trade for nonrenewable energy sources. In fact, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. For homeowners who want to help the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for reducing your carbon footprint.