16 Best Solar Companies in St Helena, CA (Feb 2023 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in St Helena

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 system. The cost of solar and the savings it generates vary depending on a few important factors such as:

• Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you want will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If you don't need to maximize efficiency, you can go with a higher number of more affordable panels.
• How much you spend on energy: If your local electricity rates are quite high, there's a better chance you'll see a higher return on your investment in a solar system. In St Helena, you can save an average of $88 a month on your electricity bills.
• The amount of sunlight your area gets: Due to St Helena's very high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a lot on your electric bills.
• Incentives: Those who install a solar system this year can save 30% of their overall solar costs by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $33,000 on your energy bills over 20 years excluding incentives.

Though a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you thousands of dollars over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, like the amount of daily direct sunlight available and your current power bills.

Solar Incentives in St Helena

To increase the adoption of solar power, incentives are offered by the government — and even some utility companies — to help make going solar more economically viable and accessible. Local solar incentive programs vary by location and, sometimes, utility company. A lot of states offer rebates for solar power, in addition to the federal solar tax credit. Our article on solar incentives goes over more in-depth information on the incentives you can benefit from in St Helena.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in St Helena

One of the best reasons to use solar power is to minimize your dependence on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are damaging for the environment. You may be asking yourself — how much do solar panels do for the planet anyway? One thing you should consider is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you spend a lot of time on the road and have an electric vehicle, you can use solar energy for your home to power your EV and therefore help offset your carbon emissions. Once you go solar, your carbon emissions can be cut by about 50 pounds each year. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you'll most likely understand that there are many advantages to adopting solar energy other than just saving money on bills. You can also help preserve the environment, which some would argue is more valuable.