13 Best Solar Companies in Steamboat Springs, CO (Jul 2022 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Steamboat Springs

For most homeowners, whether or not you should invest in solar energy comes down to the cost. Some key things that determine how much it will cost and how much you could save include:

• Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, lets you deduct 26% of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes. In addition, not including incentives, you can save about $20,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
• The type and model of solar panels you're planning on getting: More high-tech panels are more expensive, so that will affect your budget for your solar project.
• Energy consumption: Installing a solar system may be a high-cost option for households that don't use a lot of energy each month.
• Your location: This influences how much sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.

So is buying solar panels worth it? Whether you hope to reduce your electricity costs, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many Steamboat Springs homeowners.

Solar Incentives in Steamboat Springs

One of the good things about installing a solar panel system is receiving government incentives. These incentives usually include cash rebates, tax breaks and/or performance-based incentives. They can cut the cost of going solar by 26 to 50% in some cases. You can learn about the incentives available to you in the table below.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Steamboat Springs

One of the reasons so many are considering switching to solar power is to help lower their environmental impact. But how much can switching to solar actually help the environment? As stated by the EPA, electricity production is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels. Switching to a clean energy source like solar power can help put a dent in that statistic in a city like Steamboat Springs that is responsible for a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Because solar panels don't release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they're a good trade for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you'll likely recognize that there are many benefits of adopting solar energy other than just saving money on electricity. You can also help preserve the environment, which some would argue is invaluable.