12 Best Solar Companies in River Forest, IL (Jan 2023 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in River Forest

Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you first need to pay to set up your system. Some key things that influence the cost and possible savings include:

• The amount of sunlight your house gets: Due to River Forest's high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a decent amount on your power 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 space isn't a constraint for your project, you can go with a higher number of more affordable panels.
• Incentives: Those who purchase and install a solar energy system this year can save 30% of their overall solar costs by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $13,000 on your energy bills over 20 years excluding incentives.
• How much power your household needs: If your home regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll see more savings from going solar.

Even though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount in the long term. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, such as the amount of daily direct sunlight available and your local electricity rates.

Solar Incentives in River Forest

Although solar power is typically a large investment, it can save you a lot of money over many years due to lower energy bills and government incentives. There are several federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that may earn you some money in return after buying a qualifying system. You can find out about the incentives you can use in our article on solar incentives

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in River Forest

There are lots of reasons to switch to solar energy, like saving money on electricity bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint. You may be trying to figure out — how much does going solar help the environment anyway? One thing you should keep in mind is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you have a long commute time and have an electric vehicle, you can use solar energy for your home to power your EV and therefore help offset your carbon emissions. If you go solar, your carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by about 90 pounds a year. If you care about the environment, you'll most likely understand that there are many advantages to adopting solar power other than just saving money on bills. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is worth more.