15 Best Solar Companies in Washington, IL (Mar 2023 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Washington

The cost of putting up solar panels has decreased significantly in the past few years, but it's still a significant investment for most homeowners. Some important 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:

• The cost of energy for you: If your local utility rates are high, there's a good chance you'll get a higher return on your investment in a solar system. In Washington, you can save an average of $74 a month on your electricity bills.
• Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who purchase and install a solar energy system this year can save 30% of their total solar spend by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $13,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years without incentives.
• Your income and budget: This shapes what kind of solar panels you can afford.
• How much sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop gets limited direct sunlight, your solar panels won't be able to make as much energy, which will give you lower savings on energy bills than a roof that gets plenty of sunlight.

Due to the cost of solar panels being lower than before as well as several solar incentives, they are a solid investment for many homeowners.

Solar Incentives in Washington

Because solar power is more sustainable than traditional energy sources, there are various government incentives in place to encourage people to make the switch. On top of the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some state- and city-level incentives, which in almost all cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you can save even more. Our article on solar incentives has more in-depth information on the incentives you can benefit from in Washington.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Washington

One of the best reasons to adopt solar power is to reduce your dependence on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are harmful for the environment. But you may be curious — how much exactly can you help the planet by making the switch to solar? For homeowners who want to do their part for the planet, using solar power is a no-brainer, especially since Washington produces a very high amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation. In fact, if you adopt solar power, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. If you want to do your part for the environment, you'll likely find that there are many benefits of adopting solar energy other than just saving money on bills. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is priceless.