15 Best Solar Companies in Arlington, MA (Mar 2023 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Arlington

For the majority of homeowners, the decision to invest in solar energy comes down to the cost. The cost of solar and the savings it generates vary depending on a few important factors such as:

• How much sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop gets limited direct sunlight, your solar system won't be able to make as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on power bills than a roof that gets lots of sunlight.
• Typical energy usage: The more energy your home consumes on average and the greater your current energy bills are, the more benefits you'll see from making the switch to solar.
• System size and type: Some models are more expensive than others, so the one you decide on can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need to buy, the more it'll cost.
• Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which can save you some money, allows you to deduct 30% of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes. Plus, not including incentives, you can save about $24,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.

Even though a solar panel system costs a decent chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more in the long term. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, including the amount of daily direct sunlight available and incentives.

Solar Incentives in Arlington

If you're planning on switching to solar power, a variety of government incentives and subsidies can greatly lower the cost of the project and expedite the return on your investment. You are eligible for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your a solar panel system. You can also potentially pair the ITC with other local incentives. For detailed information about local incentives, check out our our article on solar incentives.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Arlington

One of the best reasons to switch to solar energy is to minimize your dependence on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are damaging for the environment. But how much can installing solar panels actually affect the environment? The average person has a substantial carbon footprint. Between their car, which produces over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year, and powering their home, it can be overwhelming to think about what to do. Installing solar panels is one of the easiest things you can do to help. Once you go solar, your carbon footprint can be cut by about 40 pounds a year. As you can see, investing in solar has so many other perks beyond saving money. One of the major ones is that you can help save the Earth too.