17 Best Solar Companies in Columbia, MI (Mar 2023 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Columbia

Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you must first pay to install your panels. Some main factors that affect how much it will cost to install solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time include:

• Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who purchase and 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 $22,000 on your energy bills over 20 years excluding incentives.
• Average daily sunlight: Since Columbia doesn't get a lot of average daily sunlight, your solar system may not be able to produce enough energy to power your whole home, which impacts how much your electricity bills will be.
• Your home's power bills: Based on the fairly high monthly energy bills in Columbia, you could save about $1,400 a year with solar.
• System size and type: Some models are more pricy than others, so the one you want to get can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need, the more it'll cost.

Though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount over time. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, such as the kind of solar panels you get and your energy consumption.

Solar Incentives in Columbia

Although solar power is typically a big investment, it can save you a substantial amount of money in the long term due to lower power bills and government incentives. There are several federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that let you earn some money in return after paying for a solar panel system. For detailed information about incentives that apply to you, visit our our article on solar incentives.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Columbia

There are a few important reasons why homeowners are considering solar energy: for the good of their bank accounts and the planet. A question many might be wondering about is how much can they really help protect the environment by going solar anyway? If your family consumes a lot of energy, you can have an even greater impact on the planet by switching to solar energy. While making solar panels emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by greatly lowering the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used traditional energy. In Columbia, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year with solar panels. As you can see, going solar has so many other rewards besides saving money. One of the main ones is that you can help save the planet too.