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

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Decatur

Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you will need to pay to set up your panels. Some key factors that determine how much it will cost to install a solar panel system on your home and how much it could save you over time are:

• Incentives: Those who buy and install a solar energy system this year can save 30% of their installation costs by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $21,000 on your energy bills over 20 years excluding incentives.
• System size and type: Some models are more pricy than others, so the one you get can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need, the more it'll cost.
• Average daily sunlight: Since Decatur gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally generate enough energy to power your whole home, which affects how much you can save on your energy bills.
• How much energy your household consumes: Homes that use a lot of electricity each month may need more solar panels and, therefore, be more costly, but will also enjoy more savings over time.

Even though a solar panel system costs a decent chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, including the size of your house and incentives.

Solar Incentives in Decatur

There are a lot of reasons why you should switch to solar. One of them involves some government incentives that can save you money. Everyone can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will let you claim 30% of how much your solar project cost on your tax return, reducing the amount of taxes you owe that year. Additionally, there may be some local incentives that stack with the ITC too. Take a look at our article on solar incentives to see what incentives are available to you.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Decatur

There are many reasons to make the switch to solar power, like saving on electricity bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint. Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Decatur, though. As reported by the EPA, electricity generation is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. Installing solar panels and switching to renewable energy can help bring down that number in a city like Decatur that produces 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 swap 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 most likely recognize that there are many advantages to adopting solar energy other than just saving money on electricity. You can also help preserve the environment, which some would argue is priceless.