15 Best Solar Companies in Howard, MI (Mar 2023 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Howard

Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you will first need to pay to install your panels. There are a few factors you should consider when trying to determine the overall cost and how much you can save, such as:

• Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, allows you to deduct 30% of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes. In addition, not including incentives, you can save about $19,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
• The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your roof doesn't see much direct sunlight, your solar system won't be able to produce as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on power bills than someone with a roof that gets lots of sunlight.
• Your home's power bills: Based on the fairly high monthly energy bills in Howard, you could save about $1,200 a year with solar.
• Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you want 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 opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.

There are lots of good benefits of solar even with the initial cost of installation. It can help the planet and your wallet. Plus, it can raise the value of your home, leading to even more benefits if you want to sell your home later.

Solar Incentives in Howard

To increase solar panel installation and usage, incentives are offered by the government — and even some utility companies — to help make going solar more economical and accessible. Everyone can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you claim 30% of how much your solar project cost on your tax return, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. Plus, there may be some local incentives that can save you some extra money too. You can learn about the incentives you can use in our article on solar incentives

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Howard

Lots of people want to do their part to help save the environment, which in many cases is the main motivation to install solar panels. You may be curious — how much do solar panels do for the environment anyway? The amount of energy you use is a significant factor to keep in mind. The more energy your home uses, the bigger your impact when you make the switch to solar power. If you go solar, your carbon footprint can be lowered by about 90 pounds every year. For people who care about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for offsetting your carbon emissions.