11 Best Solar Companies in Oak Ridge, NC (Oct 2022 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Oak Ridge

For many people considering switching to solar, the decision of which solar company to choose comes down to total costs. A few main factors that determine how much it will cost to install a solar panel system on your home and how much money you could save over time are:

• The kind of solar panels you're thinking of getting: More efficient panels are more costly, so that will affect your budget for your solar project.
• Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who purchase and install a solar system this year can save 30% of their installation costs by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $17,000 on your utility bills over 20 years without incentives.
• The amount of sunlight your roof gets: This, plus the configuration of your roof, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can produce.
• Your current electricity bills: Solar panels can noticeably decrease, or totally eliminate, your utility bills. In Oak Ridge, you can save an average of $102 a month.

Even though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more over time. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, such as the angle of your roof and your local electricity rates.

Solar Incentives in Oak Ridge

To increase solar panel installation and usage, incentives are offered by the government — and even some utility companies — to help make solar more economical and accessible. In addition to the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some state- and city-level programs, which in most cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you can save even more. For comprehensive information about incentives that apply to you, see the table below.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Oak Ridge

One of the most compelling reasons to embrace solar energy is to cut your dependence on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are damaging for the environment. Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Oak Ridge, though. Regardless of your location, you can help save the planet by switching to solar energy, but homes that consume a lot of energy will have an even bigger impact. While making solar panels emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by greatly reducing the amount of CO2 you would have been responsible for if you still used nonrenewable energy. In Oak Ridge, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 60 pounds a year with solar panels. The good things about solar power are plentiful — just like solar power is! That's why so many Oak Ridge residents have been happy with using solar energy.