16 Best Solar Companies in Bedford, NH (Oct 2022 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Bedford

Even though solar panels can save you money on energy over time, it's necessary to take into consideration the upfront costs. The installation cost is just one important factor you should bear in mind when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:

• How much energy you use: If your family uses a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from installing solar panels.
• How much sunlight your roof gets: If your roof gets limited direct sunlight, your solar panels won't be able to produce as much energy, which will give you lower savings on energy bills than a roof that gets lots of sunlight.
• The make and model of solar panels you want: Higher-efficiency panels have higher prices, so that will determine your budget for your solar project.
• Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you deduct 30% of your total installation cost, your local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that will help you save even more. Excluding incentives, you can save an average of $19,000 over 20 years with your solar panels, too.

As a result of solar panels decreasing in cost as well as various solar incentives, they are a cost-effective investment for many homeowners.

Solar Incentives in Bedford

To increase solar panel installation and usage, federal, state and local governments — and even some utility companies — offer incentives to help make going solar more financially viable and accessible. Everyone can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will allow you to claim 30% of your project costs when you file taxes, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. Plus, there may be some state and city incentives that stack with the ITC too. For more information about incentives for homeowners in Bedford, visit our our article on solar incentives.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Bedford

Installing solar panels is a compelling way to do your part for a greener future. A question many might have in mind is how much can they really help the environment by switching to solar power anyway? Something that can severely affect your carbon footprint is how long your commute is and how much you drive in general. If you go solar and drive an electric car, you can vastly decrease your carbon dioxide emissions by charging your car at home. Since solar panels don't release greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they're a good trade for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could expect to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 40 pounds each year. For people who are concerned about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for reducing your carbon footprint.