14 Best Solar Companies in College, PA (Aug 2022 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in College

We get that for most homeowners, the choice to invest in solar hinges on installation costs. The cost of solar and the savings it generates vary depending on some key factors such as:

• Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you need will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If you don't need to maximize efficiency, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
• How much power your home consumes: Homes that use lots of power each month may call for more solar panels and, consequently, more upfront cost, but will also enjoy more savings over time.
• Incentives: Those who install a solar energy system this year can save 26% of their installation costs by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $12,000 on your energy bills over 20 years excluding incentives.
• Your current electricity bills: Solar panels can substantially lower, or completely eradicate, your utility bills. In College, you can save an average of $77 a month.

Solar is a profitable investment for most homeowners. You can generate your own energy instead of paying for it from a utility company and make use of solar incentives, all while helping protect the Earth.

Solar Incentives in College

In an effort to increase the adoption of solar power, federal, state and local governments — and even some utility companies — offer incentives to help make solar power more economical and accessible. On top of the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some state- and city-level benefits, which in most cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you get to save even more. For comprehensive information about incentives for homeowners in College, check out the table below.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in College

Many want to do their part to help the environment, which often is the chief reason for installing a solar system. But — how much exactly can you help the environment by going solar? How much energy you use is a significant factor to consider. The more energy your home uses, the larger your impact when you go solar. Though making solar panels emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by significantly reducing the amount of CO2 you would have released if you still used traditional energy. In College, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 50 pounds a year with solar panels. Since energy from the sun is renewable and produces electricity without CO2 emissions, installing solar panels is one easy step you can take to help preserve the planet.