11 Best Solar Companies in Suffolk, VA (Mar 2023 Review)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Suffolk

Even though solar panels can save you a good amount of money on utility bills over time, it's necessary to consider the upfront costs. Some significant things that determine the upfront cost and potential savings over time include:

• System size and type: Some models are more costly than others, so the one you want to get can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need to get, the more it'll cost.
• Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to reduce your taxes by 30% of the project cost. Your state and even local utility companies may also have incentives and rebates that you can benefit from. Additionally, you can save about $18,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, before factoring in incentives.
• Electricity consumption: The average home in Suffolk uses a lot of energy, and therefore may see more savings on electricity bills than other places.
• How much sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop gets limited direct sunlight, your solar panels won't be able to make as much energy, which will give you lower savings on electric bills than a roof that gets lots of sunlight.

So is buying solar panels worth it? Whether you're trying to decrease your electricity costs, carbon dioxide emissions or both, solar panels are a good investment for many Suffolk homeowners.

Solar Incentives in Suffolk

In order to increase the number of homes and businesses that use solar power, federal and local governments — and even some utility companies — offer incentives to help make solar power more financially viable and accessible. There are several federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that earn anywhere from 30% to 50% of your money in return after paying for solar panels. For comprehensive information about local incentives, check out our our article on solar incentives.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Suffolk

Lots of people want to do what they can to help save the planet, which in many cases is the prime motivation to install solar panels. But how much can switching to solar actually help the environment? The average person has a sizable carbon footprint. Between their car, which is responsible for over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year, and electricity for their home, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to do. Installing solar panels is a practical thing you can do to help. If you go solar, your carbon footprint can be cut by about 60 pounds each year. The advantages of solar power are infinite — just like solar power is! That's why so many homeowners have been happy with making the switch to solar.