Solar Panel Cost Guide in Fruita, CO (2024 Update)
- Fruita Solar Installation Cost: $14,241
- 25-Year Savings: $19,190
- Payback Period: 12.4 Years
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Average Cost of Solar Panels in Fruita
Find out what the average cost of installing solar panels is in Fruita.
The average cost of a solar panel system in Fruita is 4 per watt.To account for the typical energy usage of the average home in Fruita, most homeowners require a 5.1-kilowatt system. Using the figure above, a solar installation costs around $14,241, or $20,365 before the federal solar tax credit of 0 is applied.
Keep in mind that the numbers above are only averages. The price you’ll pay for solar may look quite different based on your household energy use, the type of solar system you want, your solar contractor and more.But, once you've paid the initial cost of installation, the return on investment for most homeowners is quite good, with a net average savings of about $21,000 over 20 years on utility bills.
To see your potential ROI and connect with a local solar expert, click the button below.
Solar savings over time in Fruita
| Year | Return on Investment |
|---|---|
| 1 years | $-13,272 |
| 3 years | $-11,336 |
| 5 years | $-9,400 |
| 7 years | $-7,464 |
| 9 years | $-5,528 |
| 11 years | $-3,591 |
| 13 years | $-1,655 |
| 15 years | $281 |
| 17 years | $2,217 |
| 19 years | $4,154 |
| 21 years | $6,090 |
| 23 years | $8,026 |
| 25 years | $9,962 |
Top Solar Installers in Fruita
Many homeowners opt for a solar installer since trying to install solar panels on your own can be hard. Plus, warranties and repairs from your solar panel company can protect your investment and reduce the cost of maintenance over time.
Working with a licensed solar company can help you make the most of your investment in solar. Here are our recommendations:
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Outstanding Local Installer
Smart Wave Solar
- Installations include backup power guarantee
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers rewards for customer referrals
- Expensive
- No assistance with solar financing
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
See all of the solar companies in Fruita
Factors that Affect Solar Panel Costs in Fruita
Cost is usually one of the most important factors for homeowners who want to invest in solar. There are a few primary factors that affect your total cost in Fruita: solar equipment and system size, financing options and the solar installation company you choose. We’ll discuss each of these briefly below.
Solar Equipment
One of the most significant factors to consider when it comes to the cost of going solar is the size of the solar system, which is measured in kilowatts (kW). The more power your household consumes, the larger your system will likely need to be. You can expect to pay about $3,980 per kilowatt in Fruita.The brand and kind of equipment you want for your solar system can increase or decrease the price quite significantly. If you prefer a trusted brand name like Tesla or SunPower, these often have a higher price tag than other brands. Efficiency also matters. Whether you’re opting for high efficiency because you have a small roof or just want maximum energy production, you will be looking at a higher equipment cost, but this can typically lead to more savings over time. Also, if you want extra equipment like an electric vehicle charger or solar batteries, this will also increase the cost.
Solar Financing Terms
For some homeowners, paying for a solar system out of pocket can be challenging. Solar loans are available from most installers in Fruita, which can bring down, or in some cases totally eliminate, your upfront costs to make solar more accessible.Though solar loans make adopting solar energy more accessible for Fruita homeowners, they can also add to the total you pay for your system, depending on your interest rate. If you make a larger down payment, though, you can avoid paying as much in interest.
Solar Panel Installation Company
The last major cost factor you should keep in mind is the installer you choose. Given the massive popularity of renewable energy solutions in Fruita, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from, but each comes at varying price points for labor and equipment.You may see national solar installers that have lower prices because of their larger brand name and access to bulk pricing, or you might see small, local installation companies offering deals or specials to compete with those larger companies.
Solar Panel Cost Data by System Size
| System size | Cost per system watt | Solar system cost | 25-Year savings | Payback period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $4.14 | $17,385 | $16,439 | 12.8 years |
| 8 kW | $4.06 | $22,734 | $22,365 | 12.6 years |
| 10 kW | $3.98 | $27,860 | $28,513 | 12.4 years |
| 12 kW | $3.90 | $32,763 | $34,884 | 12.1 years |
| 14 kW | $3.82 | $37,444 | $41,479 | 11.9 years |
| 16 kW | $3.74 | $41,901 | $48,296 | 11.6 years |
| 18 kW | $3.66 | $46,136 | $55,335 | 11.4 years |
| 20 kW | $3.58 | $50,148 | $62,598 | 11.1 years |
How to Save on Solar Panels
The company that does your solar system installation will affect the warranties and brands available to you, and it will also have an impact on your total cost. Since picking a company can be a challenge, we have some tips to help you, such as:
- Installation Process: An important thing to understand when adopting solar power is the installation process itself. Be sure to align on any details you need to know with your solar installer, such as what permits you should acquire and what the project timeline is.
- Solar Panel Brands: The brand of solar panel you want to get plays a role in which installer you should go with, since different companies provide different panels.
- Warranty: A quality company stands out from other companies by providing the gold standard warranty — a 25-year, all-inclusive warranty covering parts, labor and performance.
- Contract: It’s important to read through your solar installer’s contract fully to understand what services they will provide, what the warranty covers and what expectations you should have about the cost.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Outstanding Local Installer
Smart Wave Solar
- Installations include backup power guarantee
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers rewards for customer referrals
- Expensive
- No assistance with solar financing
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
EcoWatch's Fruita, CO Solar Cost FAQs
What is the average cost of installing solar panels in Fruita?
This is a tough question to answer exactly, because the cost depends on a few different factors. Generally speaking, it costs about $19,900 for a 5-kW system and $39,800 for a 10-kW system after the ITC is applied. It will cost more if you want additional solar equipment or more efficient panels, or if you have higher-than-average energy needs. On the flip side, you can spend less if you want a smaller solar panel system or less expensive solar panels.
What other factors should I consider in addition to cost when buying solar panels?
The upfront cost is a key factor to consider, but whether it’s the most important for you depends on why you decided to go solar. In areas where rooftop space is limited, efficiency can be more important than the cost. Other factors that are important to keep in mind are the quality and durability of your solar panels.
Do solar panels increase how much your home is worth?
Solar panels can increase the value of your property by about 4%, according to research done by Zillow. The average home value in Fruita is currently $434,299, so you can look forward to a value of about $17,806 more than houses without a solar system. The specific figures will vary, but most experts agree that installing solar panels in Fruita is a rewarding investment.
How often do you have to replace solar panels?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they are completely unusable at that time. What this means is their energy production will have decreased significantly after that point. You can choose to replace them after having them for that long or you can keep using them at a lower efficiency.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert's opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.