Bay Area Solar | Solar Panels, Battery Storage, Roofing, HVAC
Reasons to Go Solar in the Bay Area Keep reading if you're in the Bay area and haven't gone solar. Here are several reasons you want to go solar in the Bay area. There were 6 gigawatts (GW) of residential solar installation last year in the United States. That is 40 growth over 2021. Total installed solar capacity now tops 140 GW and is showing no signs of slowing. The explosion of residential solar has much to do with the many advantages it affords. If you are considering solar in the Bay Area, there are many incentives to do so. These include the potential for massive long-term savings on your utility bills. Below are the main reasons you should go solar. Keep reading to find out why solar power may be the right choice for your home. Offset Electricity Costs The average American household spends more than $3,000 a year on energy costs. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, we can only expect those numbers to increase as energy prices continue to rise. Solar energy can substantially offset these costs in the short and long term. How much depends on several variables, including your local energy rates and the efficiency of your solar panel system. Historically, the amount of roof area exposed to the sun had a lot to do with how viable solar was for any given home. That is less so the case today. Of course, your home needs some access to sunlight. But, due to innovations in solar panel technology, almost every home today has the potential to leverage solar power, if it has the right equipment. A reputable solar installation company will be able to recommend solar panels that fit your energy needs and budget. Tax Incentives The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) allows you to deduct 30 percent of the total solar installation costs on residential properties from your federal taxes. So, if you install a $12,000 system, you are eligible for a $3,600 tax break. Besides increasing the tax credit percentage, the Inflation Reduction Act also made it so that the cost of solar battery storage qualifies for tax credits as well. California no longer has a state solar tax credit, but there are other financial incentives you should consider. Solar installation significantly increases your home’s value. That’s good news, but Californians understand full well that this translates to much higher property taxes. Fortunately, the state has an Active Solar Energy System Exclusion that applies to all rooftop systems installed before the end of 2024. This provision ensures that the installation does not impact property valuations, so adding solar to your roof will not increase your property taxes. Finally, California operates a Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. It allows homeowners to finance the entire cost of their solar installation and pay for it through increased assessments in their annual property tax bills. This can be advantageous for anyone reluctant to install solar panels due to upfront costs. More Reliable Energy Electrical outages are a big reason people are considering residential solar throughout California. Solar panel systems allow your home to remain operational even with the grid is down. This can be a huge convenience for anyone, but especially those who rely on electricity for medical equipment or in-home transportation devices. Note that you need battery storage capacity for this to be the case. Solar energy batteries have come a long way in terms of capacity and affordability. They also have other benefits besides energy reliability though. They make your system more versatile, even with grid power on, by allowing you to use more of the energy you produce year-round. Low Maintenance Costs Another reason to consider solar energy for your home is that quality systems require minimal upkeep. Quality solar panels are built to last and perform for 25 to 30 years or more. They are easy to keep clean and are much more durable than panels made just a decade ago. Net Metering Benefits Net metering is a billing mechanism that allows owners of solar panel systems to sell the electricity they are not using back onto the grid. Utilities can offer these incentives on their own, but they are most often the result of regulatory mandates. California’s net metering program applies to anyone who is a customer of the state's three main utilities. California’s current net metering policy, NEM 2.0, will expire this year and be replaced by NEM 3.0. Under this new tariff, customers will receive about 75 percent less per kilowatt of electricity that utilities buy back. The good news is that there is still some time to leverage the benefits of NEM 2.0 and lock in those buyback rates for the next 20 years. You must act fast though––you must apply to the Utilities Commission by April 14, 2023, to be grandfathered into NEM 2.0. Environmental Impact A final reason to consider installing solar in the Bay Area is the positive environmental impacts it will have. Solar energy has played an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and curbing our reliance on fossil fuels as a primary electricity source. Beyond combatting global warming, solar energy eliminates the need for mining and drilling for fossil fuels. This helps improve air quality and reduces water use from electricity production. The Next Steps to Getting Solar in the Bay Area Now that you know the reasons to go solar in the Bay Area, you can determine if it is the right choice for your home. It is important to weigh all the options, but there are significant advantages to not waiting too long to begin saving on your energy bills and leveraging the other benefits of solar. At Semper Solaris, we bring the discipline and dedication we gained in the military to our solar projects. We offer solar installation (including battery storage) in most areas of the state. Reach out to us today to learn more or to schedule installation.
Solar power has assumed increased significance because of the growing awareness of the benefits that accrue. At the individual level, it is incumbent on everyone to reduce energy consumption by adopting solar energy and cut down energy bills. And, it's a sensible way of making use of the free energy that abounds in nature - the sun. However, before you venture to adopt solar energy, it is important to consider things like finance. You could consider opting for solar financing options in Sunnyvale. Before going solar energy, it is important to know whether your home gets benefits from it. Research and determine your requirement. Take into account these points. Be patient, it takes time to accrue savings Your monthly power bill savings will happen soon after you adopt the solar power system when it starts working. Your first electric electricity bill after you install solar power system will guide you on how and to what extent you can reduce the power bill. However, in many cases, people are apprehensive of the heavy cost of installation of solar power equipment. This becomes a great obstacle in the way to adopting solar power. For the residents of Sunnyvale, solar financing options Sunnyvale are available. In fact, it is the best and easiest option without reducing the quality of the product you choose. Take into account the structure of your home's roof Its direction and the kind of sunshine it receives during the year will influence the amount of energy the solar panel brings. Presence of big trees around your roof will fail the panel because of the shadow, which will not allow the panel to get enough sunshine. This happens even if there is a good amount of sunshine during the whole day. Ensure the panels are placed such that they do not collect any debris that obstructs sunshine. Consider the type of solar panels Two important types of technologies are available, namely photovoltaic and thermal. In photovoltaic solar panels, photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into electricity. In thermal solar panels, the sunlight is used to heat air and water for use. You can choose any of the solar panel technologies depending on whether you wish to generate electricity or to heat water or air. When choosing solar panels, there are two types namely mono-crystalline with black stains and polycrystalline which looks in bluish shade. It's different from panel to panel. It is not a case of one thing applies to all When you adopt a solar power system, there is no universal combination that suits all situations that are all designs of homes. It depends on the weather in your area, what kind of panels you need for the size of your house and whether your house is shaded. Research well and find a quality service provider to get solar panels installed. Finding a solar power installation service provider who is well experienced in working with the type of roofing you have. This is important because while installing the solar power panels it is important to take care of the roof without damaging it. Semper Solaris is a local service provider who has years of experience and the knowledge to work with all types of houses. Look for the incentives provided by State Federal and local government levels. If you have planned to invest in solar power equipment you can take the benefit of in the form of subsidies, and other incentives offered by State Federal and local governments. The incentives offered by States along with Federal Tax credit can significantly reduce the cost of solar equipment. You may consider solar tax credit in Sunnyvale for the purpose. Taking the benefit offered by Federal solar credit or solar tax, you can cut down the bill by 26%. However, ensure your system is in according to the eligibility conditions for getting state and local government incentives. Leasing may not help A few people may think that taking a solar power system on lease is a great option. This may be good for people who cannot afford the cost of the equipment. It is also beneficial for those who do not enter the hassles of maintenance of the equipment. In many cases, when buying a new house when the buyer is asked about taking solar equipment on lease, they get dissuaded. And, they wish to break the deal thanks to the high cost. As for the cost, it depends on the capacity of the panel. That is, if you're planning to buy more potential panels, you need to pay more. If you consider the installation and the output that it delivers, you can determine how much you need to spend on the panels. Consider taking solar tax credit in Sunnyvale. This will help you reduce the cost significantly. Don't overlook the inverter The inverter is the most expensive component in a solar power system. Many people look for more economical options and take home the one that doesn't last long. To get the best inverter research and follow the recommendations from reliable and trust add trusted sources. Buy the best quality inverter one with fewer PV cells at the beginning if you are planning to reduce the cost in the beginning. Maintenance of solar panels is important Solar panels are durable, simple and static. The maintenance cost is very low and will never hurt your finances - the maintenance does not entail heavy cost on you. You need to get them maintained from time to time. Ensure they are clean on the surface. Leaves or any kind of debris should be cleaned up. You will get a warranty of 20 to 25 years The solar power system that you are going to buy gets coverage of 22 to 25 years warranty. In most cases, it is 30 years or even more. In other words, you can reap the benefits of solar panels of saving energy as well as giving good protection to the environment. Conclusion Switching to solar energy is a sensible decision. Though it may entail a big expense upfront, it will help save in the long run. Make sure of the various incentives offered by government authorities while buying solar energy equipment if you cannot afford to bear the cost of the panels. While choosing the solar panels, choose the best solar companies Sunnyvale. Search on the Internet. You could also take the help of word of mouth from your family, relations, and others.
