Harnessing the sun's rays and converting them into usable electric energy is rewarding simply because it helps makes us less dependent on fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources. But today, solar system ownership is also more rewarding than ever before in regard to the monetary return on investment.
At Sun Solar Electric, we can help you save the maximum amount possible on your solar panel installation costs, through competitive rates and by assisting you in signing up for all relevant rebates and incentive programs on local, state, and federal levels.
Read on to learn more about how owning your own "solar system" can be a profitable enterprise! And feel free to contact us for more information, a free solar energy consultation, or a free no obligation quote by calling 707-658-2157 today!
Join The "Solar Revolution!"
California has soared far and away past all other US states in its total solar energy usage in recent years. The amount of solar energy being produced and used in California doubled three times in a row between 2013 and 2015, and today, California derives over 13% of its total energy from solar sources.
Homeowners in California are both saving money on their energy bills and in some cases making money by selling excess solar energy produced by their solar panels back to their electric provider. And having a productive solar system installed on your roof or on your property grounds is a also a major increase to a home's value and marketability!
Business owners do well to invest in solar for the same reasons as homeowners, but additionally, they can attract "eco-conscious" customers who choose companies with good "eco track records" over those that lack them.
So, what is driving this solar revolution? A combination of factors are at play, for sure, including these:
- Solar panels today are much more efficient and cost-effective than they were only 5 or 10 years ago.
- As solar technology becomes more widely used and manufactured in greater quantity, the price point for purchasing your own solar system continues to fall.
- Producing your own electric on-site gives you greater independence. Depending on how your system is set up, you no longer have to fear black-outs. That's especially good for businesses that don't have to suffer needless down time!
- By selling solar energy back into the gird, you can lower or eliminate your electric bill - or even profit from an energy surplus.
- Federal, state, and local incentive programs can lower the costs of buying and installing a solar system considerably.
- Solar panels add to a property's resale value and may make it sell faster on the market.
- A new law in California has made solar panel installation mandatory on most new residential construction.
Avoiding High Energy Costs
For both home and business owners, the price of electric power has been on the rise for decades, having doubled twice between 1950 and 2013. And the fact is, the cost of electricity is only continuing to grow with every passing year. People are more dependent on electric power than ever. Lights, appliances, fans, vents, heating and cooling units, computers, TV, radio, and other media electronics, and more all depend on electric to operate. And as we go into the future, electric automobiles and home charge stations and electric trains are likely to consume large quantities of electricity as well. Finally, consider the ever growing US population in connection with the increased individual and corporate use of electric power, and you'll see that demand for electricity will continue to rise indefinitely (and so will the price per kW.)
Unless you plan on becoming a hermit and living out in a mountain cave, you can't avoid using electricity - and probably a considerable amount of it. We can reduce usage and avoid wasting power through energy efficiency efforts, but nonetheless, a large amount of electric power will still be needed by most households and businesses. Therefore, the key is to reduce the cost of electric and to find a way to produce it yourself, if possible, so you can profit on this intense demand for electric power that isn't going away for the foreseeable future.
Solar energy production is the only practical way for most people to do that.
When Is the Best Time to "Go Solar?"
Now is the time to "go solar." Why? Because solar energy is more practical and more profitable than ever before. It's now within the reach of a large percentage of home and business owners to install a high quality solar system and buy ownership of that system within a 5-year period.
After the system has been purchased, there is generally very little maintenance cost to worry about. It's virtually all ongoing profits or cost reductions from there on. And modern solar systems usually last and stay economical for 25 years or more (and come with a 25-year warranty.)
Now, most people "break even" on solar power investments in 5 to 8 years. (The more power you use; the earlier the break even point comes.) That means you have 17 to 20 years or more of return on your investment, and you could easily save hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year. Add it up. You save $10,000, $25,000, or more over the long term, depending on how high your energy use level is. Once you get past the initial purchase and installation expense, the savings rack up rapidly for years and even decades on end!
Also, the Federal Investment Tax Credit of 30% is scheduled to gradually diminish over the coming years till it eventually ends. If you act now, with the 30% still in place, you could save $4,500 on a $15,000 solar system, for example - you simply reduce your taxes by the tax credit amount. And you can stretch your tax credit over several years if it is larger than your total taxes would have been anyway - so you don't have to lose those savings just because they don't "fit" on one year's tax return.
And finally, now is a great time to obtain adequate financing for solar power at reasonable rates. many banks, credit unions, and other lenders offer home equity loans and shorter term unsecured loans to help you buy your solar system right away.
PPA or PACE: Which Is Superior?
Under a PPA (Pre-paid Power Agreement), you can have a 3rd-party install a solar system on your building and "rent" the system from the installation company, which continues to own it and derive most of the benefits from it. But, you would still benefit by having a lower power bill from month to month, and you wouldn't have to pay the costs of purchase and installation of the solar system. In certain situation, a PPA or similar leasing agreement might be preferable to some homeowners, but in general, it's best to own your solar panels so you can reap the full ROI from them.
PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) is a program that helps you buy your solar system in an affordable way in a reasonable number of years. Both residential and commercial properties are eligible for PACE. Under PACE, you pay off your solar system's cost as part of your property taxes on your building. You get the 30% federal investment tax credit, your building's value is increased by the presence of the solar panels, and the increased value of your property due to the solar panels is tax-exempt.
Finally, you have the right to transfer the ownership of the system's warranty and its NEMA (Net Energy Metering Agreement) to a new owner of the building if you ever sell. And the solar system and NEMA are big selling points as well!
You don't have to have a great credit score to get approved for PACE. As long as you are up to date on your mortgage and on your property taxes, you are likely eligible for the program.
Why Choose Sun Solar Electric?
We at Sun Solar Electric always put the customer's best interests first. We therefore encourage taking measures, like the PACE program, to secure ownership of your own solar panels and accompanying equipment. If you own the solar system and you own the net metering agreement with the power company, you stand to get the highest ROI possible. However, we certainly give you multiple options on how to set up your solar system financially. We give you all the relevant information and enable you to make a wise decision based on your needs, budget, and future plans.
We give you full options when it comes to selecting your solar panels and equipment, choosing a location for them, and in all other aspects of the solar system installation process. We also facilitate for you the full spectrum of choices when it comes to whether to own or lease the solar system and in if/how to set up a net metering agreement. We have deep experience in every aspect of the solar power industry, and we give you the benefit of our advice, but we never "tell you what to do."
Another factor that sets Sun Solar Electric apart from the competition is the conscientious care and diligence we give to assessing your property and power grid before making any installations. We provide you with a full study of your past electric use and energy efficiency. We examine your current power grid and panels and determine if you need an electrical upgrades first before installing the solar panels and connecting them to the grid. In short, we help match you to a solar system set up that fits well your current needs and future projected needs, while also making sure it will fit your budget.
The ultimate test of the success of your solar panels is how efficiently they produce electric power and how much you can save or earn by selling that power back to the electric company. That, combined with the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit and state and local solar energy incentives, will constitute the true ROI of your solar system.
Our staff here at Sun Solar Electric are expert in maximizing the return on investment on solar power for all of our clients. We realize that only by making saving the environment affordable and even profitable is it going to ultimately become popular, even commonplace. And in the case of solar energy, we are winning the battle to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and at the same time securing long term financial benefits for our clients.
Contact Sun Solar Electric Today for More Information on Solar ROI or For A Free Consultation and Quote on Solar System Services!
At Sun Solar Electric, we can show you how to achieve solar system ownership in a reasonable amount of time and help you find ways to maximize your "Solar ROI." We specialize in all things solar, from helping you select your new solar equipment, installing full solar systems, making any repairs or upgrades to your system later on, and helping you make money off your solar energy production.
Contact us today by calling 707-658-2157, and we can help you begin to save money and make money while at the same time helping the environment!
Sun Solar Electric is based out of Sonoma, California, and serves both Sonoma and all the surrounding counties of the SF Bay Area. We have made a major impact over the years on lower the Bay Area's collective carbon footprint, and we continue to reduce our state's dependence on fossil fuel based energy day by day!