SOLAR PANELS IN BERKELEY, CA

• YOU CAN SAVE ON YOUR UTILITIES BILL

At the most basic level, solar panels are devices that take in the sun’s rays and convert them into electricity or heat. Once the sun hits the panels, the energy is made into electricity. A solar inverter helps turn the electricity into power that can be used. The more panels you have on a roof, the more solar electricity you can produce! Solar panels generate their own power and as a result can offset your monthly electricity bill, if not eliminate it in Berkeley.

• REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT IN Berkeley

Solar energy is a renewable, carbon-free resource so it can help Berkeley to combat greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. While there are what some call hidden carbon footprints regarding the manufacturing of solar panels, once installed, it is carbon free. In order for the panels to be carbon neutral meaning save more than was used during manufacturing, the solar panels will need to be in operation for 3 years. After these 3 years, the system will remain carbon neutral for the rest of its lifespan. The carbon footprint of solar panel’s is around 20% less than the carbon output of electricity sources powered by coal. Furthermore, for a system size of 6kw, there is a reduction of around 6.3 metric tons of carbon emission per year.

• TIME SENSITIVE INCENTIVES

The Solar Investment Tax Credit, also known as the Federal Solar Tax Credit, aims to help grow solar energy in the United States. In order to help reduce the initial cost of solar, all U.S. solar customers are eligible for a tax credit for 26% off their solar system if it is installed and turned on, generating power, by the end of 2022. This tax credit can be claimed by any U.S. homeowner as long as the system is on your primary or secondary residential location. This incentive is time sensitive as in 2024 it will not be available to homeowners. Additionally, the percentage decreases in 2023 to 22%. Learn more about the Federal Solar Tax Credit at Energy.gov.

• IMPROVE THE VALUE OF YOUR HOUSE IN Berkeley

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory says that installing solar panels is viewed as an upgrade and homebuyers across the country are willing to pay a premium for the economic and environmental benefits of a solar home. Additionally, homes with solar panels often sell faster than those without. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory states that every dollar that is saved on energy through solar increases home value by $20 in Berkeley . More research shows that solar panels can add an average of $18,324 to the value of a medium-sized home.

• FIGHT AGAINST RISING ELECTRICITY COSTS IN Berkeley

It is no surprise that electricity costs have been increasing. The cost of electricity has risen dramatically in the last ten years and that trend is expected to continue in Berkeley, California. Read more about the rising electricity costs on Energy Information Administration page. According to the Energy Information Administration, the average nominal retail electricity price paid by U.S. residential electric customers rose at the fastest rate since 2008, increasing 4.3% from 2020 to 13.72 cents per kilowatthour in 2021. Solar panels are like an insurance policy against increasing electricity rates. With home solar, you get the power to control your energy’s future.