A big question in today’s society is knowing if solar power is worth it. Being environmentally friendly and lowering carbon footprinting are important to a variety of people. One big way to do both is by installing solar panels as the energy source for your house.
On average, Kennewick, WA, gets 191 sunny days a year. That’s very close to the national average of 205 days a year. You can imagine that’s enough sunlight to power an entire household or more. While Kennewick gets its fair share of sunlight, it gets a good amount of rain as well, but that doesn’t mean solar power isn’t the right move.
Knowing if you should get solar panels or not, all depends on a variety of factors like accessibility, cost, and location. Besides those factors, there are many other variables to consider before making the change from fossil fuels to sunlight.
Factors to Consider
Multiple factors come into play when deciding if solar power is worth it. These factors include location, motivation, and solar incentives.Â
Location
When choosing to put solar panels on your roof, the physical location of your home is important. Solar energy works best for homes that face either south or west, as those directions receive the most direct sunlight. This can mean cutting down trees around your house if they are blocking the direct sunlight. Those trees you have to cut down may aid in your quality of life. This can impact a decision when it comes to preparing your home for the addition of solar panels.Â
Motivation
Your motivation for buying solar panels plays a large role in if you should get them. While wanting a clean energy source is great, it may not always be the best decision for your home specifically. As mentioned above, location is important. If your home does not receive a lot of sun exposure, it will lead to a lack of energy in your home. Another motivation involves your home’s value. Depending on your location, having solar energy can increase the value of your home. Having a solar power system is seen as an upgrade to your home similar to a newly renovated kitchen.Â
Incentives
Many states offer tax incentives to people who own solar panels. The state of Washington has a sales tax exemption. This means that people who own solar energy systems can be exempt from sales tax for the purchase of any installation or equipment necessary. The federal government has a solar investment tax credit. This means anyone with solar panels in Kennewick can claim a reduction in income tax based on the price of the solar system they own.Â
These incentives are a great upside to adding solar panels to your home aside from conserving energy. There are many reasons why people decide to invest in solar power. From conserving energy to increasing your home’s value, solar panels have a lot of upsides. Despite all the upsides, it’s also important to look at how much installing an energy system will cost you.Â
Costs of Installing Solar Panels in Kennewick
Finding the right Kennewick solar installer can be difficult and cost you thousands of dollars. Different Kennewick solar companies will have different options for investing in solar. You can either lease a solar energy system or buy one outright.Â
The average solar panel system in Kennewick, WA, can cost between $15 and $30 thousand. This is before incorporating any of the state and local tax incentives. This price is based on a solar panel system of 5 kilowatts. This brings the average to $2.53 per kilowatt.Â
For example, when looking at a 5-kilowatt system, it can cost around $12 thousand before any tax incentives are considered. Once you include tax incentives in the pricing, the same energy system will be approximately $9 thousand. While you may not see a large return immediately, over 20 years you can see savings of $10,000s. If you’re in a home that you know you’ll be in for the foreseeable future, solar panels will bring you a return on investment in the long run.Â
Besides the overall cost of the solar system, there are other costs associated with financing. These include solar panel installation in Kennewick, WA, equipment, and repairs. Â
Owning or Leasing are Options
Owning a solar panel system can seem daunting, that’s why leasing is an option. With leasing a solar energy system, you may not receive all the incentives mentioned above, but you will be able to test out how solar energy works for you. With leasing, you pay a fixed monthly amount and avoid paying for installation, maintenance, and repairs on your energy system.Â
Leasing will avoid the upfront costs of owning a solar panel system. This also means you may end up spending more than you would like. When you own a solar system, once you pay it off your energy is free. With leasing, there is no paying off the system. You continue to pay for energy until you decide you no longer want the system or you decide to purchase one.Â
Leasing a solar panel system can also cause issues if you sell your home. Owning a solar panel system can bring in buyers and increase your home’s value, but leasing one can deter homeowners from purchasing your home. Not everyone wants the long-term commitment that comes with leasing a solar.Â
Leasing can be a great option depending on your needs, but when it comes to solar panel systems, it’s best to think long-term about your solar energy goals.Â
There are many things to consider when deciding if you should lease or finance a solar energy system. Knowing your long-term goals and all the benefits of leasing versus financing is important.Â
How Do Solar Panels Save You Money?
Solar energy is a great option if you wish to be more environmentally conscious and also save money in the long run. How much money solar energy will save you all depends on how much energy you currently use.
Currently, in Kennewick, WA, the rate of energy is $7.39 kilowatts per hour. Solar power rates on average, are as low as $2.53 kilowatts per hour.
Solar power became popular back in the early 2000s, and since then, the energy rate has only gone down each year. As solar energy systems become more popular, the cost associated with installing them lowers.
When installing a solar power system, you can enhance it by using energy-efficient devices, which will lower your overall energy costs. While upfront costs are not cheap, in the long run, solar energy will save you money.
Do Solar Panels Work In Kennewick, WA?
As a whole, depending on your goals and location, switching to solar energy can 100% be worth the long-term investment. If you’re looking for a way to be more environmentally friendly while also lowering your electricity bill monthly solar energy can do both.
Deciding to finance or lease solar panels for your home is a big decision. That is why many factors go into the process of installing a solar panel system. From making sure your house is in a good location to ensuring your roof gets a lot of good sunlight, there are a lot of elements to look at.
Solar energy can be intense when it comes to upfront costs. Knowing how solar energy works and knowing that it is a long-term investment is important in your decision. Once you’ve paid off your system in 5 to 15 years, it will be well worth it when you no longer have to pay for energy.
