In many parts of the country, residents installing solar panels do it primarily for environmental reasons.
While that might also be a motivator in Central Washington, Paul Comiskey, general manager of AllCities Solar in Yakima, said there’s another “green” factor at work here – with our abundant sunshine, solar energy can save residents money.
“It’s a very good financial decision,” said Comiskey about solar power for Yakima Valley residents. “We get an average of 5.68 hours of sunshine a day throughout the year, so we have a good idea of how much power (solar) will generate.”
That sunshine makes a difference, especially compared to Western Washington.
“In the Interstate 5 corridor, they have about an hour and three-quarters of sunshine a day, so it’s not going the same,” he said.
More panels in city of Yakima
Glenn Denman, a construction officer with the city of Yakima, said the number of permits issued for residential solar panels saw a significant increase in 2021, and that pattern has continued this year.
The number of residential solar panel licenses ranged from 21 to 29 between 2017 and 2020, with 28 licenses issued in 2020. This may interest you : San diego solar loans.
“Then we had 41 licenses (for solar panels) in 2021, and so far this year we’re already 24, not even halfway through the year,” said Denman. “It’s been a popular option for homeowners lately.”
Syed Mujtaba, CEO of Solora Solar, has seen demand for residential solar panels increase every year since he founded the company in 2011. Last year, his company installed more than 100 projects in the Tri-Cities, Yakima and points between them.
“Lately we’ve been seeing a lot of people wanting a greater sense of security. They feel the (power) grid is becoming more unreliable, ”said Mujtaba. “I would say 70-80% of last year’s installations had storage.
“And the battery technology – especially with the lithium ion battery – is becoming so reliable. A lot of people use that, ”he added.
In this photo provided by AllCities Solar, Koby Snider is installing solar panel rails at a home near Cowiche Mill Road in February this year.
Getting to ‘net zero’
Mujtaba and Comiskey, of AllCities Solar, say that many customers aim to become “zero net” homes, which means they generate as much solar power as they use. Read also : Vivint solar san diego office. The key, says Comiskey, is knowing how much power you’re currently using and how many solar panels it will take to produce that amount.
“There will be months, like during the summer, that you will generate more power than you consume. That’s why power storage (with batteries) is important, “said Comiskey. “It’s getting to a point where we’re really close to net zero … we’re trying to get (energy consumption and production) plus or minus 2%.”
“You don’t want to overpower your solar system, but you don’t want it too much,” said Mujtaba. “You have to account for your energy needs, and your budget.”
There is also a limit on how much of your roof can be covered with solar panels, the city’s construction official Denman noted. At least part of the roof must be accessible in the event of a fire, for example. Panels set up on the ground or on the roof of a separate car porch do not have this restriction, Denman said.
He said the process of approving solar panels was relatively simple. The city or county issues a building permit, and the state Department of Labor and Industries issues an electrical permit.
The panel-setting company typically handles these licenses, along with other utility companies’ meters and considerations, Mujtaba said.
“As long as the solar panels do not add more than 4 pounds per square foot to your roof load, you can add (panels) to your roof without having to revisit the structure,” said Denman.
Improvements to panels and framing usually keep the extra roof load below that threshold, said William Thomas, lead installation manager at AllCities Solar.
“The rails are aluminum, and the panels are much lighter than they were,” said Thomas. “Technology is constantly improving and improving.”
Is solar power worth it?
The environmental benefits of solar panels are quite obvious. They take UV sunlight and convert it into usable energy, without burning any fossil fuels and avoiding nuclear power waste disposal problems.
But the financial costs and rewards of using solar power are rather complex. Much of the cost is up-front, in setting up and installing the system, though that can be offset by federal and state financial incentives.
The Consumeraffairs.com site has researched the cost of installing residential solar panels across the county, and found Washington to be the “greenest” state in terms of local incentives and tax credits, followed by Oregon and New Hampshire.
It lists initial cost estimates for a 6 kW solar system, equivalent to about six panels, in each province for the year 2020, and found an average initial cost of $ 14,040 for Washington state. That figure does not account for two major incentives – the federal government’s solar investment tax credit, and the Washington state sales tax exemption.
The federal government first enacted a solar investment tax (ITC) credit in 2006, which allows a person installing solar panels on the roof of their home or business to claim a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the income taxes they would normally incur. pay. to the federal government.
According to the Washington State Utilities and Tax Commission, the amount of this federal tax relief is currently capped at 26% of the amount invested in the solar array. The 26% reduction will remain in place for all projects starting construction before December 31, 2022. It will then decrease to 22% for projects starting construction in 2023. On January 1, 2024, the ITC is expected to end for residential customers, and decrease to 10% for commercial customers.
Washington also provides a sales tax exemption for solar energy systems, such as rooftop solar panels. The exemption is available through 2029 and may exempt sales taxes for the purchase of machinery, equipment, and installation of solar energy systems.
So for the average installation cost of $ 14,040 for the state of Washington referred to above, the federal tax credit would be $ 3,605.40 by the end of this year, and a state sales tax exemption would save $ 912.60.
Comiskey believes the biggest financial incentive for residents is the cash flow earnings “for what you don’t pay for inflation.”
He noted that, on average, the price of what customers pay for power across Washington state increases by about 6% each year. If a solar customer can approach net zero with their energy production and consumption, their energy cost remains flat for the next five, 10 and even 20 years.
During that time, if the customer didn’t have solar energy, they would pay their utility company tens of thousands as inflation increases their energy costs over the next 20 years, Comiskey said.
“You level your energy costs, and avoid paying more for them each year because of inflation,” he added. “That’s a cash flow gain.”
The combination of financial incentives – federal / state incentives, cash flow gains and likely increases in property values - joins our region’s vast sunshine to make solar a solid long-term investment, Comiskey said.
“Yakima is the perfect place for solar because we get the most sunshine in all of Washington,” added Thomas, chief installer of AllCities Solar.
What are 10 disadvantages of solar energy?
10 Disadvantages of Solar Panels
- High cost in advance. …
- The size of the system depends on the space available to you. …
- Need sunny weather to work best. …
- Manufacturing solar panels can damage the environment. …
- Low energy conversion rate. …
- It cannot be used in the evenings. …
- Solar panels are installed in their fixed position.
What are the disadvantages of solar energy class 10?
What are the pros and cons of solar panels?
Yes, there are many benefits to solar power, such as its ability to reduce your carbon footprint and reduce the stress on the electrical grid. But, admittedly, the sun also has its limitations, such as the inability to generate electricity at night and the difficulty of relocating solar panels once installed.
What are 3 disadvantages of using solar panels? Advantages and disadvantages of best solar energy On the other hand, the key disadvantages of solar energy include that it does not work for every roof, it is not ideal if you are about to move, the upfront cost can be expensive, savings can be is low. if your electricity bills are low, and finding a local installer can be difficult.
How many solar panels would it take to power a house?
We estimate that a typical home needs between 20 and 24 solar panels to cover 100 percent of its electricity consumption. The exact number you will need to install depends on factors including geographical location, panel efficiency, panel-rated power, and your personal energy consumption habits.
Can you run a house completely solar powered? With a modern solar energy system, including power storage, you can definitely run a whole house entirely on solar power. Today’s high-efficiency solar panels and batteries are making it cheaper than ever before to power a whole home using only solar energy.
How many solar panels do I need for a 2000 sq ft home?
Therefore, a 2,000 square foot home would have a 4,000 watt solar array. Depending on the type of panel you choose, a system of this size would be anywhere from 12-18 solar panels. Remember, this formula for estimating consumption varies depending on who supplies your electricity.
How many solar panels does it take to run a house off grid?
Most data suggests that a typical American home (a 2,000-square-foot home) consumes about 11,000 kilowatt-hours each year. So when we divide our total consumption by the expected output of one solar panel, we find that about thirteen solar panels of this size would be enough to power a home of that size.
How many solar panels would you need to live off-grid?
If your energy requirements were the same as above mentioned (7 Kw) and you want to use 200-watt solar panels, then you would need more or less 35 panels to take your home off the grid. Or if you used 350-watt solar panels, you would need 20 panels.
How many solar panels and batteries are needed to power a house?
The average American household needs between 19 and 23 solar panels based on an average electricity consumption of 877 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month. Installing many solar panels would cost between $ 13,000 and $ 16,200 after the federal solar tax credit.
Can a house run on solar power alone?
It is possible to run a house on solar power only. However, going completely off the grid requires significant financial and time investment. The higher your energy requirements, the more solar panels you will need.
Can solar panels power a 24 7 house? For all their hard work during the day, solar panels rest at night. By partnering solar panels with net metering and / or solar batteries like Sunrun’s Brightbox, you’ll have a reliable, sustainable energy solution that works for you 24/7.
How long can solar panels power a house?
In short, a quality solar panel can last up to 25 years or even longer. Solar panels are designed to live a long life in the exterior elements. Your typical solar panels come with a 25 year warranty, so you’re guaranteed to reap the benefits for quite a long time.
How long can a solar battery power a house?
With a home-only battery, you would be able to power your basic facilities for about a day or two. Of course, you can extend this electricity usage indefinitely if you pair your home battery with a solar panel system.
How many solar panels does it take to run a house off grid?
Most data suggests that a typical American home (a 2,000-square-foot home) consumes about 11,000 kilowatt-hours each year. So when we divide our total consumption by the expected output of one solar panel, we find that about thirteen solar panels of this size would be enough to power a home of that size.