Why go solar?
Why going solar is a smart investment after all
No matter your motive for going solar, there is room for everyone to enjoy the many benefits behind harvesting the Sun.
Enjoy tax free savings by using solar power
Utility residential electricity prices have risen steadily in the last decade. According to the Energy Information Administration, residential electricity rates have increased nationally by around 30% in the last 10 years – from about 9¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2005 to about 13¢/kWh in 2014 (an increase of about 0.4¢/year).
This may not sound like much, but these numbers add up over time: if your home uses about 500kWh of electricity per month, by the end of this 10-year period, you will have paid about $1,300 more in total (about $130 more per year) for your electricity than if rates had stayed at their 2005 levels.
One often overlooked financial benefit of solar is that the savings are not considered income by the federal or state tax authorities and are therefore tax free. Depending on your effective tax bracket this is an additional benefit of between 20-35% when compared to other investment options such as stocks, bonds or other equities.
Solar Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
The federal solar tax credit, also known as the investment tax credit (ITC), allows you to deduct 30 percent of the cost of installing a solar energy system from your federal taxes. The ITC applies to both residential and commercial systems, and there is no cap on its value.
Thanks to the spending bill that Congress passed in late December 2015, the tax credit is now available to homeowners in some form through 2021. Here are the specifics:
2016 – 2019: The tax credit remains at 30 percent of the cost of the system. This means that in 2017, you can still get a major discounted price for your solar panel system.
2020: Owners of new residential and commercial solar can deduct 26 percent of the cost of the system from their taxes.
2021: Owners of new residential and commercial solar can deduct 22 percent of the cost of the system from their taxes.
2022 onwards: Owners of new commercial solar energy systems can deduct 10 percent of the cost of the system from their taxes. There is no federal credit for residential solar energy systems.
Solar Increases the Value of Your Home
Besides bringing enormous savings and tax benefits, solar power installation becomes an attractive asset for every homeowner looking to sell their homes in the future, as these systems have been shown to increase the value of your home. Another finding has also shown short listings times before closing your home.
A 2013 study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory indicates that a medium-sized residential solar system can add more than $20,000 to the value of a home.
Finally, the addition of a solar energy system has proven to draw increased interest from home buyers, leading to shorter periods of time on the market. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes with solar sell at up to twice the rate of their conventional counterparts.
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If you are considering home solar energy in Denver, know that you would be in good hands with the expert technicians at Golden Solar. If you would like to know more about the residential solar panel services that we provide in the Denver metro area, give us a call today!