Solar panels can bring many benefits to your home. New York State has made solar energy more affordable for residents. It offers financing, incentives, education, training, and community projects. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone to get a return on their investment while simultaneously reducing their carbon footprint.
Costs
New York offers a program that lowers the price of solar panels. NY-Sun provides rebates of $300 to $500 per unit for residential installations. An average state solar installation costs between $13,642 to $18,458. Installing solar in New York is possible with a 30% federal tax credit. This credit can reduce the cost by thousands.
In order to determine how much money you will save from installing solar panels, you should first determine how much energy your home uses. A 6.5-kW, 6-kilowatt solar panel system can generate 650 to 700 kilowatts/month depending on your location. Next, calculate how much energy you will save per year by not paying for your bills.
Installation
New York state is one of America's most popular solar markets. This is largely because of its high cost of utilities as well as the favorable incentives to install solar panels. With few shadows, New York City has a perfect solar energy environment. This means that panels are able to produce electricity in spite of the lack of shade. New York's high-rise buildings do not block sunlight making solar panels the best choice for New York City residents.
Solar technologies have many advantages. They can reduce the city's need for electricity and reduce dependence on other sources. Depending on the design, solar panels can provide both electrical and thermal energy, which can be used to heat water or power appliances. However, the installation of solar electric or hot water systems requires professional engineering. These engineers must verify that the building's structural system can support the extra weight. For building-connected solar energy systems, you will need to obtain a building permit.
South-facing roofs
Many homeowners are installing solar panels on their roofs. The best place for solar panels is generally a south-facing rooftop. These panels are most effective on roofs with a slope of 15 to 40 degrees. You should also make sure that your roof is in good condition.
South-facing panels are the best because they receive the most solar energy throughout each day. Contrarily, a west-facing rooftop will receive less energy, especially late in the afternoon. This is good news both for you and the local utility. Electricity is usually most expensive in the late afternoon when the demand is highest. Most solar customers like sticking it to the local utility.
Community solar
Community solar energy programs offer a viable alternative to traditional green electricity. Participants in these programs don't need to buy individual panels. They can purchase shares in a solar farm, or rooftop installation. The solar panels can then be used to offset the customer's electricity use. This can help reduce customers' overall utility bills. A good example of cooperative social enterprises is the community solar program.
Community solar members can enjoy significant financial benefits such as a 10% discount on the utility bill. They help ensure that all their electricity is renewable and advance solar energy use in New York City. This arrangement has a downside. Some members might be disappointed when their utility diverts their community solar electricity to meet their Clean Energy Standard mandate.