Best solar companies in Boulder

Solar company:

Freedom Solar

read our review

4.5

Solar company:

Solar Wholesale

read our review

4.5

Solar company:

Solar Side Up

read our review

4.5

Solar company:

Flatiron Solar

read our review

4.5

Solar company:

Golden Solar Electric

read our review

4.5

Solar company:

Pro Bid Energy

read our review

4.5

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Boulder

Although the cost of installing a solar panel system has significantly fallen over the past several years, most homeowners still find it to be a significant expenditure. When estimating the cost and the amount you can save, there are a number of things to take into account, such as: ​

  • Energy consumption: For households with modest energy needs, installing solar panels could be an expensive investment. ​
  • How much sunlight your roof gets: Your roof’s design and this have an impact on how much energy your solar panels can generate.
  • Incentives: You may subtract 30% of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes thanks to the federal solar investment tax credit, which can help you save some money. Additionally, you can save around $19,000 on your energy costs over the course of 20 years, excluding incentives.
  • Choice of solar panels: Your final cost will vary depending on the kind of solar panels you require. Although high-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive up front, they may result in greater savings over the course of your system’s lifespan. If efficiency is not a priority, you might choose a greater number of more cheap panels.

Although a solar panel system is expensive up front, you can save significantly more money over time. However, the answer to that question is dependent on a number of variables, including the type of solar panels you purchase and your existing electricity costs.

Impact of switching to solar in Boulder

20 -year savings$10,346.57
Estimated cost$12,850.00
Estimated incentives$3,341.00
Payback period9.6 years
CO2 emissions prevented217,553 lbs
Miles driven equivalent278,914 mi

Solar Incentives in Boulder

Federal, state, local, and even certain utility corporations all provide incentives to encourage the use of solar energy by making it more economically viable and widely available. For the tax year that your solar panel system is operational, you are eligible for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC). The ITC may also be combined with other regional incentives. See our post on solar subsidies for detailed information on the incentives that apply to you.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Boulder

There are several benefits to switching to solar electricity, including lower utility costs and a smaller carbon footprint. You might be wondering how much going solar actually benefits the environment. The more energy your home consumes, the more beneficial converting to solar will be for the environment because you won’t need to use as much nonrenewable energy. In fact, you could anticipate a 100 pound annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions if you switch to solar power. The initial cost of solar is a small amount to pay for offsetting your carbon emissions for those who care about the environment.

How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?

The average payback time for installing solar panels is 9.5 years, but the precise time depends on local electricity costs, subsidies, and net metering policies.

What is the efficiency of solar panels?

The majority of the time, solar panels are between 15 and 25 percent efficient, which means they can turn that amount of solar energy into useful electricity.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?

The major advantages are that you can reduce your power costs, it’s environmentally beneficial, and you get a good return on your investment (ROI). The main drawbacks are that solar panels can be unsightly, they are expensive up front, and they perform worse when there is little direct sunshine.