There simply is no better time to get PV solar for your home, or commercial facility. Commercial and residential solar installation incentives continue to drop in California and other states and experts believe the same pattern will follow in Denver and all of Colorado. Contact us today to get a Free Site survey and a proposal regarding solar for your property.
We can also provide Energy Audit services for commercial and residential buildings. For Commercial locations, it can sometimes require outside help to fully understand the driving factors of your electric bill and particular rate structure. Our test equipment can identify energy usage patterns over the course of several days to identify anomalies.
There is not a cap on this tax credit and it can be taken over several years!
Suntalk SolarAre you on the fence about investing in solar? If so, consider the following.
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) – The RPS requires electricity providers to generate a certain percentage of their energy from renewable resources. Since 2004, they have raised the required amount of renewable energy a total of three times (it currently stands at 30%). Utility companies that fail to meet these standards will be penalized financially, so it is advantageous for them to offer solar incentives such as Xcel Energy’s Solar*Rewards Program.
Net Metering- Net metering has been pivotal to Colorado’s solar success. It allows you to earn credit for your electric bill or cash for the excess energy your solar energy system produces. Your solar energy system may not only save you money on your utilities, but it can help you to earn a profit on them, too. There are a few metering programs worth looking into, but the top program for solar power systems in Denver, CO, is the one offered by Xcel Energy.
Colorado’s Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Equipment- When you invest in solar power in Denver, CO—or anywhere in the state, for that matter—you are exempt from paying any state tax on the equipment.
Property Tax Exemption for Residential Renewable Energy Equipment- A solar energy system will raise the value of your home. Still, Colorado residents will not have to pay the additional property taxes that typically come with that increased value.
Local and State Solar Policies- Several local and state policies are helping guide Colorado towards a cleaner future with residential solar power in Denver, CO, and throughout the state. The recently unveiled “Roadmap to 100% Renewable Energy by 2040 and Bold Climate Action” outlines many efforts intended to fast track the development of home solar, including:
Requiring utility companies to evaluate retiring coal-fired power plants closely
Allowing utility customers to donate solar energy credits to others
$12 million Renewable/Clean Energy Challenge grant
Expansion of the RENU residential solar loan program
Legislation so utility customers can install storage and share excess electricity
As you can see, if you’re interested in residential solar power in Denver, CO, or anywhere in the state, the local and state governments are looking to help you out. And as the state aims to continue overcoming its reliance on non-renewable energy sources, you should see a lot more policies popping up intended to incentivize and encourage switching over to solar.
The basic premise of solar energy is, simply put, harnessing the naturally produced energy of the sun to provide electrical power for your home or business.
A typical solar energy setup consists of several solar panels, attached in an arrangement known as a “solar array.” A solar panel contains thousands of solar cells, each of which has a positive and negative end with conductors attached to both, turning each cell into a complete electrical circuit.
Whenever the sun’s photons strike a solar cell, electrons become dislodged from their atoms. These electrons then travel and flow through the electrical circuit of the cell, which in effect generates electricity.
The power a solar cell generates is DC electricity, also known as direct current. Since electric power grids employ AC electricity, the DC solar power must be transformed to make it operational on the site using solar energy. This is accomplished with a device called an inverter, which ensures that your site will always use solar energy as the first option for electricity.
Learn more about how solar panels and solar batteries work.
When you obtain commercial or residential solar power in Denver, you’re using a process that produces several great advantages:
Clean energy – In harnessing the sun’s power for electrical use, solar energy doesn’t employ coal or gas, and eliminates emissions that are known to be hazardous to the environment.
Simple administration – Solar energy is as easy to manage and maintain as common forms of energy. There’s no need to “switch” it on or off, since it collects power during daytime hours and automatically shuts off at night.
Cost and savings benefits – Solar power dramatically cuts the cost of your monthly utility bill. In Addition, Excess energy can be diverted to the power grid—in a process called net metering—that can be exchanged for valuable tax credits and other incentives.
If you’re looking to determine how much equipment you’re going to need to provide your home with solar power, there are a few things that you need to consider. Each home is built differently, each homeowner has distinct energy requirements, and each property receives a particular amount of sunlight. It can seem a bit overwhelming to calculate the number of solar panels you’ll need, but the equation is relatively simple. It does, however, require you to determine the following variables:
The Amount of Energy Your Home Uses- A smaller home with a single resident is going to have significantly fewer energy requirements than a large home with a large family. To determine your home’s energy requirements, simply look at the monthly kWh usage on your electric bill. That’s by far the simplest way to get an idea of how much solar power you need.
The Average Amount of Sunlight in Your Local Area- A solar panel in Denver, CO, is going to receive more sunlight on average than one in Grand Junction and less sunlight than one in Colorado Springs. Depending on just how significant that difference is, you may need more or less solar panels to power your home. That’s why it’s essential to take note of the average amount of sunlight that your local area receives.
The Wattage of the Panel You Purchase- Different panels produce varying amounts of energy. Determining which type of panel is ideal for you will largely rest on the above two factors: How much energy you need and how much sunlight your area receives. You don’t want to purchase panels that struggle to power your home, nor do you want to overpay for panels that provide more energy than you’re going to need, so be sure to consider wattage before making any purchases very carefully.
If you are curious how many solar panels will fit on your roof, checkout this blog post to learn more.
The typical installation of solar energy, including the placement of solar panels and system setup, takes about one to three days. Steps typically include:
Installing mounting mechanisms on the roof or designated area
Placement of solar panels
Configuration of electrical wiring
Connecting the solar inverter to the electrical grid
Switching on the solar inverter
At that point, your house or office is ready to start using solar energy full-time. After completing the setup, the system needs to be inspected to ensure it meets all local standards for proper operation.
Your solar energy system is built to last a long time—potentially as much as 30 years. Generally, it won’t require too much in the way of day-to-day maintenance, but occasionally solar inverters may experience mechanical issues that could require some minor repairs.
The most common place for the installation of solar arrays—especially for homes—is, of course, on the roof. That’s where most sunlight hits.
Homes where the roof isn’t accessible or doesn’t have the space to accommodate a solar array, still have other options for a proper solar power setup.
Businesses (and in some cases homes) also have the option of installing ground-mounted solar panels, which are built in much the same way a fence is constructed. Ground-mounted solar panels are situated apart from the main office or living space, held in place by a racking unit and connected to the electrical inverter just the same way as rooftop or other surface panels.
If you have an east or north facing roof and are curious if it would still be beneficial, checkout this blog post.
Solar energy is a versatile, easily managed, increasingly affordable, and efficient means of alternative energy for homes and businesses. When deciding to get residential or commercial solar power in Denver, home and business owners may want to think about:
Space for solar panels. Roofs are the most common and easily utilized places for solar arrays, but they may not always be accessible. Consider if you have the necessary space for a ground-mounted solar array.
Electricity costs. Using solar energy has a dramatic impact on utility bills, potentially saving a home thousands of dollars each year. The cost savings can effectively pay for installation and inspection costs within a few months.
Potential tax benefits, grants, and incentives. In addition to making a solid business investment with great returns, some businesses may qualify for financial benefits for using solar power. Your business may be eligible for federal tax credits, deductions, rebates, and grants that can add to your cost savings over long periods.
Financing options. Along with federal options like the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, commercial outlets and businesses may be able to obtain solar-specific loans and power purchase agreements.
Benefits of being a green home or business. Using solar energy is not just efficient, it’s clean. Businesses can profit in many ways from being considered a “green” business, including marketing to attract customers and even potential rebates.
SunTalk Solar has years of experience installing commercial and residential solar power in Denver. Contact us to find out how we can bring the clean, effective energy of solar power to your business or home.
How much is a solar panel in Denver, CO, anyway? As much as you may want to reduce your impact on the environment, the overall cost is more than likely the most significant determining factor in whether or not you switch over to solar energy. If you simply can’t afford it, then there’s only so much you can do about your home’s carbon footprint.
The good news is that solar panel efficiency continues to increase year after year. With that increase comes a reduction in the overall cost of installing a solar energy system. Prices have fallen substantially over the years, with a steep 60% drop in the past decade alone. Industry experts expect the cost of solar panel installation to continue this decline for years to come.
The sun is our most dominant energy resource, and there is no better time to start harnessing that power for the benefit of you and your family than right now. SunTalk’s solar panels offer affordable, dependable electricity that can leave you with more cash in your pocket.
When you’re ready to talk rooftop solar, contact us for a free quote. We are committed to offering you the best local solar power services in all of Colorado.
Powered by Healthy Digital | Privacy Policy
Proudly Serving, Denver, CO, Colorado Springs, CO and surrounding areas.