Is Ohio Good for Solar?
Ohio might not be the sunniest state in the country, but it’s still a great place to install solar panels! We receive about 170 sunny days a year in Ohio, which may be less than states like Florida and Arizona, but there is still plenty of sunlight to make solar panels a worthwhile investment.
Sustainergy Cooperative is a local solar panel company in Ohio. We’ve seen first-hand how Ohio homeowners benefit from producing their own power with solar, and we can help you do the same. Our custom solar power systems are designed to maximize output and savings in our climate to help you offset as much of your electricity costs as possible.
At the same time, we understand that residential solar panels are an investment and are here to help you decide whether it’s truly worth it for your home.
Cost vs ROI of Solar Panels in Ohio
If you’re thinking about installing solar panels, cost is probably top of mind. We wish we could provide a blanket estimate, but the cost of a solar panel installation can vary widely depending on factors like how much electricity you use, what your roof looks like, where your house is located, and more. A home solar installation will vary depending on the size and complexity of the system, and we can provide a more accurate, personalized estimate during your free solar assessment.
Regardless of the cost of the system, there are ways to bring the cost down. Home solar energy systems qualify for the federal solar tax credit, which reduces your installation costs by 30% in the form of a federal tax credit. You can also take advantage of a low-interest solar loan to finance your installation and go solar with no money down. Finally, net metering is a great incentive in Ohio which allows you to get paid from your utility for the extra energy that your solar panels produce that feed into the grid. With Net Metering, your utility pays you back at the same rate you pay them!
When you factor in the tax credit,financing, and net metering, solar panels make sense for most homeowners in Ohio. Your installation will pay for itself over time through energy bill savings and once you break even, you’ll be making money off your investment.
Benefits of Solar Panel Installation in Ohio
Installing solar in Ohio has many benefits. Solar panels save you money while putting you in control of your own power and making you more self-sufficient in the face of rising electricity costs and increased grid instability.
Utility Bill Savings & Protection Against Rising Rates
When you install home solar, you are essentially locking in your electricity costs for the entire 25-30+ year lifespan of your system. If you take out a loan, you will likely owe a lower monthly payment than you currently spend on electricity bills, and you’ll know exactly what you’ll owe every month, stabilizing your costs. Meanwhile, your solar panels will be generating your electricity, so when your utility company raises rates and everyone else’s bills spike, your monthly costs will stay the same.
Backup Power During an Outage (with Battery Storage)
One of the major downsides of home solar panels is that they automatically shut down during a grid outage. This is a safety feature that prevents solar panels from sending electricity into the grid while utility workers are repairing electrical lines.
With battery backup, however, your solar panels can temporarily disconnect from the electric grid and operate in what’s called island mode to maintain your power during an outage. At night, stored energy from the battery can be used to power your essential loads until the sun comes up and your solar panels take over.
Ohio Solar Incentives
There are some great solar incentives in Ohio that can help you save more money with solar panels.
Solar tax credit - As mentioned above, the solar tax credit reduces your federal income tax liability by 30% of your solar installation costs.
Net metering - With net metering, you can sell the excess electricity you produce to your utility company and receive credits on your electric bills in return. Your credits carry forward continuously, so you can bank credits during the summer when you’re producing a lot of extra power and use them in the winter when there’s less sunlight and your output is lower.
Reduce Your Impact on the Environment
Solar power is a clean, renewable source of energy that reduces your reliance on fossil fuels. Installing solar power for your home is one of the best ways to reduce your impact on the environment.
Increase Your Home’s Value
Installing solar panels on your home can increase its value, according to research conducted by Zillow. Nationally, houses with solar panels sell for 4.1% more on average than similar homes without solar panels. Energy efficiency and electrification are becoming more important to homebuyers and going solar now could help you make a greater profit if and when you decide to sell your home.
