The Golden City loves solar power

The state of solar in San Francisco

San Francisco, CA, is a bright beacon of sunshine, with an annual average of 259 sunny days each year.^*Bestplaces.net, Climate in San Francisco, California (accessed 8/19/2021) The Golden City’s sunshine average far exceeds the national average of 205 bright days. Along with the abundance of sun, a remarkable 84% of San Francisco’s buildings are solar-viable.^*Google, Project Sunroof data explorer (November 2018) For these reasons, the Bay Area region is an ideal place to go solar.

How much solar energy does San Francisco produce?

San Francisco is a “solar star,” ranking 22nd in the nation with 62.11 watts of solar capacity per person. The city has nine municipal solar installations that generate up to 7.2 megawatts of energy per year.^*SFEnvironment.org, Solar (accessed 8/19/2021) (A megawatt is one million watts.)

What are the advantages of going solar in San Francisco?

Going solar in San Francisco provides you the opportunity to reduce your family’s carbon footprint. Solar power is clean energy, producing virtually no harmful greenhouse gases that contribute to air pollution.

Solar panels also significantly reduce your energy expenses. your system, it will begin generating electricity that you can use for your property and most likely feed into the local electrical grid for credit on your electric bill. A solar system can also increase your home’s value by up to $20,000.^*Solar-nation.org, Solar Power Installation in San Francisco CA - Check Your Benefits! (accessed 8/19/2021)

How much does solar cost in San Francisco?

The cost of a home solar system can vary due to a range of factors, even among houses in the same city. These factors include the:

• Location of the home

• Size of the roof

• Household’s energy needs

• Quality of the solar panels

• Skills of the solar system installer

To help you understand the price of going solar in your area, we’ve analyzed SunPower price quotes as well as quotes gathered by third-party sources for thousands of homeowners across the country.

In San Francisco, we found that the average investment to own a 5 kilowatt solar system ranges from $16,250 to $42,750. Or, in other words, it would cost from $3.25 to $8.55 per watt, and that’s before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.

The cost of going solar in San Francisco has dropped over the last five years, thanks to declining installation expenses as well as incentives and rebates. At the federal level, all citizens can claim the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) on their income taxes. The ITC gives new solar system owners a 30% tax credit for the cost of a solar system, its installation, and permitting.

Homeowners also can use several local incentives and rebates to reduce the costs of going solar in San Francisco.

San Francisco’s local government offers incentives through the GoSolarSF program, which gives eligible low-income households supplementary incentives on solar systems.^*Lowincomesolar.org, Low Income Policy Guide (accessed 8/19/2021)

San Francisco residents can also participate in California solar incentives like the Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes program from GRID Alternatives. It provides incentives to help low- and fixed-income households afford solar systems.

Most San Francisco residents who go solar can save money by participating in net metering through Pacific Gas & Electric.^*PGE, NEM2 Program Introduction (accessed 8/20/2021) With these program, solar system owners with a surplus of clean energy can feed their energy overflow into the grid for credits on their electric bill.^*Energy Sage, Pacific Gas & Electric (PGE) Net Metering (accessed 8/19/2021)

Please note that tax credits and incentives are subject to change. Similarly, the availability of net metering varies by location and is subject to change. Visit dsireusa.org for detailed solar policy information.

What’s the best way to go solar in San Francisco?

Taking the initiative to go solar in San Francisco is a big step toward reducing your household’s carbon footprint and reducing energy costs. However, it’s a significant step that requires the assistance of an experienced solar installer.

Before meeting with a solar installer, use a savings calculator to quickly build a custom solar system design for your home. This virtual design will help you estimate how much money you’ll save on electric bills and the amount of power your system will produce.

A solar installer will then help you determine which system is best for meeting your household’s energy needs. The installer’s team will work with you closely to ensure that the selected solar system adds to your home’s exterior aesthetics and doesn’t exceed your budget. Reputable solar companies know about local and federal incentives that will reduce the initial cost of going solar. For more information, check out California’s Solar Consumer Protection Guide.

Get started now. Request your consultation with SunPower below. We’ll follow up with a quick call to schedule a time. You can also call us directly at (800) 786-7693.