Columbus, OH goes solar with SunPower^®

The state of solar in Columbus

The Discovery City boasts an average of 178 sunny days* each year—more than enough to provide clean energy for all Columbus homeowners. As a result, Google's Project Sunroof estimates that fully 89% of the buildings throughout the city are solar-viable, providing a potential solar capacity of 4,400 MW (megawatts) DC of solar-generated energy.*

With the city's adoption of the Sustainable Columbus 2030 Agenda,* Columbus residents now have even more opportunities and resources to transition to clean energy.

How much solar energy does Columbus produce?

Environment America's 2020 Shining Cities Report ranked the city 45th in the nation for total installed solar-generating systems and noted an additional 1,904.8 MW of potential rooftop solar viability throughout the city.*

In 2013, Columbus installed its first major solar power system on the roof of the Fleet Management Facility: a 636 kilowatt (kW) system that generates more than 800,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) of clean energy each year.*

What are the advantages of going solar in Columbus?

The benefits of going solar in Columbus more than outweigh the cost of the system installation. Homeowners can enjoy more than $12,700 in savings throughout a 20-year period. At the same time, the average payback period is less than 13 years, which means that you would recover the cost of your investment in just over a decade.* As an added bonus, installing a solar system at your home can increase your home value by as much as 4.1%.*

In addition to financial savings, solar power offers countless environmental benefits. It reduces fossil fuel use, minimizes the number of toxic chemicals emitted into the environment, and reduces your carbon footprint.*

How much does going solar cost in Columbus?

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

• Your household's energy needs

• Your roof space

• The quality of the solar panels

• Local weather

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 county. In Ohio, the average investment to own a 5 kW solar system ranges from $13,100 to $14,050, or, in other words, from $2.62 to $2.81 per watt. And that's before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.

Columbus participates in Ohio's Energy Conservation for Ohioans (ECO-Link) Program, which offers up to a 3% interest rate on bank loans related to solar energy system installation.*

Alongside a 26% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) from the U.S. government,* Ohio residents can also benefit from the state's solar renewable energy certificate (SREC) program, which provides a certificate of utility credit for every megawatt-hour of energy a homeowner's solar panels produces.*

Similarly, the Ohio Public Utilities Commission enables net metering, which allows customers who produce their own electricity to sell it to the utility system for credit on their bills.* Net metering availability varies, depending upon your provider.

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 Columbus?

Are you ready to go solar in Columbus? Before investing in a system, remember that solar systems can differ in quality, appearance, and durability based on the solar provider you choose.

Your system can preserve the aesthetics of your home while maximizing energy production. The size of your system and the number of panels you'll need will depend on several factors, including your budget, available roof space, and energy needs.

Luckily, going solar is very simple these days. Reputable solar companies should offer free online consultations, all-in-one solar + storage solutions, and high-efficiency solar panels. Speak with a solar installer who can assess your needs and recommend the installation that best meets your energy and savings goals.

It's always worth first using a solar power calculator to get an estimate of how much solar energy your roof can produce and how much the solar system will save you on electric bills before speaking with a solar company

For over 35 years, SunPower has offered the highest-quality solar and battery storage solutions. Request your consultation now if you're ready to get a custom solar design and price quote for your home. We'll follow up with a quick call to schedule a time. You can also reach us directly at (800) 786-7693.

• *. Best Places, Columbus, Ohio, Accessed January 26, 2022. - https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/ohio/columbus
• *. Google, Project Sunroof Data Explorer (November 2018) - https://sunroof.withgoogle.com/data-explorer/place/ChIJcd6QucGJOIgRM7Wxz_hmMuQ/
• *. The City of Columbus, Sustainable Columbus. Accessed January 26, 2022. - https://www.columbus.gov/Sustainable-Columbus/Sustainability-Plans/
• *. Environment America, Shining Cities 2020: The Top U.S. Cities for Solar Energy, June 2020. - https://environmentamerica.org/sites/environment/files/reports/Shining-Cities-2020/EA_Shining_Cities_scrn.pdf
• *. Government Fleet, Columbus, Ohio, Using Solar Array to Reduce Fleet Facility Costs, May 22, 2013. - https://www.government-fleet.com/111734/columbus-ohio-using-solar-array-to-reduce-fleet-facility-costs
• *. Energy Sage, Solar Panels in Columbus, OH. Accessed January 22, 2022. - https://environmentamerica.org/sites/environment/files/reports/Shining-Cities-2020/EA_Shining_Cities_scrn.pdf
• *. CNBC, Solar power can boost your home's value–especially in these 10 states, October 6, 2019. - https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/05/solar-power-can-boost-a-homes-value-in-these-10-states-the-most.html
• *. Ampion Renewable Energy, Environmental Benefits of Solar Energy, March 2, 2020. - https://ampion.net/about/blog/environmental-benefits-of-solar-energy
• *. Local Solar Installers 2020/2021, Solar Reviews 2021, Energy Sage 2021, Wood Mackenzie 2020, National Renewable Energy Laboratory 2020.
• *. Energy Sage, Ohio Solar Incentives. Accessed January 22, 2022. - https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-rebates-incentives/oh/
• *. Incentives, rebates, and tax credits vary and are subject to change. SunPower does not warrant, guarantee or otherwise advise its customers about specific tax outcomes or their ability to qualify for local incentives. Consult your tax advisor regarding the solar tax credit and how it applies to your specific circumstances. Your SunPower Dealer can help you determine incentives available in your area. You can also visit the dsireusa.org website for detailed solar policy information.
• *. Energy Sage, Ohio Solar Incentives. Accessed January 2022. - https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-rebates-incentives/oh/
• *. Ohio Public Utilities Commission. Net Metering. Accessed January 29, 2022. https://puco.ohio.gov/utilities/electricity/resources/net-metering