Get Started With Solar Alliance Today
If youre looking to save on your energy expenses and increase your home equity, were ready to design, build and install the perfect solar panel system for your property. At Solar Alliance, we provide accessible, affordable renewable energy solutions to residential, commercial and industrial property owners in Tennessee and Kentucky.
You can rely on our engineers and installation specialists expertise to provide the highest-quality solar panels that will help you enjoy utility savings and reduce your energy footprint for years to come.
Contact us today to take control of your energy bills with a clean and effective solar panel installation!
The Home Upgrade That Upgrades Your Budget
Solar panels are becoming a more modern way to upgrade your property. While a new bathroom renovation might be a stylistic choice, a solar panel installation is functional and appealing. Across the country, homebuyers are willing to pay for the economic and environmental benefits of solar panels on their new home.
- 25+ years of decreased electricity bills
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Increased resale value of home
Its no wonder because homeowners can honestly expect a return on their initial investment in solar by tenfold. In fact, check out how much you can expect to save in your area by receiving a free quote from ADT Solar.
Do Solar Panels Really Increase Home Value?
The truth is you can really save money with solar panels. Here are just some of the benefits that come with bringing the sun into your home.
How Much Do Solar Panels Increase Property Value
According to a recent study conducted by Zillow, homes with solar power added an average of 4.1%, or $9,274, to the propertys value. Solar panels impact on a given property depends on the market location for example, solar-powered homes in New York saw a 5.4% premium increase compared to non-solar counterparts in the study, while homes in Los Angeles saw a 3.6% premium increase.
Many homebuyers recognize solar panels remarkable ability to reduce their home energy expenses and their carbon footprint. Thats why they are willing to pay an additional premium for a home with a solar array installed.
The same Zillow study found 80% of home buyers consider energy efficiency a crucial consideration when buying a house. A home with upgraded windows and insulation can fetch a higher price for the same reasons these are all different solutions to the same problem!
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Even If You Dont Sell Now Youll Still Reap The Benefits
Regardless of whether or not you decide to sell your home, installing solar panels will still provide fantastic benefits. In a few short years, you will recoup the upfront costs by saving on your energy bills. So, not only will the resale value of your home be increased, there will be the benefit of future savings if you dont sell straight away.
Value In Solar Energy Is Not Just Money
While solar energy can save a lot of money, added value doesnt only apply to dollars.
These are the most commonly acknowledged benefits of installing solar energy in our homes. All add value in one way or another.
- Solar power reduces current utility bills and saves money
- Solar improves comfort levels in the home for example by making heated floors accessible
- Solar is seen as an investment for future energy savings
- Solar is identified by many buyers as an upgrade
- It enables a greener lifestyle, which many people recognize as increased home value
- Some people consider solar panels to improve social status
- Solar increases the financial value of our home, increasing both the potential resale and rental values
- Installation of solar PV systems improves energy efficiency
- Solar systems help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure cleaner air
- Solar panels may provide power to the grid during peak demand hours, lightening the load on power plants
But the million-dollar question is, how much value will solar add to your home?
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How Much Value Does Solar Increase My Home Value
Installing solar panels in a home not only helps to reduce current monthly utility bills it can potentially increase the value of that same house by up to 4%.
This is because homeowners often invest their savings into improvements like new windows or siding when they install them on roofs with plenty of sunny spots!
The Zillow blog released recent research showing just how much these investments will add: A median-valued U.S. property would reach $96k worth more than comparable homes without any electricity generation capacity installed.
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Should I Buy Or Lease
The answer to this question will very much depend on your personal situation. After all, this will largely come down to whether you can afford to buy solar panels. If you possess the money, you might want to consider purchasing them.
If you do not have this money, you will be better off leasing the panels. You will need to bear in mind that this may tie you to a long lease, namely 25 years. If you are not satisfied with this arrangement, then leasing may not be for you.
We advise that you carefully weigh up the pros and cons of both options before making a decision.
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Where Do Solar Panels Offer The Greatest Value
The data shows that solar panels increase a homes value but where do homeowners get the most bang for their buck? To find out, Zillows solar research also compared the values of homes with solar panels across the country. The study examined a series of real estate transactions, comparing standard homes to homes that featured solar panels in their listing descriptions. Zillow controlled for observable attributes including the homes size, age, and market value, as well as the time of the year that the home sold. With that data, the company was able to identify the top 10 states with the highest solar premiums, all based on median-valued homes in the listed areas:
- New Jersey: 9.9% or $32,281
- Pennsylvania: 4.9% or $8,589
- North Carolina: 4.8% or $8,996
- Louisiana: 4.9% or $7,037
- New York: 3.6% or $10,981
- South Carolina: 3.5% or $5,866
Of course, even outside of these areas, its clear that solar panels can significantly increase home values.
Do Solar Panels Hurt The Resale Value Of Your Home
There is no definitive answer when it comes to the resale value of a home with solar panels. Some people believe that having solar panels installed on your home will actually help increase the resale value, as buyers will see that you have made a conscious effort to be environmentally friendly. Others believe that having solar panels installed will actually hurt the resale value, as buyers may think that there are hidden problems with the home that havent been disclosed. Ultimately, it will come down to the individual circumstances of each home and the market in which it is being sold.
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How Much Does It Boost Value
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory cites a study in the Appraisal Journal, which shows that home value increases $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills. In other words, a solar energy system that saves $400 per year would add a value of $8,000 to your home.
Miller points out, however, that added value is not so cut-and-dried. Because some buyers think of solar as a major plus while others view it as a downfall, he says its hard to say for sure how solar systems impact housing prices.
Its not like a swimming pool, says Miller. With a swimming pool, if you give me your ZIP code in my area, I can tell you if the pool is worth almost nothing or as much as $10,000 or $20,000. Thats easy, because everyone understands that the pool is fully paid for.
That said, Miller thinks we will probably see the use of solar increasing and, as it does, theres a good chance a standard will develop. Eventually I think we will be better able to quantify the value of a solar system, where we can say: The home has solar, so add $10,000 to $15,000 to the value.
At the end of the day, theres a good chance that a solar electricity system will add value to your home as long as you can find the right buyer. Regardless, solar panels will save you money on your electric bill, and theyre good for the environment, too. If youre not sure how a solar system could boost your homes value, talk to your real estate agent for guidance.
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Why Is Solar Energy So Valuable
A 2015 survey showed that 61% of respondents agreed that solar electrical or water heating systems were desirable in a home theyd consider purchasing.
As solar gains popularity, so will realtors who understand how to position solar as the one feature that sells the home. In a buyers market, it may be the one thing that sells your home over the one up the street.
Additionally, installing solar panels is a relatively easy one-time project. It has little impact on your living space compared to other major sustainable living home improvements. Most of your effort is doing the research to find the right company and getting paperwork through for installation and warranty purposes.
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Dont Just Take Our Word For It
Solar is no longer a niche market its a growing housing trend here in the Northeast, and the exponential progression from niche to necessity is creating competitive real estate opportunities. Todays homebuyers are increasingly seeking out solarized homes, and real estate agents and homeowners alike can attest to it:
Palmetto Solar Can Help You Increase The Value Of Your Home
While the data shows that solar panels can help increase the value of your home, its important to work with a trusted solar installation company that can outline your costs and savings to ensure a positive return on investment.
As a leading solar installation and maintenance company, Palmetto helps homeowners increase their energy savings and control by delivering end-to-end solutions that decrease reliance on the electrical grid. We believe that clean energy is for everyone, and strive to expand access to green energy by partnering with local solar specialists in all of the communities we serve.
Our solar services extend beyond the design and installation process to include maintenance and repair, cleaning, inverter and optimizer replacement, and long-term performance data. We pride ourselves on providing high-quality solar products and exceptional customer service, so you can increase your long-term savings with ease and peace of mind.
If you want to install solar panels and increase the value of your home, get started today with our free solar design tool. Then, reach out for more information. Based on the specifics of your home and how long you intend to stay, we can help you evaluate if solar is right for you.
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Can Solar Panels Help Sell A House
Throwing some facts into the mix, 2017 research by Which?* found that installing solar panels on your home does not negatively impact the value of the property. Eight per cent of estate agents involved in this research said they thought solar panels increased property value. Particularly as they are considered to be an extra/additional feature adding value to a property due to the cheaper energy it provides.
Calculating Solar Power Costs
Once the above costs and benefits are determined, a solar system can theoretically be evaluated using the discounted cash flow method. Outflows at the beginning of the project would consist of installation costs , and inflows would arrive later in the form of offset electricity costs .
Rather than using DCF, the viability of solar power is usually evaluated by calculating the levelized cost of electricity , then comparing it to the cost of electricity charged by the local utility. The LCOE for household solar will typically be calculated as cost/kilowatt-hour – the same format commonly used on electricity bills. To approximate the LCOE, one can use the following equation:
LCOE = Net Present Value of the Lifetime Cost of Ownership / Lifetime Energy Output
The useful life of a PV solar module is generally assumed to be 25-40 years. The cost of ownership includes the maintenance costs, which must be discounted to find the NPV. The LCOE can then be compared to the cost of electricity from a utility remember, the relevant price is that which occurs during times at or near peak PV solar production.
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What Are The Negatives Of Solar Panels
There are numerous advantages of getting solar panels, most of which have been discussed previously. There are also a handful of disadvantages that accompany the installation of these panels. Among these negatives are:
High initial cost it can cost a lot of money to buy these panels. Though they will save you money in the long run, they will not be advantageous for those who only plan on keeping a property for a few months or years.
Require a substantial amount of space to install panels, there will need to be a good amount of space on your roof.
Reliant upon the weather sunnier areas will be better for solar energy. Though you will still get energy in more cloudy spells, you will get less than you do in the sun. This can put you at the whim of the weather.
Pollution will be created during the manufacturing and installation stages when the panels are being constructed and fitted, pollution can be caused. This can also be caused if the panels are transported from one location to another.
You should be aware of these advantages before investing in solar paneling. To us, the advantages of solar panels outweigh the disadvantages. Not everyone would agree with this and so you should be made aware of the potentially negative elements of solar energy.
Understanding How Solar Panels Impact Your Homes Value
Often, when people think of the savings they can enjoy with solar power, they only consider the cheaper monthly energy bill. Homeowners sometimes forget to account for the fact that owned solar panels can also dramatically increase their property value and subsequent equity. They add equity to a home and, in turn, offset some of the initial cost of purchase.
When crunching the numbers to decide if its worth the investment, solar panels added value is a crucial aspect to consider. If you fail to calculate their impact on your propertys resale value, youre not accurately measuring how much they can bring to your home.
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How Much Are Solar Panels
A solar panel array for a typical family of three in the UK costs between £4,000-£6,000.
This is a large investment, but it enables you to save up to £390 per year on energy bills, all while doing your part to help the climate.
And when you consider house prices, the cost of solar panels pales in comparison.
As of January 2020, the average house price in the UK is £231,185, according to the Land Registry.
So on average, youll be paying a measly 2.1% of your homes value to get solar panels an excellent investment that will quickly produce returns.
Average Energy Usage And Savings
One of the easiest ways to calculate home value increase based on energy consumption is to run your own cost/benefit analysis. Your systems value will also differ based on your areas electricity costs.
This treats solar like an income-producing rental property. As rents go up or, in this case, as energy prices go up the value of the asset goes up!
The best place to start is to look at your energy bill. Figure out the cost of your needed system size based on the kilowatt-hours used. The average system installation is about three to four dollars per watt.
You can estimate how many panels youd need to fully power your home once you have your daily or monthly energy usage. Once you have your panel estimate, compare it to the average resale value in your area. The energy savings should be conveyed as an annuity similar to that of a rental property that represents a real value.
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How Much Do Solar Panels Add To Home Value
Do solar panels add value to a home? Typically, yes.
A number of studies have looked into the specifics of how much solar panel ROI is common. Research done by David Kaserman and Ruth Johnson found that for every dollar saved on energy costs per year, the value of a home increases by $20. While this might not sound like much, it actually means that if a solar system is saving a family $200 a month in savings then the house is theoretically worth $48,000 more.
Another study found that for every kilowatt of solar installed, the resale value increased by $5,000. This means that to reach the same increase as in the study above, you would need to install a 9.6-kilowatt system.
To install a system of this size would usually cost about $33,600 or $3,500 per kilowatt. This means that for every kilowatt of installed solar, you net $1,500.
All of that doesnt include the federal investment tax credit that you might qualify for. This gives you the ability to recoup 26% of the installation cost. In a number of states, too, the increase in property value you gain is exempt from resulting in additional property taxes.
All that being said, the location of your home and how appealing a solar system is will have a lot to do with the answer to does solar increase home value. Installing a solar system isnt exactly a decision you want to make in haste, and its a good idea to talk to a local real estate agent to learn if this is something that is attractive to buyers in your location.
