Installing solar is a great idea no matter where you live, but for Central Valley Homeowners, solar is a must have. With tons of sun and lots of level ground, the Central Valley is positioned especially well to take advantage of clean, renewable energy. For those looking to make the switch to solar, we’ve curated a list of 10 Tips that Central Valley homeowners should know - this list will help you keep the most important information top of mind as you head into your first solar consultation.
10 Tips for Central Valley Homeowners
- Review your Needs
- Consider your Goals
- Pick a Trusted Provider
- Understand the Incentives
- Utilize the Solar Tax Credit
- Check your CCI Eligibility
- Ask about SGIP Benefits
- Explore Financing Options
- Extend Value with Electrification
- Tell your Friends
Review your Needs
Before you begin your solar journey, reviewing your energy needs can help you set goals and give your solar provider a better idea of how to design your system. Consider things like - how many people are going to be living in your home over the next few years? What appliances do you currently have? Are you considering major additions to your energy usage, like a hot tub or an EV charger? These things can impact the energy needs of your home, and will help your provider determine what kind of system you need to provide coverage.
Consider your Goals
Once you’ve reviewed your energy needs, it’s time to consider what outcomes you’d like to achieve with your solar system. Every customer has a different plan in mind for their energy experience, and your unique home and situation will serve to guide the design process. Whether you’re looking to cover your utility energy usage or offset your entire bill, an experienced provider can help you to size your system correctly and create an installation that serves your needs and achieves your goals.
Pick a Trusted Provider
This is arguably the most important part of the solar journey, and it requires some careful consideration. Your solar provider is a partner in energy generation, and not all partners are built to last. You’ll want to find an energy partner that has industry experience, presents offers that meet your needs, and plans for the future. A focus on education is always a plus, as they’ll be able to help you understand the latest in solar incentives and technology.
Understand the Incentives
Speaking of incentives, there are so many solar incentives on the market that it can be difficult to keep track of them all. These incentives are critical to increasing the accessibility of solar, and whenever you can save money, you should try to do so. Luckily for you solar is full of incredible opportunities to save, while also adding value to your home. We’ve listed out some of the major incentives in this list, but there are alway more programs to consider, and a free consultation is the best way to review all available options.
Utilize the Solar Tax Credit
The Solar Investment Tax Credit is the major player in the incentive space - a whopping 30% tax credit for anyone who installs solar, available for the next ten years due to a recent extension (thanks Inflation Reduction Act!). This has the potential to provide substantial tax savings, depending on the size of your system, and for those who may not be able to make use of the full 30% credit, there are financing options on the market that can solve that problem. No matter what, the ITC is a massive savings opportunity for Central Valley Homeowners, so make sure you bring it up in your solar consultation!
Check your CCI Eligibility
The California Climate Investment is a program that leverages Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds to support disadvantaged and/or low-income communities with projects that reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses. Program eligibility is determined by zip code, which means you may qualify for additional solar incentives without realizing it! Central Valley Homeowners should speak with a consultant to determine if they are eligible for CCI benefits, and if so, apply for the program!
Ask about SGIP Benefits
The Self-Generation Incentive Program is a great opportunity for customers looking to invest in clean energy - specifically, those who want to include battery storage with their solar installation. Central Valley Homeowners can work with their solar provider to apply for this program. With price hikes becoming a financial concern for many, and outages threatening to limit your ability to access energy from the grid, including battery storage in your system is an important consideration, and it’s a decision that is made easier with SGIP funding.
Explore Financing Options
It is important for all solar providers to strive towards accessibility, and financing options are one of the ways to make that happen. Central Valley Homeowners who wish to take advantage of financing options have several powerful programs to choose from, including Mosaic and HBM financing. Mosaic financing allows you to install solar with no money down, and no payments or interest for 18 months, while HBM is designed to enable customers to access their solar tax credit up front. These and other financing options are important to consider when planning for a solar installation.
Extend Value with Electrification
A powerful tip for those installing solar in the Central Valley is to consider the benefits of electrification! Electrification is the process of upgrading your home appliances to modern, energy efficient, electric versions. These energy efficient appliances are already a great investment, reducing your reliance on gas while also lowering your overall energy need. However, this is supercharged by solar, as generating your own clean, renewable energy allows you to cover the already reduced electricity usage! It’s a savings strategy that rewards you multiple times over, and just as with solar, there are many federal and state incentive programs to support your electrification efforts.
Tell your Friends
The last tip for Central Valley Homeowners considering solar is to refer your friends and family if you had a good experience with your provider. Most installers have some form of referral program, and it’s a great reward for the effort you put in on the front end to find a trusted solar partner in the first place. Simply point your referrals in the direction of the solar provider, and you’ll benefit from any of those recommendations that end up going solar! They get to go solar with the same installer that helped you with your system, and you get to put your referral bonuses towards whatever you’d like!
Central Valley Homeowners - Make the Switch!
With these tips and tricks, Central Valley Homeowners should have no trouble making the switch to solar! If you’re ready to begin your own solar journey, simply schedule your free consultation today. You’ll be able to use these tips to make the most of your solar savings!
