Consider adding solar panels to your roof simultaneously if you are like millions of homeowners in America. Over the next decade, about 2.3 million detached single-family homes will need a new roof. Even if a fraction of these homes went solar at the same, it would be a significant step toward U.S. goals for decarbonization. What you need to understand
The first thing to consider is the cost. A new roof can cost up to $10,000, depending on its size and other factors. Depending on the materials used, it will last between 20 and 50 years. According to National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the average cost of installing a rooftop solar array on a home is $19,000. Combined with a new roof, the total cost can be nearly $30,000. However, NREL researchers estimate the average price to be $25,000. This could save homeowners, on average, $4,000. You could also qualify for the federal credit for solar photovoltaics. This credit would increase your savings, as it provides a credit of 26% for solar arrays that are installed in 2021-2022. You can also find out about other savings by visiting the database of state incentives for renewables and efficiency.
Roofers and solar installers have a partnership that benefits homeowners. The installation company that provided me with quotes for my rooftop solar array offered me a discount of 30% on a new roofing system if I chose to replace it simultaneously. This was possible because they wouldn’t be incurring any customer acquisition expenses.
Solar panels can also save you money on roof replacement. Solar panels have a lifespan of 25-30 years which is comparable to that of a roof. You can save money by doing both simultaneously.
Solar panels add value to your home, which is another benefit. According to a report by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, solar panels are seen as an upgrade, and homebuyers across the nation have been willing to pay about $15,000 more for a house with a solar array of average size. There is also evidence that homes with solar panels are more likely to sell than those without.
You have several options if, like most Americans, you lack the cash up front to replace your roof and install solar panels on your home. You can lease solar panels, or enter a power-purchase agreement (PPA), with a local company. The solar company can install their own discussions on your roof and then sell you the electricity generated at a fixed price that is usually lower than retail rates from the utility. State solar programs will also support roof replacement if your income is low or moderate.
Then, the planet. To decarbonize electricity, the U.S. must increase solar installations to approximately 70 gigawatts per year (up from 19. GW by 2020). Installing Solar on New Homes Or During Roof Replacement represents around 30 GW of Potential Solar Capacity added annually. This would reduce the U.S.’s carbon emissions and the energy efficiency of a new roofing system.
Any major investment you make in your home should be carefully considered. When you do the math and weigh the pros & cons, it’s clear that going Solar is a good investment. It also helps the environment. Although upfront costs may be an obstacle, financing options and programs for low-to-moderate-income residents in certain states can help you save money while going solar. The DOE is constantly working to reduce costs and to make solar more affordable for all Americans.
Are you considering a move to solar energy? Learn more about the solar energy process by reading our Homeowners’ Guide to Going Solar.
This blog is part of the Energy Department’s summer solar campaign. It tells the stories of diverse Americans using solar energy and communities that make it easier for people to go solar.