This Solar Estimator will estimate the size and cost to install an energy system for your home or building. The financial analysis provided is based upon energy bill savings you can expect and the net system cost, after tax credits and other incentives are applied. The results are based upon many assumptions and the limited data you will enter. An actual site assessment by a trained professional Contractor will be needed to determine the actual costs and benefits of installing an energy system.

Note: Our Estimators cover the United States (and its Territories) and Canada. They do not cover calculations for other areas.

Solar Case Study

Property Owners: David Gross and Jacquelyn Savani
Location: Santa Barbara, Riviera

System size: 5.5 kW DC
Type of System: SunPower Roof Mount
Installer: California Solar Electric
Estimated solar production/year: 8.711 kWh
Baseline utility energy use: 14,400 kWh
Portion of electricity demand met by system: 60%
Installed: January 2009
Average utility cost at time of installation: 20.7 cents/kWh
Average cost of solar electricity over 20 years: 13 cents/kWh
Cost of system before rebate and tax credit: $43,608
State Rebate: $10,751
30% Federal Tax Credit: $9,857
Final Cost: $23,000

As the Tea Fire storm swept toward the Riviera neighborhood in late 2008, one house was miraculously pardoned. Embers struck the house with gale force winds, an adjacent palm tree burst into flames, and the Spanish tile roof began to catch fire. Fortunately, fire fighters were able to spare this house, and homeowners Jacquelyn Savani and David Gross returned to find their home still intact with only minor damages to their landscaping and roof. Instead of being disheartened, the couple saw the necessary replacement of their roof as an opportunity to explore adding a solar power system.

Jacquelyn and David both have backgrounds in academia and scientific research and hav a genuine interest in decreasing their impact on the environment through the use of renewable energy. Their primary concerns are the impending changes to the global climate from carbon emissions and the diminishing quantity of fossil fuels, however they were also interested in exploring rebates from the California Solar initiative and the federal 30% tax credit. Combined with rising electrical rates, “going solar” was an easy decision.

The couple diligently interviewed seven local installers and was happy with their final selection. The system was installed in combination with the re-roofing, adding to an aesthetic integration of solar electricity on this mission style home.

These homeowners are already seeing the benefits of their solar electric system. In addition to seeing the meter spin backwards, they are able to view real-time production and historical data from their solar system with the SunPower Monitoring System. David mentioned that while solar power is crucial to reducing their carbon footprint, it is also imperative to understand how much electricity is consumed at any given time. Currently he is using a Kill-a-Watt meter while he explores the options of installing a more comprehensive energy monitoring system. This information enables them to know how much energy they save by simply turning off one light or unplugging an unused appliance.

Says David: “It brings me enormous joy to see the meter spinning backwards!”