Cost Info
What it Takes to Go Green
Cost of Green Energy
Solar Panels
Generally, solar panels can cost anywhere from $4,500 – $36,000 to fully offset the electrical needs of a home, with the average cost in the U.S being $16,000. This variation is caused by a series of factors, which are explained in more detail below.
The total cost of a solar installation will depend on how much of your electricity usage you want to offset. The more you want to offset, the more the installation will cost.
Homes with less hours of direct sunlight each day will produce less kWh of power, meaning more panels will be necessary to produce enough power for the whole home.
Some solar panels cost more than others, due to being made of different materials, and being made for different climates. Additionally, some homes will require extra support bars for their panels, especially if the roof is at a steep angle.
Cost of labor for installation, as well as the cost of the panels themselves, can differ from state to state, and even from region to region.
Some installers cost more than others, and installation costs can vary based off of the size of your roof and the number of panels needed.
If you are eligible for tax rebates, the total cost of your installation can decrease dramatically. To see if you are eligible, check the bottom of this page, under “Tax Rebates.”
While these factors are useful for getting a precise price quote, the calculators to the right can be used to get a rough estimate of the cost of solar for your home.
Solar Calculator
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Wind Calculator
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Wind Turbines & Mills
According to the American Wind Energy Association, it costs anywhere from $3,000 – $8,000 per kilowatt of wind power. Which for most American homes, translates to a range of $15000 – $75,000 for a full installation. Similarly to solar, there are many factors that can cause the price of an installation to change, and these are listed below.
Similar to solar, the cost of a wind installation depends on how much of your total electricity usage you want to offset. A higher kWh/month that needs to be offset will mean a high cost of wind installation.
Capacity factor in wind turbines is similar to hours of sun in solar. Capacity factor describes the efficiency of the wind turbine, and is expressed as a percentage the day. For example, an average capacity factor is between 20-30%, and means that the wind turbine operates at full power for 20-30% of the day. A higher capacity factor translates to a lower cost of installation.
There are many types of wind turbines, varying from micro turbines to full-scale industrial turbines. The power produced by wind turbines scales dramatically with size, so typically a setup that uses smaller turbines will cost more per watt, and a setup that uses larger scale turbines will cost less per watt.
Where you live can effect your capacity factor of your wind turbines, and can also effect the price of the actual turbines.
Installation varies between the types of turbines. For example, a technician may charge more for large scale turbines that require large support poles to be installed. The size of the wind setup also effects the installation cost.
Just like with solar, if you are eligible for tax rebates, the total cost of installation will decrease. Check out our “Tax Rebates” section below for more information.
Wind Calculator
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Geothermal Heat Pumps
There are four types of geothermal heat pump systems.
A horizontal loop is the most cost effective option, and requires the least digging depth. However, it is only possible for properties that have a large area of relatively flat land. These setups run across the ground horizontally, for about 300-400 feet.
A vertical loop is for properties that lack the land necessary for a horizontal loop. These setups go down, instead of across the ground, thus increasing their cost, as holes need to be dug up to 400 feet deep to accommodate the pipes in the system.
Pond loops are a cost-effective option, and utilize the heat held in water, as well as in the ground. However, these systems of course require that you have a pond or other large body of water on your property.
All of the systems mentioned previously were closed-loop systems, meaning they had a pipe system that was not broken or open at any point. Open loop systems are open underneath the ground, and utilize groundwater reservoirs to transfer heat.
How it Works
Below is a video from Water Furnace, a company that specializes in geothermal energy. The video explains the basics of how geothermal heat pumps work, and how they differ from typical heat pumps.
Tax Rebates
There are many incentives that help to offset the cost of installing green energy. These incentives are offered by multiple organizations, such as federal and state governments.
Department of Energy Website
Offered by the EPA, the PTC is a tax credit that is based on the type of energy source and the kilowatt hours produced. The PTC provides a tax credit of 1.3 cents/kilowatt hour for electricity generated from open-loop biomass, solid waste resources, and small irrigation power facilities. It offers 2.6 cents/kilowatt hour for electricity generated from wind, closed loop biomass, and geothermal sources. This credit is good for up to 10 years after the equipment begins service.
Environmental Protection Agency Website
Offered by the PA Department of Environmental Protection, this tax rebate can offer up to $2,000 for purchasing an electric vehicle, $1,500 for a plug-in hybrid, and $500 for a compressed natural gas or propane vehicle, as well as electric motorcycles. An additional $1,000 is available to those who meet low-income requirements. For more information, click the link below.
PA Department of Environmental Protection Website
Return on Investment (ROI)
ROI is a way of seeing how long it will take to make your money back after an investment is made, and how much money you will be able to make after paying off an investment.