Mesa, AZ is known for its dry, triple-digit heat and abundant sunny days. Having a fixed and high-functioning cooling system isn’t an option, but a necessity. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, HVAC use accounts for approximately 50% of the average home energy bill. In Mesa, this number could be much higher.
Local ACs and heat pumps work hard almost year-round. Between keeping cool, illuminating your home and running all of your gadgets and appliances, your electricity bill is likely among your greatest and most daunting expenses. The good news is that Mesa is the perfect place for solar panel installation.
Reduce Your Electricity Bills
You can enjoy great savings by powering your home cooling equipment and other appliances with solar energy. New solar panel installations in Mesa often pay for themselves in just eight to nine years. While local electricity rates average about 12 cents per kWh, solar energy costs less than five cents per kWh. With electricity rates fast rising throughout the nation and expected to continue doing so over time, installing solar panels now is a great way to buffer yourself against future rate hikes.
Lower Your Carbon Footprint
While air conditioners and heat pumps don’t release greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, producing the electricity that powers them often does. These hidden emissions are commonly referred to as gray emissions, and they have as much of an impact on your carbon footprint as anything else. Using solar rather than electricity will eliminate these gray emissions entirely. In Mesa, this could mean producing no HVAC-related GHGs (hidden or unhidden) almost year-round.
Limit Your Grid Dependence
Contrary to popular belief, installing solar panels rarely means being able to go completely off-grid. However, in a perpetually sunny city like Mesa, solar panel installation can make you far less grid dependent. This is especially true when solar panels are paired with solar battery storage to store energy for later use.
Avoid Rate Hikes During Peak Electricity Use
Among the greatest benefits of solar panel installation in Mesa is the ability to avoid rate hikes during times of peak use. When the outside temperature is at its highest and when most people are at home, local utility companies charge significantly more for electricity per kWh. From 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., your solar panels will supply the power you need. This is far preferable to paying peak electricity rates of 13 cents per kWh or higher.
Use Net Metering To Save More
The Energy Resources Department of Mesa offers a net billing program in which local utility companies purchase excess energy produced by customer-owned solar panels as credits. With net billing, this energy is used to offset the costs of future electricity use, such as on overcast, rainy or otherwise low-solar days.
Take Advantage of High-Value Incentives
There are multiple ways to save money on solar panel installation in Mesa. You can offset the costs of your new solar equipment with a generous federal tax credit of up to 30% via the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This credit will offset your end-of-year tax debt or increase your tax return. The Residential Arizona Solar Tax Credit offers 25% off of solar panel costs, and some homeowners may be eligible for additional savings via the Energy Equipment Property Tax Exemption and the Solar Equipment Sales Tax Exemption.
Enjoy Solar Advantages With Solar Optimum
At a time in which homebuyers are increasingly looking for ways to cut their energy costs and reduce their carbon footprints, solar panel installation is a wise decision. To experience these and other benefits firsthand, contact Solar Optimum today for a free estimate!
