When deciding to go solar, whether in lighting or for building power generation, there are many factors to consider. Being up to date on the savings offered by lower operating costs of solar lights as well as the federal/state solar incentive policies can provide an understanding of the net savings associated with investing in off-grid solutions.
Return on Investment
To understand the net cost savings associated with choosing Soltech solar LED lights, there needs to be a general understanding of the baseline costs associated with traditional lighting installations. Lindon City in Utah published figures that can be helpful to this end in their report entitled, “Lindon City Street Lights Questions and Answers”. They found,
“The cost of purchasing lighting varies from style to style. In addition to the purchase price, each light requires $2,000 to $4,000 in installation costs. The final cost of each street light is between approximately $5,000 and $8,000 depending on the particular style. As stated earlier, the cost for street lighting in areas of new development is paid by the developer, and passed on to new homeowners or business owners in the purchase price of their property.” [1]
The results listed in the FAQs are used as a reference below of total cost over 10 years for streetlights. What is not included in these figures for our lights is the cost of electricity over decades of powering these lights essentially burn money, especially if they are MH lights, not LEDs. Installation costs for off-grid lights require no trenching, no certified electricians, minimal permits, and minimal time, and minimal hassle. The graph below has some helpful comparative pricing ranges on the main costs of street lights. By adding up the costs in the graph below relative to Lindon City’s data on streetlight costs, a more holistic view of all which light to choose becomes clear (Refer to this link for more detail about the installation cost of Lindon City lights). The graph demonstrates our solar streetlights are an investment. In the comparison below, installation and electricity costs alone account for roughly an extra $5,000 cost of not going with off-grid solar lights.
Our lights are priced competitively because we build them completely in-house. Even when variations in purchase prices and labor costs are factored in, you can save thousands of dollars by going with our high-performance off-grid solar lights. We deliver a standard five year warranty for projects. After five years, every light can be upgraded with an affordable new battery for another worry-free 5 years off-grid. Our design allows for a fast and safe battery swap by anyone with a ladder and our custom anti-theft wrench. If you have swapped batteries in a tv remote you can swap our batteries in under ten minutes per pole. This means labor costs for the swap will also be affordable, maintaining Soltech Solar Light’s low total cost/high return on investment when compared to grid-connected lights. We have been making lights for over 20 years and guarantee quality. Never pay for outdoor lighting electricity again, choose Soltech.
Policy Resources
Solar incentive policies are another major outlet for significant savings offered by solar. For federal policies, the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) offers the most significant savings, with a 30% federal tax credit. Going off-grid can save big on electricity and installation, but there is a network of policies in place designed to make this new wave of renewable technology accessible to everyone. The ITC is one of the main ways this is accomplished. The ITC alone offered an average savings of $5,000 for solar installs in 2019. The ITC was established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Excerpts on how it works along with links are included below.
“The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is currently a 30 percent federal tax credit claimed against the tax liability of residential (Section 25D) and commercial and utility (Section 48) investors in solar energy property. The Section 25D residential ITC allows the homeowner to apply the credit to his/her personal income taxes. This credit is used when homeowners purchase solar systems outright and have them installed on their homes. In the case of the Section 48 credit, the business that installs, develops and/or finances the project claims the credit.” [2]
“The ITC applies to both residential and commercial systems, and there is no cap on its value. Thanks to the ITC, the average EnergySage Solar Marketplace shopper saves over $5,000 on the cost of going solar in 2019.” [3]
For state policies, Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Efficiency (DSIRE) has more information about government incentives on every state for a variety of potential solar buyers.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) also has information on every state’s policy resources. Visiting their website and selecting the state on the map, click “keep reading, and scroll down to the “policy resources” seciton for a complete list of ways to save. Also included is an overview of total solar proliferation by state. Delving deeper into each site listed by SEIA can reveal programs made to help save on the initial cost of solar installations. One helpful unlisted resource is Go Solar CA.