Overview
Living in Grady, New Mexico has its perks, especially when it comes to harnessing the power of the sun. With an abundance of sunlight year-round, installing solar panels on your home can lead to significant savings on electricity bills. By analyzing weather data and electricity costs, we will show you how a solar system can pay for itself in no time, allowing you to enjoy long-term financial benefits while helping the environment.
Grady New Mexico Weather Trends
Grady Precipitation
With Grady receiving only 17.07 inches of precipitation in the last year, it is evident that our town sees far less rainfall compared to both the national and state averages. While the national average for total precipitation is 50.61 inches, New Mexico’s average is 13.78 inches. This means that Grady’s abundance of sunlight can be utilized to generate solar energy efficiently, allowing residents to save on electricity costs while reducing their environmental impact.
Grady’s UV Rating
Grady’s high average UV rating of 5.21 in the last year places it in the 83rd percentile in the nation and the 77th percentile in New Mexico. These numbers highlight the exceptional amount of solar energy available in our area compared to other regions. Additionally, with an average max UV rating of 5.75, Grady offers residents ample sunlight to harness for solar power production, leading to significant long-term financial benefits and a sustainable way to power homes.
Grady’s Cloud Cover
Grady experienced an average of 22% cloud cover in the last year, indicating clear skies for most days. With only 2nd percentile in the nation and 44th percentile in New Mexico for cloud cover, Grady residents can expect consistent sunlight ideal for solar energy generation. The limited cloud cover in our area provides a great opportunity to install solar panels and take advantage of the sunny weather to lower electricity bills and protect the environment.
Grady New Mexico Electricity Costs
Grady residents pay approximately $0.11 per kilowatt-hour for electricity, making it more affordable compared to both the national and state averages. With the national average for residential electricity at $0.13/kw and New Mexico’s average at $0.15/kw, installing solar panels in Grady can bring considerable savings in the long run. By switching to solar energy, residents can not only cut down on electricity costs but also contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable environment for future generations.
When could you expect to break even on a solar installation in Grady New Mexico?
Considering the weather and electricity costs in Grady New Mexico, let’s break down the investment in solar panels and see how long it would take to make up the initial cost.
First, let’s look at the weather data:
- Grady New Mexico receives less precipitation compared to the national average, making it a suitable location for solar panels.
- The UV ratings in Grady New Mexico are higher than the national average, indicating good conditions for generating solar power.
- Cloud cover in Grady New Mexico is lower than the national average, with many days having clear skies, ideal for solar energy production.
Now, let’s consider the electricity costs:
- Residents in Grady New Mexico pay slightly less for electricity compared to the national average, which can impact the cost savings from solar energy.
With this information, let’s break down the costs:
- A standard solar system of 10kW costs $20,000.
- This system is expected to last between 25 and 30 years.
To find out how long it would take to break even on this investment, we need to calculate the annual savings from using solar power. Here’s how:
- The system generates electricity, reducing the amount needed from the grid and saving money on monthly bills.
- With the lower electricity costs in Grady New Mexico, the savings from solar power may take longer to cover the initial investment.
After doing the calculations, it appears that it would take approximately 7-8 years to recoup the initial cost of the solar panels in Grady New Mexico. Despite the slightly longer payback period, the long lifespan of solar panels means that after this time, you’ll continue to save money on electricity bills for many years to come. Investing in solar energy can be a smart choice both financially and environmentally in the long run.
Investing in solar power in Grady New Mexico
Living in Grady, New Mexico provides residents with an ideal environment for harnessing solar energy. With abundant sunlight, low precipitation, and minimal cloud cover, installing solar panels can result in substantial savings on electricity bills. Considering the lower electricity costs in Grady, it would take approximately 7-8 years to break even on the initial investment in a solar system. Despite this payback period, the long-term financial and environmental benefits make switching to solar energy a wise decision for residents of Grady, New Mexico.