Overview
In Harwood Heights, Illinois, installing solar panels on your home can lead to significant long-term savings on your electricity bills. By analyzing weather data and electricity costs over the course of a year, we can show you how a solar system can pay for itself and start generating profits. With the financial benefits of going solar in mind, let’s break down the cost of a solar system and estimate the timeline for breaking even on your investment.
Harwood Heights Illinois Weather Trends
Harwood Heights Precipitation
In the last year, Harwood Heights, Illinois received 40.85 inches of precipitation, which is below the national average of 50.61 inches and the state average of 45.69 inches. With this moderate rainfall, solar panels can efficiently capture sunlight without being hindered by excessive rain, making it a great investment opportunity.
Harwood Heights’s UV Rating
Harwood Heights, Illinois had an average UV rating of 3.79, lower than the national average of 4.29 and the state average of 4.21. However, with an average max UV rating of 4.01, there is still plenty of sunlight for solar panels to generate electricity efficiently, making them a viable option for residents looking to save money while reducing their carbon footprint.
Harwood Heights’s Cloud Cover
In the last year, Harwood Heights, Illinois had an average of 47% cloud cover, higher than the national average of 44.46% and the state average of 44.03%. Despite this, the distribution of cloud cover throughout the year allows for plenty of clear days when solar panels can operate at maximum efficiency, ensuring a good return on investment for homeowners.
Harwood Heights Illinois Electricity Costs
Harwood Heights residents pay about $0.13/kw for electricity, slightly above the national average but in line with the state average. By installing solar panels, homeowners can offset these costs and potentially even generate excess electricity to sell back to the grid, leading to long-term savings and environmental benefits.
When could you expect to break even on a solar installation in Harwood Heights Illinois?
Considering the weather and electricity costs in Harwood Heights Illinois, 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:
- Harwood Heights Illinois receives less precipitation compared to the national average, making it a suitable location for solar panels.
- The UV ratings in Harwood Heights Illinois are slightly lower than the national average, but still conducive for generating solar power.
- Cloud cover in Harwood Heights is slightly higher than the national average, with varying percentages throughout the year.
Now, let’s consider the electricity costs:
- Residents in Harwood Heights Illinois pay the national average for electricity at $0.13/kw.
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 purchased from the grid and saving money.
After diving into the numbers, it appears that it would take around 4-6 years to cover the initial cost of the solar panels. This means that after this initial period, the money saved on electricity bills will begin to accumulate and offset the investment cost. Furthermore, since solar panels have a long lifespan, the savings will continue for many years to come. Installing solar panels in Harwood Heights Illinois is not only cost-effective in the long run but also beneficial for the environment.
Investing in solar power in Harwood Heights Illinois
Installing solar panels in Harwood Heights, Illinois is a wise investment that can lead to significant savings on electricity bills. By analyzing weather data, we have determined that the moderate rainfall, ample sunlight, and variable cloud cover make this area ideal for harnessing solar energy. With electricity costs in mind, homeowners can expect to break even on their solar panel investment in just 4-6 years. After this initial period, the long-term savings on electricity bills will continue to accumulate, making solar panels a cost-effective and environmentally friendly choice for residents of Harwood Heights, Illinois.