Commercial solar provides a great return on investment. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), in , the average commercial building spent $650.04 on electricity (likely on par with most small-to-mid-sized-businesses). Over a year, this equates to $7,800 in operating expenses. Over 20 years, your business will spend about $156,010 on energy costs.
Click here to get more.
Based on the same EIA dataset, the average commercial property consumed about 69,540 kWh of electricity in . Lets assume your business installs a solar panel system that offsets 90% of this electricity consumption. Lets also assume that your systems production ratio (the ratio of its estimated energy output over time, in kWh, relative to its actual size, in W) is 1.4 (it typically ranges between 1.1 and 1.7 in the U.S., depending on your location).
How big of a system does your business need? Plugging in our numbers from above, we get:
System size (in W) = Annual consumption (569,540 kWh) * system offset (0.9) / production ratio (1.4)
This gives us a system size of 44,704 W or about 45 kW. According to our table above, a 45 kW system costs about $39,150, including the ITC and five-year depreciation with MACRS.
Over 20 years, your business will save about $101,259 in electricity costs with solar:
20-year savings = 20-year electricity costs ($156,010) * system offset (0.9) - upfront solar energy system cost including incentives ($39,150)
Beyond the direct financial benefits, installing solar panels can also help your business protect itself against electricity price volatility and inflation. In many states, the price of electricity can fluctuate significantly due to demand, creating a headache for business owners who closely manage their cash flow. With solar, your business can lock in electricity prices and reduce reliance on the unpredictable electricity market, making it easier to budget and plan for the future.
As a business owner, one of the highest overhead costs facing you is the cost of electricity. Being reliant on the commercial power grid also means youre subject to electric rate fluctuations. Sudden price increases add uncertainty to your business, especially to your cash flow management. Maybe its time to lessen that load and look at how your business can benefit from solar panel installation.
Solar power panels are rapidly becoming mainstream alternative energy sources in America. You likely heard that Fortune 500 companies such as Walmart and Intel are converting many of their buildings to solar energy. At first glance, you might not think thats affordable for small or medium-sized business but think again. Solar panels have dropped in price and now offer excellent benefits to organizations like yours.
Now youre likely thinking, How can my business benefit from commercial solar panels? and Are solar panels worth the investment? Well, youre not alone with these questions. The way to answer them is by looking at the benefits for businesses using solar energy.
There are several advantages to installing solar panels on a business. Besides using a renewable energy source like the sun, youre going to get an excellent financial return on your investment over a relatively short time. You can also use solar panels for business tax credits.
Over the last few years, the solar power industry has markedly matured. Solar technology is now an affordable alternate energy option. Its also a completely dependable and reliable electrical system. That includes being a cost-effective primary electrical source as well as an economical backup power provider.
Solar panels are worth it for businesses for the financial savings alone. EnergySage reports that average commercial business owners monthly power bills were $1,950 before converting to solar energy. After solar energy conversion, these business costs dropped to approximately $500. Thats a 75% reduction and a good reason why you should install solar panels at your business.
Using advantages of commercial energy systems like solar panels is keeping up with the times. Many business owners like you realize what excellent pay-offs you get with solar energy, especially with the many state and federal financial incentives available for solar conversions. The solar energy sector is alive with activity. Reports by the Solar Energy Industries Association claim that American businesses installed 14.5 gigawatts in solar infrastructure in . Thats compared to 7.5 gigawatts in , and double the capacity in just one year.
Despite such a leap of faith in solar energy based on clear proof of the benefits of solar power for businesses, the United States solar power industry accounts for 1% of total electrical production. However, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory predicts that eventually, 40% of American electricity will be from solar panels. Clearly, theres a bright future for installing solar panels in your business.
Deciding to convert your business to solar power isnt something you should do quickly. You need to thoroughly evaluate your current energy supply situation and assess where you need to be in the future. Like any business investment, you weigh the pros and cons. You know that solar energy is a long-term investment that takes time for a decent return. Ultimately, youll make your decision based on the benefits of solar power for your business. Here are some of the main advantages:
Those are five excellent benefits from solar power conversion, and five reasons why your business should use solar energy. Youll be doing the right thing financially and environmentally, as well. Lets take an in-depth look at how your business can benefit from solar panels.
Like every business owner, you want to cut overhead costs. Business overhead includes many expenses outside of wages and operational materials. In managing a business, you have to pay for supplies, insurance, property maintenance and utilities. One major overhead expense that you can reduce is your electric energy costs.
Additional reading:GECONA SOLAR Product Page
A consistent energy supply is vital for every business. Depending on your office or facility, youll use electric power for more than just lights. You might have electric heating and cooling systems as well as machinery or equipment powered by electricity. Every electrical device demands its share of energy. Theres only so much you can do to make a device electrically-efficient, so the challenge is to reduce your overhead cost of power.
Switching to solar power is a big step. There is no doubt that solar power will reduce your electrical bills by a significant margin. As reported, the average business reduces their electrical overhead by three-quarters. That starts immediately after converting to solar power and continues at that rate for the rest of the systems life.
When converting to solar power, you should ask yourself if you want to reduce your dependency on the commercial power grid or replace it as much as possible. Unless you go total solar with generator back-up, youll still have some tie into the grid for night time and other additional support. No matter how far you take your solar conversion, youre going to drop your overhead costs and continue benefiting from this substantial saving.
Youll also get financial reassurance with solar power. When youre self-sufficient or semi-sufficient on solar power, youre immune from billing spikes and inflation. Being dependent on the commercial power grid means youre at their mercy for seasonal or supply shortage cost increases. Youd also be protected from the inevitable inflation as electrical bills keep climbing, year by year.
Having your private power production provided by the sun means youll always know what your overhead costs are. You are in control of cutting electrical overheads as you see fit. Youll always have the same rate unless you choose to add to your electrical load. Youll also have the peace of mind knowing youre price protected.
Many people dont realize it, but commercial electrical power is a commodity. Its bought and sold based on supply and demand. When you draw from the power grid, youre subject to current market forces and user rates. Youre not protected from future costs. Thats because futures are unpredictable.
Most futurists predict the world will be less dependent on fossil fuel over the coming decades. Coal and gas-fired electrical generation stations will be more regulated on emissions and their carbon footprint. That means more costs for fossil fuel generation and that has to be passed on to the consumer.
Hydroelectricity is the main power source in areas that have a suitable water supply to turn generators. But the expansion of hydroelectric production means additional flooding. Thats not acceptable in areas where land is a premium. Hydro plants have a limited capacity for output and are already maximized in many stations.
Alternate electrical sources like nuclear plants have dubious futures. Given the volatility of accidents and the nuclear waste problems, the future of nuclear power generation is bleak. That leaves a virtually untapped renewable power source the sun. Solar power is the future solution to low overhead electrical production.
By converting to solar energy, youre making an investment in the future of your bottom line. Like the stock market where investors bet on future markets, you can hedge your electrical bet by installing a self-contained solar generation system. With solar power, you benefit from lowering your electrical consumption cost and protecting your companys future.
Independence from commercial energy supply sources is another chief benefit youll get by converting to solar power. By investing in a self-contained solar system, you can reduce or remove your dependency on your local power company. Besides saving you significant money in overhead costs, youll have the assurance of a reliable electric supply regardless of what happens to the commercial grid.
In many areas, commercial power failure is a fact of life. You may be in a power-sensitive industry like cold storage where you cant tolerate a lapse in your electrical supply. Many areas in America have regular power interruptions from severe storms. When youre self-reliant on your solar panel system, youll have a dependable electrical supply no matter what happens to your commercial power provider.
Properly designed and installed solar panel systems are completely reliable. Unlike machinery or generating equipment, solar panels have no moving parts. You simply have a series of interconnected panels that convert the suns rays through a photovoltaic process to produce live alternating current electricity. Its the same current you get from your commercial power company, but you produce it independently.
With solar energy, you have the option of storing electricity through a battery system. Power is always there when you need a back-up such as night time or fading light.
Probably the biggest reward youll get by converting to solar electric power is tax benefits. All levels of local, state and federal governments support the move towards renewable, clean and efficient solar power. To show their support, they offer some beneficial tax incentives and financial assistance programs.
Here are the primary tax benefits youll receive when you convert your business to solar power:
These tax advantages arent something you have to qualify for by installing a particular type or size of solar panel system in your business. Theyre incentives guaranteed by government programs intended to encourage the move towards solar energy no matter what kind of system you install.
Although the cost may initially seem high, its an investment that will continue to help your bottom line. Depending on the size of your system, it can pay for itself in a couple of years while you benefit from lower or zero electric bills. Businesses of all sizes are finally recognizing that a solar electric energy system is a key strategic decision that guarantees a solid financial return for years to come. It also helps to attract business as many customers are attracted to businesses that are dedicated to sustainability efforts. Just imagine, in three years, the CO2 offset of one 105KW system is equal to 11,004 trees and 49,522 gallons of gas saved.
KC Green Energy is a division of Kautz Construction. In , we saw the incredible opportunity to install leading-edge solar panel systems at American homes and businesses. With roots in the roofing industry, our solar installations are often paired with roofing projects. We also understand that the most important part of a solar electric system is electric, so we do all electrical work ourselves. We are a family-owned company with high standards and our goal is to ensure the highest customer satisfaction. Your business benefits by trusting KC Green Energy to be your single source solution for green and clean solar electrical energy.
Get a Custom Quote Now
Solar electricity is a strategic business decision that will improve your bottom line. If youre thinking about converting to solar energy, contact KC Green Energy today for a free consultation. You can us at (855) 465-, on you can drop us a note online.
The company is the world’s best Monocrystalline Solar Panel Manufacturer supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
Comments
0Related Articles
By Ingrid
25
0
0
By Shirley
28
0
0
By Jesse
30
0
0
By Morgan
24
0
0
By Daisy
25
0
0
By Justin
22
0
0
By Muriel
9
0
0
By Ruby
9
0
0