We will work to design and install the best solar panel system for your home or business to generate cost savings and increase energy efficiency.
Looking to upgrade an existing solar system? We can update your solar system with the latest generation panel technology, boosting your energy production and reducing your electricity costs.
Red Oak Exteriors is a certified RSG Solar Powerhouse Professional Installer. RSG’s award-winning Powerhouse solar shingle has gained global reputation for its sleek design and top-rate efficiency. Powerhouse solar shingles are a great option for property owners who want to reduce energy costs without replacing the whole roof. The shingles are designed function like regular asphalt roof shingles, delivering cost-savings to property owners, reducing carbon footprints and increasing property values.
Rebates, tax credits and incentives for solar systems
Colorado Springs property owners can take advantage of a suite of solar rebates, tax credits and incentives to help reduce the cost of installing a rooftop solar system.
If you’re thinking of going solar, now is the time! The federal government currently offers a 30% investment tax credit (ITC) against the total cost of new solar system installs for residential home owners. This tax credit is schedule to drop to 26% in 2020; and will reach 22% in 2021 before it expires at the end of the year in 2021.
The state of Colorado offers a number of incentives for residents and business owners to install solar, including the Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Equipment and the Property Tax Exemption for Residential Renewable Energy Equipment. These exemptions help residents and business reduce their tax burdens after they have installed solar systems.
Colorado Springs Utilities also offers a renewable energy rebate program to residents and business owners. The program is designed to incentivize solar installs through net metering. Business and residential customers are eligible for a $0.20 per watt rebate. Depending on the installation, up to 40% of the total system cost could be covered by rebates and tax credits.
"It went excellent!!! Before I hired Red Oak for my Solar I researched Solar for over 8 months and interviewed several installers before deciding on Red Oak. I was reluctant at first because of the limited number of installs this company did but this was definitely the best decision I made. Not only I got a competitive price I also received the best service that anyone could ask for. Every time I had a question I called or texted and I received a response within a few minutes. Install was smooth and quick and they completely cleaned up after the install was done.
We also had friends that have Solar installed about a month before us (different company} and they are still waiting for Xcel to install the meter. Plus, my system is awesome – Black Solar panels with Micro Inverters where I can monitor each and every panel independently. And my Solar panels are American made!!! It is definitely nice to produce my own energy. Thank You Red Oak!" - Patrick H.
What is rooftop solar?
Rooftop solar refers to a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel system that is installed on the roof of a house or building and provides energy to power some or all the electricity needs of the structure. Rooftop solar systems can be paired with battery storage systems, helping consumers offset their peak energy demand by supplementing their electricity use with solar-generated power. Solar systems can also generate excess power and sell it back to the power utility through a mechanism called “net metering,” essentially reducing the electricity rates consumers pay to utilities.
What’s the difference between solar panels and solar shingles?
Solar shingles, also called building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), use the same technology as traditional solar panels, but are the size and shape of roofing shingles. Solar shingles are typically more expensive than panel systems but most are eligible for the same tax credits, rebates and incentives as solar panels, and can be used in net metering mechanisms just like solar panels.
How much does it cost?
There are a lot of variables that go into designing the best solar system for a building or home. Factors such as the roof pitch, the orientation of the house relative to the sun, roof impediments like chimneys and vents, and even nearby trees can affect how a solar system is designed and therefore how much it will cost. Luckily, solar panel technology has improved significantly over the last few years as prices for the panels themselves have dropped steadily. On average, residential rooftop solar systems range from $10,000-$20,00.
How much money can I save?
The amount of money you can save will be based on the specifics of your energy usage, your solar system, and the electricity rates you pay. To give you an idea of what this conversion looks like, let’s take a house that uses 10,400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year (the national average). Electricity rates are very volatile, but in Colorado, the average rate is $0.1227 per kWh. Now, electricity costs have increased nationally at a rate of approximately 2.2% per year, so we will factor those extra costs into our computation. This house has a 6 kW solar system installed, which averages $18,000 in Colorado. If the solar system accounts for 98% of the energy needs of the house, the owners of this house would see over $14,000 dollars in savings over a period of 20 years, while offsetting about 6 metric tons of carbon emissions per year.[1]
But that’s just an estimate. If you know your annual energy consumption and electricity rates, we encourage you to use this solar calculator to determine a more accurate cost-savings analysis.
Will it hurt the curbside appeal of my house or decrease my home value?
It may seem counter-intuitive, but solar systems (both panels and shingles) tend to increase property values today. In established solar markets, installed systems can raise property values by over 4%. A 2015 report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that on average, home buyers were willing to pay $4 per watt for an installed system, meaning that a 6 kW system could increased a property value by as much as $24,000.[2] However, home values vary significantly from market to market, so it’s worth doing some research into your local real estate market to see how solar systems are affecting property values.
[1] These numbers have been pulled from this solar calculator developed by EnergySage.
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