Boulder Colorado Homes with Solar

Boulder Colorado Homes with Solar

Should you install Solar Photovoltaic Panels (PV) on your roof? This question applies to many people everywhere. However, I have taken a look at specifically how this question pertains to us in Boulder Colorado. There are two key questions that should be asked. First you have to determine if you are building a new home or planning on upgrading your existing home. Second you must know your main motivating driver. Oftentimes when ones goes through the analysis of whether to make the upgrade or not it helps to have a main driving factor of reducing your carbon footprint.

In Boulder Colorado we are nearly required to have solar PV panels installed with any new construction or remodel that exceeds 500 square feet. This requirement is the result of new regulations that measure the greenness of your home. The Program is called Green Points. The home owner has an array of categories to choose from to get the required points. One category is Active Solar Electric System, of which you can receive up to 12 points.

Aside from the requirements that the city puts on home owners and builders there is the question of motivation. If you are looking at this from a pure investment standpoint it can be a little challenging. To make the investment play out favorable in a reasonable time frame you have to factor in inflation and increasing energy prices into the equation. Which I feel is very valid.

There are several incentive programs that help in the financial analysis. Excel Energy will provide a rebate of $2.00 per watt DC installed. They will also provide an REC payment for the actual production capacity of your system. Second is the Federal Government which provides a 30% tax credit of the cost of the system. This credit applies to new constriction and existing homes. It also applies to primary residence and second homes. Rentals do not qualify. Third the City of Boulder provides a Sales and Use Tax Rebate which equates to about 1% of the cost of the system.