Southern California has a bright sunny climate and an abundance of sunshine minutes, but what if this doesn’t fit your needs? What if you need your own private cloud or want to generate electricity at night? Luckily for you, Southern California also has some of the most generous rebates offered for installing solar energy systems.
Federal Tax Credit
Depending on where you live in Southern California, you may be eligible for a Federal Tax Credit that reduces the total cost of installing solar energy. The amount of the tax credit will vary and is based on the size of your installation. You will need to enter your federal tax id number in the Saver500 website in order to access this information. As an added bonus, you also get financial assistance in the form of an upfront grant that can cover the cost of materials for the project.
State Tax Credit
Even if you are not eligible for the Federal Tax Credit, you may still be able to claim a State Tax Credit for installing solar energy. Every state has a different set of rules and regulations regarding the amount of the tax credit, but you can usually find out about your state’s requirements by contacting the tax credit agency in your state and requesting information.
Home Recording Studio
If you are a musician or a music producer and need a private recording studio at home, you may be able to get up to $5,000 in financial assistance from your local government. In order to qualify for this credit, you will need to get a home recording studio license from your local government and then apply for the rebate through the Saver500 website. Once you have installed the system, you will be able to start generating electricity and recording music for pleasure.
Nighttime Electricity
What if you need electricity at night? Your local utility company may have special agreements with solar energy companies so that they can provide power to your house at night for less than what it would cost you to purchase electricity from another provider.
In order to take advantage of these lower rates, you will need to have a solar energy system installed at your home. In some cases, you will also need additional equipment like a battery bank or inverter to be able to use the electricity generated by the solar system at night.
Private Cloud
What if you need a computer server or a private cloud to store all of your sensitive information? You may be able to get up to $5,000 in financial assistance from your local government to install a computer server at home. In order to qualify for this credit, you will need to get a data centre license from your local government and then apply for the rebate through the Saver500 website. Once you have installed the system, you can use it to store all of your sensitive information like credit card numbers, social security numbers, and banking information.
Renewable Energy System
Even if you already have solar energy installed at your home, you can still qualify for a financial incentive in the form of a renewable energy system rebate. If you have a wind generator or a hydroelectric dam on your property, you may be able to receive a grant of up to $15,000 that can be used to purchase an off-peak energy system. You will need to fill in a form on the Saver500 website indicating the type and size of the system you require.
If you are the owner of a business and are looking to reduce your carbon footprint, you may be able to get up to $25,000 in financial assistance from your local goverment to install solar energy equipment. In order to qualify for this grant, you will need to get a special permit from your local government and then apply for the rebate through the Saver500 website. Once you have installed the system, you can use the electricity generated by the system to help power your business.
Heat Pumps Or Air Conditioning
Even in the warm southern California climate, you may need to get an air conditioner or heat pump. If you are not comfortable leaving your thermostat alone all day, you can get an in-house air handler that is controlled via a WiFi connection. This allows you to check in on the status of your AC from anywhere in the world.
If you decide that you want to install a heat pump instead of an air conditioner, you will need to determine the temperature at which you want to operate your home. You will then need to consult the chart in the installation manual to find the size of the system that will match your requirements.
Off-Peak Season
Let’s say that you live in a region where the utility company provides electricity only during regular peak hours and switches off the generation of electricity at night. It’s now August and the sun is shining but the temperatures are rising. As a result, you will need to run your air conditioner at all times and buy more electricity than usual. Depending on the size of your air conditioner, this could cost you thousands of dollars.
Fortunately for you, there is a way to take advantage of the situation. You can get a solar energy system that generates electricity during off-peak hours and store it in battery banks or containers. This stored energy can then be used to supply your house with electricity during peak hours. You will need to purchase additional batteries and equipment like inverters to be able to use the electricity generated by the system at night. By installing a system like this, you will be able to cut back on your air conditioner’s heating costs during the hottest season and use the saved money to pay for other household expenses.
Net Metering
Net metering allows you to generate as much electricity as you need and when you need it. With this system, you do not pay for the electricity that you use but you are credited with the full amount that you generate. In other words, your electricity bill is zero because the utility company credits you for the electricity that you generate. This may be particularly advantageous if you already have a solar energy system installed at your home. The additional equipment required for a net metering system is quite low and consists of a battery bank and an inverter. These items can usually be found for less than $500 altogether.
There are a variety of financial incentives offered for those living in Southern California that allow them to install solar energy equipment. With the appropriate equipment and application, you too can become one of the fortunate individuals who can generate their own electricity and save money on their energy bills.