Why is Washington, DC the most valuable city in the country for property owners to install solar?

Due to some of the strongest local incentives in the country, the economics of solar in Washington DC are some of the best in the country. Not only are you helping the environment by switching to solar, but you are also helping your wallet. Completely free solar is available and in most cases, you can own solar for less than you earn in direct payments from the incentives. If you would prefer to get paid for clean energy that you own rather than pay for rented electricity from Pepco (that increases year after year because of infrastructure upgrade costs they pass onto the customer), then it is certainly worth it!

Although there are some emissions in the manufacturing process of solar panels, the math is clear that solar is better for the environment than traditional fossil fuel electricity sources. Your average solar panel recoups its carbon footprint after about 2 years of operation and is expected to keep producing for 25-30 years!

This is unique to your situation based on where you live, how much sunlight your roof gets and what direction the panels are facing. In Washington DC, the average payback time is 4 years. In most markets, the return on investment is somewhere between 10-15 years. In markets with super high energy costs, like California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts  —  it is typically much quicker than this.

• There are a few disadvantages. You have to take the time to decide which option is best for you. You have to wait for utility approval, permits, installation, inspection and approval to turn on the system. Also, you cannot control when the sun shines or how much sunlight your roof happens to get.
• There are far more advantages that typically outweigh these disadvantages. There are no moving parts, making solar extremely reliable over a long period of time 25-30 years. The energy can be generated right on your roof and does not have to travel long distances to get to your home. The sun comes up each and every day and you can harness this energy to power your life for less money than traditional sources. The carbon emissions are far less over the lifecycle of solar panels. Once you have paid off your solar panels, all of the energy they generate is free to you forever! 

This also depends on your unique priorities and circumstances. Generally, you want to ensure your solar panels come from a Tier 1 manufacturer and have a good performance warranty. Some panels like the REC Alpha series and top-of-the-line SunPower modules may have an edge on the competition, but their extra costs don't always make sense for every consumer. Work with a consultancy like Sustainable You to best determine which modules make the most sense for you!