Is Solar Worth It In Winter Garden Florida

We're here to help you determine whether a solar power system is worth it in Winter Garden, Florida. We'll also answer your questions about how it works and which solar providers and installers are available. See the topics below:

Solar panel system cost
Solar power companies
Solar pros/cons and recommendation
Savings by month

Cost of Solar Panels in Winter Garden, FL

The figures below show the total cost of solar power in Winter Garden and the estimated payback or break-even period. The numbers below assumes you want to buy the system outright. You can also get a loan, lease the system, or set up a "power purchase agreement" (PPA). Learn more about payment options.

Residential 5 kW system

Estimated system cost: $20,950

(-) Federal tax credit: 30% with no maximum

Final cost after tax credits: $14,665

Est. energy savings per year: $1,075

Time to recover costs: 13 years 8 months

30-year savings: $17,585

Commercial 50 kW system

Estimated system cost: $193,500

(-) Federal tax credit: 30% with no maximum

Final cost after tax credits: $135,450

Est. energy savings per year: $10,755

Time to recover costs: 12 years 7 months

30-year savings: $187,196

Get a quote

Sources

Federal tax credits: Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
System pricing based on $/watt from the most recent NREL quarterly report.

State discounts are not calculated due to complex pricing, frequent change, and individual variations such as the property taxes on your home or business. Overall, financial incentives in most of Florida are good, so expect to pay less vs. the above. All partner solar power companies will help you determine which incentives you qualify for. You may either request a quote by clicking above or try checking for state solar incentives on DSIRE.org's site here.

Solar Power Companies in Winter Garden, FL

The following companies do solar power installation and financing in Florida.

Description: SolarCity is currently the largest solar provider in the nation. The company was started by two brothers, and is proud of its grassroots beginnings. Features:

$0 down plans available.
The Give Power foundation gives a solar system and battery to schools without electricity for every megawatt generated.
Option to lock-in power rates to avoid rising utility costs.

Company highlights: SolarCity is easy to get behind with its emphasis on helping less fortunate communities. Customers also report high satisfaction with price lock options.

Description: Vivint Solar is one of the larger solar power providers, serving several sun-friendly states. The company is best known for plans with no money down and quick installation. Features:

Plans available with no up-front costs if qualified.
Professional consultation, custom design, and installation.
Monitoring and maintenance from Vivint to ensure maximum performance.

Company highlights: The company offers several plans to match most budgets; however, some salespeople reportedly make commitments and set expectations that cannot be fulfilled.

Get a quote

While you can install your own solar panels, it's definitely not easy. We strongly recommend working with a professional solar power installer. If you have professional construction and roofing experience feel free to read more about DIY systems.

Should You Get Solar in Winter Garden?

Obviously only you can decide, but we've collected the following pros and cons for getting solar at a Winter Garden home or business:

Pros

30% federal incentive extended to 2019
Average grid electricity costs ($0.12 per kilowatt-hour) make solar viable
Rising electricity costs (+9% in the last 5 years)
Good state financial incentives (#12 out of 50)
Higher-than-average electrity usage (1141 kWh per month) means more opportunities for savings
Fair policy scores: interconnection (D) | net metering (B)
Higher than average sunshine (13.3% above average)

Cons

None known for Winter Garden, FL

Is solar worth it in Winter Garden, FL? Considering all of the above, we think so for most people. Solar is 7.8% more cost effective than the rest of the nation and will pay itself back in around 13 years 8 months for a home buyer. We like to see return times (without state incentives) under 20 years.

Sources

Electricity costs, rates of change, and usage from EIA.gov
Subsidies analyzed by DecisionData from state websites
State policy scores come from freeingthegrid.org
Sun data assumes equal zip code weight based on NREL data

Solar Power Savings by Month in Winter Garden

A 5kW system will save someone in Winter Garden up to $89.46 on an average month. That's significant given the average Florida power bill of $132.16 per month. Here's a monthly breakdown:

Month	Available kW / m2 / day	Max savings / month
Jan	5.02	$84.33
Feb	5.24	$80.19
Mar	5.97	$100.21
Apr	6.44	$104.69
May	6.17	$103.50
Jun	5.38	$87.33
Jul	5.43	$91.11
Aug	5.49	$92.11
Sep	5.16	$83.86
Oct	5.32	$89.32
Nov	5.07	$82.29
Dec	4.56	$76.54

Data based on 1 zip in Winter Garden, FL. Data reliability is rated excellent.

Savings Methodology

We estimate savings with a system that is very efficient at 19% of energy captured with a standard 5% total system loss. System loss comes from both the unavoidable (system age, electrical dissipation in wiring and connections, etc.) and the avoidable (shade from trees, dust, etc.) Do note that the system will b e slightly less efficient as it ages, too.

For example, April is the highest-sun month in Winter Garden with an average of 6.44 kW per meter per day. An efficient 5 kW system will cover about 25 square meters depending on the roof. So, the following is the savings calculation for April in Winter Garden:

6.44 kW/m2 * 25m2 = 161.11 kW/day available

161.11 * 19% efficiency = 30.61 kW/day captured

30.61 kW * 95% system retention = 29.08 kW/day usable

29.08 kW * Florida average of $0.12 per kW * 30 days = up to $104.69 in savings in an average April.

These assumptions are very good for the average home in Winter Garden, but nothing beats the accuracy of getting your own quote.

Other Resources

Solar panel costs and savings: More info on how much solar costs and the factors that can influence your price.

Kilowatts and kilowatt hours: What are kilowatts and how do electric companies charge you?

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