Houston is a beautiful, sunny city, with a big potential for solar power. Installing solar panels in Houston has never been easier as more and more people are choosing to switch to renewable energy systems. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know if you are thinking about going solar in Houston.
This article will cover
- Solar System Installation Costs in Houston
- Incentives, Tax Credits, And Rebates For Solar Panels in Houston
- What To Look For When Installing Solar Panels in Houston
- Top 7 Solar Companies in Houston
Solar System Installation Costs in Houston
Let’s start with the most important thing – the initial investment that you have to make in order to go solar. The good news is, Texas is one of the cheaper states in the USA when it comes to this type of renewable energy. The price per watt ranges from $2.60 to $2.80 in 2023.
The average price that you can expect to pay per watt of solar energy in Houston is $2.70. Depending on the size of the property you want to cover with solar panels, you can expect to pay anywhere between $2700 to more than $20,000.
Here is the table that will help you determine how large your solar system should be and what price you will have to pay for it (and that is before the federal tax credit reduction).
| Size | Area it covers | Cost |
| 1 kW | 90 sq. ft. | $2,700 |
| 2 kW | 180 sq. ft. | $5,400 |
| 3 kW | 270 sq. ft. | $8,100 |
| 4 kW | 360 sq. ft. | $10,800 |
| 5 kW | 450 sq. ft. | $13,500 |
| 6 kW | 540 sq. ft. | $16,200 |
| 7 kW | 630 sq. ft. | $18,900 |
| 8 kW | 720 sq. ft. | $21,600 |
| 9 kW | 810 sq. ft. | $24,300 |
| 10 kW | 900 sq. ft. | $27,000 |
The table shows what you can expect to pay with the average price. However, as with anything you buy in large quantities, the more area you want to cover, the less you pay per watt. This depends on the company that installs the solar panels so check beforehand if there is any discount for larger systems.
Installing solar panels is a huge investment, but as with any other investment, it’s important to know the benefits it will bring you. The one great thing about this particular investment is that it almost certainly pays off.
Apart from doing your part in saving the planet, you can expect to save a lot of money. The average yearly bill for a Houston home is around $1,900. The average lifespan of a solar panel is 25 years. This means that you will be able to save around $47,000 during the time you get your electricity from the sun!
Incentives, Tax Credits, And Rebates For Solar Panels in Houston
Wherever you live in the USA, you are eligible for ITC – Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit. This is the biggest benefit that you can take advantage of when installing a solar system. It takes 30% off of the total cost of the installation process and material.
You should try to hurry up and go solar as soon as possible because this amount drops to 26% in 2033. This perk can save you thousands of dollars! Here is the table that compares the prices before and after the ITC.
Average solar panel cost in New Jersey (after 30% tax credit)
| Size | Area it covers | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | 90 sq. ft. | $1,890 |
| 2 kW | 180 sq. ft. | $3,780 |
| 3 kW | 270 sq. ft. | $5,670 |
| 4 kW | 360 sq. ft. | $7,560 |
| 5 kW | 450 sq. ft. | $9,450 |
| 6 kW | 540 sq. ft. | $11,340 |
| 7 kW | 630 sq. ft. | $13,230 |
| 8 kW | 720 sq. ft. | $15,120 |
| 9 kW | 810 sq. ft. | $17,010 |
| 10 kW | 900 sq. ft. | $18,900 |
As you can see, the reduction of the cost is far from negligible, for any size of the system you choose.
The next incentive is the increase in property value. Your home is worth 3 to 4 percent more if it is powered by solar panels. In addition, homes with installed solar systems sell up to 20% faster than those without them.
Even better, you don’t have to worry about higher taxes! Texas offers Solar System Property Tax Exemption, which means that even though the value of your property increases, your taxes stay the same.
While Texas doesn’t have a net metering program per se, there is the Clean Energy Credit program. Houston is a sunny city, so it is very likely that your solar system will produce more power than you are able to use.
In this case, the excess power is sent back to the grid and you will earn credits. When you don’t produce enough energy, you will be able to take it from the grid and pay for it according to the standard electricity rate.
When you take into account all of the incentives and benefits that you can use, the total cost of your solar system can drop by thousands and thousands of dollars. Once you have the system installed, you will be saving money constantly.
What To Look For When Installing Solar Panels in Houston
The climate in Houston is optimal for the efficiency of solar panels. The average number of sunny days is 204, and there are not a lot of days when the clouds are blocking the sun entirely.
Solar panels are most efficient when the temperature is around 77 degrees, and Houston meets this criterium perfectly – its average temperature is around this number for seven months of the year. This means that you will not have to worry if your solar panels will produce enough energy for your home.
Another thing to be careful of when installing solar panels is the number of peak sun hours your system receives. This means that your system will produce at least 1000 watts hourly per around 10 ft. of solar panels.
The optimal number of peak hours per day is 4. If your system is fixed, the number of peak hours Houston gets is almost 5! This number is even higher if you decide to use 1-axis or 2-axis tilt solar panels.
Finally, the solar system needs to be positioned properly so it can produce energy at the highest possible efficiency. You have three options – the solar panels can be fixed throughout the whole year, or you can change their direction multiple times per year.
If you decide to have your solar panels fixed, they should be tilted according to the latitude of the city. Houston’s latitude is 29.7 degrees, so your solar panels should be positioned at that angle, facing south.
If you decide to change the position twice a year, they should be at 14.7 degrees in summer and 44.7 in winter. If you want to alter the position four times a year, they should be at 26.8 degrees in the spring and autumn months.
Top 7 Solar Companies in Houston
When you decide to use renewable energy, it’s important to find reliable, trustworthy companies that will help you throughout the whole process. Here is the list of seven companies in Houston that install solar panels.
1. Alba Energy
Alba Energy is a company operating in six cities, including Houston. They promise to give a customer the best possible experience in the process of going solar. Their perks include a 25-year guarantee, as well as zero upfront payment. Alba Energy’s team does everything throughout the process – from the first consultation to the final product.
Location: 1773 Westborough Dr Suite 221, Katy, TX 77449
Phone: 281-769-4243
2. Freedom Forever
This company’s mission is to help make renewable energy more accessible and more affordable. Their goal is to make the customers’ lives better and to serve the environment. Freedom Forever’s services include solar system installation, solar energy storage, and solar financing through loans.
Location: 15550 Vickery Dr Suite 100, Houston, TX 77032
Phone: 888-557-6431
3. Sunnova
Sunnova is one of the leading solar companies in the USA. They promise affordable and clean energy, and they offer a 25-year system coverage guarantee. Their services include solar system installation and maintenance, battery storage, and roof replacement. If you purchase a certain plan from them in 2021, you can get 1500$ Visa Rewards Card.
Location: 20 Greenway Plaza #540, Houston, TX 77046
Phone: 866-786-6682
4. Sunpro
Sunpro has been in the business for thirteen years now. Their service consists of designing, installing, and maintaining solar systems. They were ranked #2 Top Residential Solar Installer by Solar Power Magazine in 2021. They offer labor guarantee, power production guarantee, panel module performance guarantee, and enphase microinverters guarantee, all of which last for 25 years.
Location: 7614 Bluff Point Dr, Houston, TX 77086
Phone: 713-742-2020
5. Freedom Solar Power
This company has been operating since 2007. They install solar power systems and backup power systems. They offer installation of both commercial and residential solar systems, and their goal is to empower people to start getting energy from the sun. They promise to put the people first and provide the best quality equipment.
Location: 1234 N Post Oak Rd #170, Houston, TX 77055
Phone: 713-332-9716
6. Circle L Solar
Circle L Solar wants to help customers reduce the consumption and the cost of energy. They promise the best service, and they offer a free no-obligation energy assessment, as well as energy loss prevention.
Location: 5201 Mitchelldale St suite A1, Houston, TX 77092
Phone: 817-945-2011
7. KW Solar
KW Solar offers services all across Texas and Gulf Coast. They offer solar system installation, Tesla Powerwall battery installation, and solar parking canopies.
Location: 5750 N Sam Houston Pkwy E STE 810, Houston, TX 77032
Phone: 832-844-5790
Conclusion
If you want to install solar panels in Houston, think about doing it as soon as possible. Many sunny days per year, a lot of companies to chose from, and an almost certain return on your investment makes this city a great place for installing solar systems.