You have two options for powering your home or business with solar
Rooftop Solar
Install solar on your property
Purchase or finance a solar panel system and save thousands over the 25+ year life of the equipment. Add batteries for backup power.
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Maximize financial savings from solar
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Reduce or eliminate electricity bills
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Enjoy tax credits and other incentives
Get free custom quotes from pre-screened installers
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Pay 20% less than market average prices
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Compare up to seven local offers
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Get expert advice from a dedicated Energy Advisor
Community Solar
Subscribe to a local Community Solar Farm
Purchase energy from a local solar project at a discount. You don't need to own property or install equipment to save with community solar.
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Save 5-15% on your annual electricity bills
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Sign up for free, cancel at no cost
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Support local renewable energy jobs & development
Explore local community solar options
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Compare price discounts and subscription terms
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Learn and subscribe all in one place
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Get expert advice from a dedicated Energy Advisor
We help you go solar with confidence
ICLEI USA and EnergySage have partnered to offer a simple solution to go solar and save money!
ICLEI is a global network of cities, towns, and regions committed to building a sustainable future, offering solutions to local governments to meet their sustainability goals.ICLEI USA is proud to partner with EnergySage to make its Solar Marketplace available to residents and businesses to help them learn about and shop for solar energy systems! EnergySage is funded by the US Department of Energy and is owned, in part, by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, a quasi government organization that works to advance renewables adoption.
Researching and shopping for solar can be a confusing and time-consuming process. The ICLEI Solar Marketplace helps to deliver transparency, simplicity and choice to those interested in exploring solar. The Solar Marketplace is an online platform that helps residents quickly research and shop for solar energy systems. Free tools and resources are available to help answer your questions and provide assistance in comparing options, so you can make an informed decision in going solar.
Most consumers are able to save considerably on their solar project through EnergySage! Get started today!
Photo by Sundial Solar / Minnesota Solar Challenge via Creative Commons
Why EnergySage
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Unmatched, free educational resources that empower you to go solar with confidence
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Easy-to-use calculators for quick solar estimates
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Online comparison-shopping to help you secure the best deal possible
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Support from unbiased Energy Advisors, available to answer all your energy questions
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100% free and online - no calls unless you want them!
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Transparent information and numbers to guide smarter energy decisions
FAQs
Community Solar
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How does community solar work?
Community solar allows you to subscribe to a share of a local solar farm. As the solar farm generates clean electricity for the grid, you buy energy from your share at a discount. The credits you receive for this energy help lower your monthly utility bill, allowing you to save 5-10% on your annual electricity costs.
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How much can I save with community solar?
Electricity bill savings differ from program to program, and also vary by month. On average, most community solar subscribers save 5-10% on their annual electricity costs.
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What happens if I move?
It depends – if you’re moving to a location that’s still in the same electricity service territory as your current home, you may be able to transfer your community solar subscription to your new address. However, if you’re moving further away, you may need to cancel your subscription or transfer your contract to another utility customer (whether that be the new homeowners or someone else in the project’s service territory). Cancellation and transfer terms and applicable fees vary by project and provider, so confirm these policies with your provider prior to signing up.
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How do I choose the right community solar program for me?
Before signing a contract with a community solar provider, it’s important to compare estimated savings, cancellation terms, project location, payment model, subscription fees, and more. Using the Community Solar Marketplace, you can compare multiple local options and find the best project for you.
Rooftop Solar
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How many solar panels do I need?
Probably more than 10 and fewer than 40. We know that’s quite a range, but with solar, there’s really no one-size-fits-all solution: the number of panels you should install depends on how much sun hits your property, your energy needs, and the amount of space you have available for the installation. Most people install a system large enough to generate as much of their electricity needs as possible (that’s how you’ll save the most money!)
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Do I need a solar battery?
Need? No – most people who go solar remain connected to the grid, meaning you can pull electricity from the grid when your solar panels aren’t producing enough to meet your needs. However, even though you don’t need one, solar batteries have some pretty great benefits: if you live in an area that experiences frequent power outages, a battery will help keep your solar-powered home running when the grid goes down. Also, if your utility company has demand charges or time-of-use rates, installing a solar battery can help you save money.
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How much do solar batteries cost?
Like solar, you can think of the costs as both a gross price and a price per relative capacity. Solar batteries range from $5,000 to $7,000+ and from $400 dollars per kilowatt hour (kWh) to $750/kWh. Note that these prices are only for the battery itself, not for the cost of installation or additional necessary equipment. The installed cost of a battery is closer to $11,000 to $18,000+, and $800/kWh to $1,300/kWh.
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How much can I save with a rooftop solar panel system?
Most people can save tens of thousands of dollars on electricity costs over the lifetime of a solar panel system (25+ years). The exact amount you can save depends on many factors, including how much you spend on electricity bills, how much electricity your solar panel system generates, incentives available in your area, and more. The best way to get accurate savings estimates is to compare custom solar quotes on our Marketplace – your quotes will take all these factors and more into account.
Not ready yet? Discover more
Benefits of Solar
Explore the benefits of Solar beyond environmental and financial savings
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Solar is Beautiful
Today’s solar systems are quite attractive, check out our solar gallery
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