Making the Switch: Solar Power for Your San Fransisco Home

Frustrated with home energy bills? You’re not alone. The Bay Area’s already higher-than-average energy costs continue to rise. Some power companies have raised their electricity rates by over 120% in the last decade. Recently, California ranked #2 for the highest electricity prices in the country- second only to Hawaii.

Homeowners are looking for alternative energy solutions to escape rising gas and electricity prices. Of course, one industry that’s seen tremendous growth in recent decades is solar power.

The Evolution of Solar Power in San Fransisco and California

In 2019, San Francisco had the second-highest rate of solar-powered homes in the US, behind San Diego. As data and awareness spread, more residents realized that rather than paying exorbitant prices for conventional energy, they could produce and store their own energy from a naturally abundant and always-renewable source: the sun.

It’s a shift in perspective that’s resulted not only in changing the way homeowners think about their energy options, but also in shaping the state’s renewable resources.

In his recent New Yorker article titled “California Is Showing How a Big State Can Power Itself Without Fossil Fuels,” Bill McKibben writes:

“Something approaching a miracle has been taking place in California this spring. Beginning in early March, for some portion of almost every day, a combination of solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower has been producing more than a hundred percent of the state’s demand for electricity. Some afternoons, solar panels alone have produced more power than the state uses.”

In the article, McKibben interviews a professor and homeowner, Mark Jacobson, who has used solar power to make his home a “showpiece” of energy efficiency. Jacobson notes as he checks his solar usage on an app:

“Yesterday, seventeen percent of the generation from my rooftop went into the batteries in the garage,” he said. “I used eight percent of it at home, and I sold seventy-nine percent to the grid.”

Benefits of CA Rooftop Solar Panel Systems

Today’s solar options make an optimal solar power setup more accessible and affordable than ever before. And even the most basic of installations can result in significant savings for homeowners. A 2021 study found that California residents, due to the state’s competitive solar market and high energy costs, saw some of the greatest cost benefits from installing rooftop solar panels.

Tori Huskins is the owner of Sun Solar East Bay, a full-service solar power company offering a wide range of services to the greater metro area. As a solar provider’s that’s been open since 1991, Huskins explains how the solar landscape has changed in the past 20+ years.

“It used to be a matter of trying to convince homeowners that this was a real thing – that this could really impact their electricity bill and result in long-term savings for years to come. But people know that now. The awareness is there, which is awesome. Now it’s about, how can I create a system that’s ideal for my home and usage? We love collaberating with homeowners to create a system that really works for them.”

Still, Huskins says that while many people’s opinions and awareness of solar power has evolved, the reasons they ultimately choose to make the switch remain the same:

Switching to Solar Cuts Your Electricity Bill

Imagine significantly reducing or even eliminating your monthly energy bills. With solar power, San Francisco homeowners can “own” their own energy, created by the sun, rather than “renting” it from large electric and gas companies that overcharge and continually raise rates. Eliminating your dependence on conventional energy can protect you from price hikes and increases.

Solar Panels Offer Tax Benefits

There’s never been a better time to choose solar power in San Francisco. Both the Federal and State governments are encouraging homeowners to choose more efficient energy solutions, including solar power. San Francisco homeowners who install solar-powered energy systems are eligible for tax credits, rebates, and energy initiatives.

Solar Panels Can Increase Your Home’s Value

Installing a solar-powered energy system in your home increases its value—in fact, as conventional energy prices continue to soar, your home’s value will continue to grow. Solar power can also distinguish your home from others on the market. San Francisco home buyers looking for an eco-friendly investment will be attracted to a home equipped with solar energy.

It’s Pretty Easy Being Green

Solar power is indeed the eco-conscious choice for your home energy needs. By creating and storing energy from sunshine, solar power utilizes one of our planet’s greatest and most renewable energy sources—and therefore preserves our planet’s non-renewable resources, lessens our dependence on other countries for fossil fuels, and protects the environment from harmful emissions.

See How Solar Panels Can Work For Your Home and Budget

Thinking about switching to solar? Learn more here, or check out the CustomSunVirtual tool to create a customized solar power system for your home and explore costs, design, and more.