Solar Costs and Benefits
What are the Costs and Benefits for K-12 and Universities to go Solar?
Well, for bigger entities, such as schools, save the most with going solar due to their larger solar systems. The larger the solar system, the bigger the ROI. There are several different costs and benefits of going solar, let’s see what they are.
The process for installing solar into schools and universities is simple. There will most likely be a committee that will research and review all sorts of solar bids. This committee will then determine whether the installation is really worth it for them. The request for the proposal (RFP) will be reviewed by the stakeholder in charge. This is where the financing and installation will be looked over for review.
In terms of payment, there are two different options. One can either outright buy the solar system or, contact a third party owner and use a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA).
Some costs and benefits for schools or universities installing solar panels include:
- Ideal roof types and an array space make solar a great option for schools and/or universities
- The solar cuts overall operating costs for the schools
- A sustainable brand image represents the schools, therefore enrollment increases
There are thousands of school that has already installed some type of solar on-site. Some of these schools include Princeton, Yale, Northwestern, University of San Diego and Unversity of Arizona. In addition to those universities, over 3,700 K-12 schools have installed solar in the U.S.
So, some tips when shopping solar for schools and universities:
- The more the merrier
- The largest installer will not always quote the best price
- Compare all equipment options