Why to Go Solar Before Electrifying

Why to Go Solar Before Electrifying

Why to Go Solar Before Electrifying

Why to Go Solar Before Electrifying

By: Balto Staff

By: Balto Staff

By: Balto Staff

By: Balto Staff

You may have heard about net zero homes or energy independence. You may even know the broad strokes of how to get there: electrify everything and use clean power. Solar-led electrification, a term we’ve coined at Balto, is an intelligent path to achieving a net zero home, in which solar comes first. 

Why solar first? The reason for this comes down to cost. Solar is the lowest-cost power source. For homeowners considering electrification, powering their new appliances with solar energy is crucial to saving money. In fact, switching to electric appliances without getting solar increases your bills in most cases – and that is not what we want to see!

Let’s take a closer look. 

Leading California solar contractor, Northern Pacific Power Systems, studied 60 typical homes in Sonoma County to determine what the financial impacts would be electrifying with and without solar.

You may have heard about net zero homes or energy independence. You may even know the broad strokes of how to get there: electrify everything and use clean power. Solar-led electrification, a term we’ve coined at Balto, is an intelligent path to achieving a net zero home, in which solar comes first. 

Why solar first? The reason for this comes down to cost. Solar is the lowest-cost power source. For homeowners considering electrification, powering their new appliances with solar energy is crucial to saving money. In fact, switching to electric appliances without getting solar increases your bills in most cases – and that is not what we want to see!

Let’s take a closer look. 

Leading California solar contractor, Northern Pacific Power Systems, studied 60 typical homes in Sonoma County to determine what the financial impacts would be electrifying with and without solar.

You may have heard about net zero homes or energy independence. You may even know the broad strokes of how to get there: electrify everything and use clean power. Solar-led electrification, a term we’ve coined at Balto, is an intelligent path to achieving a net zero home, in which solar comes first. 

Why solar first? The reason for this comes down to cost. Solar is the lowest-cost power source. For homeowners considering electrification, powering their new appliances with solar energy is crucial to saving money. In fact, switching to electric appliances without getting solar increases your bills in most cases – and that is not what we want to see!

Let’s take a closer look. 

Leading California solar contractor, Northern Pacific Power Systems, studied 60 typical homes in Sonoma County to determine what the financial impacts would be electrifying with and without solar.

You may have heard about net zero homes or energy independence. You may even know the broad strokes of how to get there: electrify everything and use clean power. Solar-led electrification, a term we’ve coined at Balto, is an intelligent path to achieving a net zero home, in which solar comes first. 

Why solar first? The reason for this comes down to cost. Solar is the lowest-cost power source. For homeowners considering electrification, powering their new appliances with solar energy is crucial to saving money. In fact, switching to electric appliances without getting solar increases your bills in most cases – and that is not what we want to see!

Let’s take a closer look. 

Leading California solar contractor, Northern Pacific Power Systems, studied 60 typical homes in Sonoma County to determine what the financial impacts would be electrifying with and without solar.

Scenario 1: Electrifying Without (or Before) Solar

Scenario 1: Electrifying Without (or Before) Solar

Scenario 1: Electrifying Without (or Before) Solar

Scenario 1: Electrifying Without (or Before) Solar

In the blue upgrade scenario below, the 60 homes are modeled as electrifying and not getting solar at all. Over twenty years, they’d spend nearly $10,000 extra compared to doing nothing. This is because they’d have to purchase more high-cost electricity from the utility to power their new electric appliances. If they got solar at any point during this time – after electrifying – they would still incur some portion of this additional cost that they could avoid by getting solar first.

In the blue upgrade scenario below, the 60 homes are modeled as electrifying and not getting solar at all. Over twenty years, they’d spend nearly $10,000 extra compared to doing nothing. This is because they’d have to purchase more high-cost electricity from the utility to power their new electric appliances. If they got solar at any point during this time – after electrifying – they would still incur some portion of this additional cost that they could avoid by getting solar first.

In the blue upgrade scenario below, the 60 homes are modeled as electrifying and not getting solar at all. Over twenty years, they’d spend nearly $10,000 extra compared to doing nothing. This is because they’d have to purchase more high-cost electricity from the utility to power their new electric appliances. If they got solar at any point during this time – after electrifying – they would still incur some portion of this additional cost that they could avoid by getting solar first.

In the blue upgrade scenario below, the 60 homes are modeled as electrifying and not getting solar at all. Over twenty years, they’d spend nearly $10,000 extra compared to doing nothing. This is because they’d have to purchase more high-cost electricity from the utility to power their new electric appliances. If they got solar at any point during this time – after electrifying – they would still incur some portion of this additional cost that they could avoid by getting solar first.

Scenario 2: Electrifying with Solar in Place (Solar-Led Electrification)

Scenario 2: Electrifying with Solar in Place (Solar-Led Electrification)

Scenario 2: Electrifying with Solar in Place (Solar-Led Electrification)

Scenario 2: Electrifying with Solar in Place (Solar-Led Electrification)

In the yellow upgrade scenario, the 60 homes are modeled as getting solar + storage systems before electrifying. Over twenty years, they’d save over $15,000 compared to doing nothing. With solar sized intelligently for their future electric needs, these homes utilize low-cost clean power for their new electric appliances from day one.

In the yellow upgrade scenario, the 60 homes are modeled as getting solar + storage systems before electrifying. Over twenty years, they’d save over $15,000 compared to doing nothing. With solar sized intelligently for their future electric needs, these homes utilize low-cost clean power for their new electric appliances from day one.

In the yellow upgrade scenario, the 60 homes are modeled as getting solar + storage systems before electrifying. Over twenty years, they’d save over $15,000 compared to doing nothing. With solar sized intelligently for their future electric needs, these homes utilize low-cost clean power for their new electric appliances from day one.

In the yellow upgrade scenario, the 60 homes are modeled as getting solar + storage systems before electrifying. Over twenty years, they’d save over $15,000 compared to doing nothing. With solar sized intelligently for their future electric needs, these homes utilize low-cost clean power for their new electric appliances from day one.

Graphs show the average 20-year Net Presente Value (NPV) for 60 homes in Sonoma County with and without solar-and-battery systems.
NPV= Projected cost of electrification; annual savings relative to the home's current state.
Assumptions = All capital costs incurred in year one; cash payments (no financing or financing costs) 
Electrification = Upgrades of heat pump water heater, heat pump HVAC, and building envelope improvements (attic insulation, air sealing, and duct sealing). 
Solar-Led Electrification = Electrification (same as above) with a Solar-and-Storage System (system sized to cover all electrification upgrades and installed prior).

Graphs show the average 20-year Net Presente Value (NPV) for 60 homes in Sonoma County with and without solar-and-battery systems.
NPV= Projected cost of electrification; annual savings relative to the home's current state.
Assumptions = All capital costs incurred in year one; cash payments (no financing or financing costs) 
Electrification = Upgrades of heat pump water heater, heat pump HVAC, and building envelope improvements (attic insulation, air sealing, and duct sealing). 
Solar-Led Electrification = Electrification (same as above) with a Solar-and-Storage System (system sized to cover all electrification upgrades and installed prior).

Graphs show the average 20-year Net Presente Value (NPV) for 60 homes in Sonoma County with and without solar-and-battery systems.
NPV= Projected cost of electrification; annual savings relative to the home's current state.
Assumptions = All capital costs incurred in year one; cash payments (no financing or financing costs) 
Electrification = Upgrades of heat pump water heater, heat pump HVAC, and building envelope improvements (attic insulation, air sealing, and duct sealing). 
Solar-Led Electrification = Electrification (same as above) with a Solar-and-Storage System (system sized to cover all electrification upgrades and installed prior).

Graphs show the average 20-year Net Presente Value (NPV) for 60 homes in Sonoma County with and without solar-and-battery systems.
NPV= Projected cost of electrification; annual savings relative to the home's current state.
Assumptions = All capital costs incurred in year one; cash payments (no financing or financing costs) 
Electrification = Upgrades of heat pump water heater, heat pump HVAC, and building envelope improvements (attic insulation, air sealing, and duct sealing). 
Solar-Led Electrification = Electrification (same as above) with a Solar-and-Storage System (system sized to cover all electrification upgrades and installed prior).

Go Solar First

Go Solar First

Go Solar First

Go Solar First

For homeowners looking to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, starting with solar and then moving to electrification is key. Balto Energy’s solar-led electrification driver (SLED) makes this all possible. Balto’s accurate energy forecasts and financing will help you make a custom electrification plan that maximizes your future savings and the sustainability and resilience of your home. Curious about how much you could save? Get in touch and we’ll work with you to make a winning plan. 

For homeowners looking to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, starting with solar and then moving to electrification is key. Balto Energy’s solar-led electrification driver (SLED) makes this all possible. Balto’s accurate energy forecasts and financing will help you make a custom electrification plan that maximizes your future savings and the sustainability and resilience of your home. Curious about how much you could save? Get in touch and we’ll work with you to make a winning plan. 

For homeowners looking to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, starting with solar and then moving to electrification is key. Balto Energy’s solar-led electrification driver (SLED) makes this all possible. Balto’s accurate energy forecasts and financing will help you make a custom electrification plan that maximizes your future savings and the sustainability and resilience of your home. Curious about how much you could save? Get in touch and we’ll work with you to make a winning plan. 

For homeowners looking to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, starting with solar and then moving to electrification is key. Balto Energy’s solar-led electrification driver (SLED) makes this all possible. Balto’s accurate energy forecasts and financing will help you make a custom electrification plan that maximizes your future savings and the sustainability and resilience of your home. Curious about how much you could save? Get in touch and we’ll work with you to make a winning plan. 

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© 2024 Balto Energy. All Rights Reserved.

© 2024 Balto Energy. All Rights Reserved.

© 2024 Balto Energy. All Rights Reserved.

© 2024 Balto Energy. All Rights Reserved.