Is rooftop solar cost-effective?

Rooftop solar is increasingly cost-effective for home owners, business owners, and their communities. Reductions in technology prices, innovative financing, and growing networks of solar installers and financial partners all helped drive down the prices for household systems in the United States by 45% percent from 2010 to 2014 [ 2 ].

Is rooftop solar going mainstream?

Rooftop solar is going mainstream. The falling prices and innovative financing structures mean that rooftop solar is more broadly available, and that the pool of customers comes from increasingly diverse economic backgrounds.

Why are rooftop solar panels so expensive?

Dropping prices are due to economies of scale and technological advances. The falling price of rooftop PV systems results from improvements in the technology and economies of scale among manufacturers. Global solar panel production (for rooftop and other markets) increased from 24,000 megawatts (MW) in 2010 to 40,000 MW in 2014 [ 4 ].

Why should you install rooftop solar panels?

Staff from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and GRID Alternatives Colorado install rooftop solar panels. Lowering electricity bills is one of the main reasons why consumers may decide to install rooftop solar panels.

Who uses rooftop solar?

By 2014, U.S. businesses had installed more than 900 MW of rooftop solar across the country. These businesses include well-known companies such as Walmart, Apple, Costco, and Kohl's as well as many other department stores, consumer goods manufacturers, and car companies [ 7 ].

Does rooftop PV electricity use water?

What’s more, rooftop PV electricity generation involves little to no water. That stands in contrast to almost all power plants that make electricity using steam. These include coal and nuclear plants, many natural gas plants, and some other renewable energy facilities, which depend on water for cooling.