With the cost of energy continuing to rise across the whole of Canada, a lot more businesses are exploring solar power to help them reduce their expenses, achieve energy independence, and make more of a contribution to sustainability.
With the ability to help businesses reduce their dependence on energy sources of a more traditional nature and help them secure energy savings that are long-term, commercial solar in Calgary is an energy option definitely worth exploring.
If you’re a Calgary business owner trying to cut your energy costs, going solar could help you achieve your goal. By generating your own power, you can stop being so reliant on the grid, and by taking advantage of net metering, companies can also sell the excess electricity produced by their panels back to the grid, helping them save even more money.
As well as potentially slashing your company’s energy costs and gaining full energy independence, switching to solar also has a lasting impact on the environment.
Going solar for the planet
Installing a solar panel system at your business can help you actively contribute to reducing your carbon emissions and take a step closer to helping Canada achieve its net-zero targets.
While this, of course, benefits the planet we all inhabit, it also sends a positive message to investors and customers alike, telling them that your company values sustainability, and perhaps more so than your competitors.
What about government incentives?
Businesses operating in the province of Alberta can access a number of different incentives, both provincial and federal, that can help make the cost of going solar more affordable. The country’s Investment Tax Credit (ITC), for example, helps businesses with a 30% contribution towards the cost of solar installation, while the Solar Energy Rebate Program can help them make further savings.
When these rebates are accounted for, the payback period for Calgary businesses with solar installations can be as little as 6 years, or at most, 10 years. Once the payback period has been reached, those businesses can take advantage of free electricity for as long as the system lasts (which can be up to 30 years).
Can a solar installation increase the value of a property?
Provided a solar system has been professionally installed and well-maintained on a commercial building (or at ground level), it generally makes the property more valuable. Potential buyers will likely already know the benefits of switching to solar, and if they buy your commercial property, they can start taking advantage of those benefits immediately.
Generally, solar companies in Calgary can help businesses increase their value by up to 6% by installing high-quality, long-lasting solar panel systems on their roofs or at ground level.
With the province enjoying high sunlight hours, Alberta is the ideal province for commercial businesses wishing to reap the rewards of solar power, and your Calgary business could maximize its production, even during winter.
While the cost of having a commercial solar system installed will be different for each company (due to their differing energy needs and location), the average total installation cost comes in at between $100,000 and $500,000. But it’s important to keep in mind that provincial and federal incentives can reduce that figure significantly, and with the reduced energy bills that switching to solar brings with it, going solar is a worthy long-term investment.
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