At Green Villager, we’re making the switch to solar in 2025, and we want to take you along for the ride. The world is changing. Power bills creep higher, and the grid grows weaker. But the sun is free, and the time to harness it is now. The process can seem tangled in red tape and loaded with jargon, but we’ll cut through it. We’re keeping it simple. We’ll document every step, every setback, and every dollar saved. Read on to see how we are planning on saving 50% of the average cost of a NEW solar project in our state.
“All people should have free energy sources… Electric power is everywhere present in unlimited quantities and can drive the world’s machinery without the need of coal, oil, gas, or any other of the common fuels.”
-Nikola Tesla
Disclaimer: We are not solar experts—nor do we want to be. We’re just regular folks trying to take control of our energy future. We’ll use public resources, free tools, and incentives to make solar work without bleeding our wallets dry. If we can do it, so can you.
Why Go Solar in 2025?
The juice is finally worth the squeeze. Solar power has been around for decades, but 2025 is shaping up to be the year when going solar makes more financial sense than ever. Here’s why:
- Generous Tax Incentives – The Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) still allows homeowners to deduct 30% of system costs from their taxes. Many states offer additional rebates and credits, cutting costs even further.
- Falling Equipment Costs – The price of solar panels has dropped more than 80% over the last decade, making DIY solar more accessible than ever.
- Better DIY Options – With plug-and-play solar kits, online tutorials, and community solar initiatives, homeowners can install systems without hiring expensive contractors.
- Energy Independence – Utility rates are rising, and grid instability is becoming more common. Solar provides a hedge against price hikes and power outages.
- Higher Home Value – Homes with solar sell for more than comparable non-solar homes, making it a smart investment even if you plan to sell in the future.
Solar in 2025 isn’t just about being eco-friendly—it’s about saving real money while gaining energy independence. Now, let’s walk through the process together.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Type of Solar System
Before we get to numbers, we need to pick the right system. There are three main types.
- Grid-Tied – Tied to the utility grid, letting you sell excess power back. It’s the cheapest and most common choice.
- Grid-Tied with Battery Backup – Like grid-tied but with batteries to keep the lights on during outages.
- Off-Grid – Fully independent, but expensive. Batteries must store enough juice to keep your house running at night and through storms.
For most of us, grid-tied is the smart move. It’s simple, it’s affordable, and it works.
We are choosing grid-tied with battery backup for these reasons:
1. We are already tethered to the grid
2. We can sell excess energy we produce
3. It’s a great backup – if we need it
Step 2: Sizing Your Solar System
Getting the right system size means the difference between slashing your bill or wasting money. Here’s how to do it. Systems are measured in kilowatt’s (kW), whereas your energy bill shows usage typically in kiowatt-hours (kWh).
1. Find Your Average Energy Consumption
- Grab your electric bill and find kilowatt-hours (kWh) used per month.
- Many utilities provide a 12-month history. Use it. Seasons change, and so does energy use.
Our annual total was 36,169 kWh. We average 3,014 kWh per month.
2. Use Free and Public Tools to Estimate System Size (How Much Solar Can Your Roof Produce?)
These tools are used to ESTIMATE the amount of power you can produce with your roof. Niether tool is a guarantee of what you can produce, but these are great ways to gather data for our solar plan.
PVWatts Calculator (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) – Uses solar resource data, weather patterns, and system performance models to estimate how much solar power your area can produce.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Choose the amount of roof you want to cover
- Nice clean report in PDF is generated
- FREE to use
Cons:
- Site is a bit dated
- Slow loading at times
Our results estimated we can produce 45,447 kWh per year if we panel our entire roof or 3,789 kWh per month!
Google Project Sunroof (if available) – Utilizes satellite imagery, 3D modeling, and machine learning to analyze your roof’s sun exposure and provide a customized solar potential estimate.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Generates estimated cost savings
- Estimates system size
- Estimates you environmental impact
- Provides cost breakdown for purchase vs. lease vs. loan
- Provides information on solar incentives you qualify for
- FREE to use
Cons:
- Does not estimate kWh output
- There is no way to export a report – just print the screen if you need to save the results
Our results estimated we would need a 50.0 kW system that would meet 83% of our usage.
3. Do the Math
Our system will probably fall somewhere in between the estimates provided above. Let’s roll up our sleeves and do some math that ChatGPT helped us with to determine what size system we need.
- Sun Hours – Varies by location (e.g., Arizona ~5.5, New York ~4). We will take the average and assume 5 hrs/day.
- System Efficiency – Around 75-85% due to panel inefficiencies and shading. We are going to be conservative here because we have some trees around us. Using 70% efficiency.
Our Calculation Criteria:
Daily Energy Usage = 3,014 kWh (Taken from our Energy Bill) ÷ 30 = 100.5 kWh
Peak Sun Hours = Assuming 5 hrs (Average of 4-6 hours)
System Efficiency = Assuming 70% (Conservative)
The result comes to a system size of 28.7kW
Step 3: Budgeting and Incentives
Now that we know our system size, let’s talk cost. Solar has gotten cheaper, and incentives make it even better.
1. Federal Tax Credit
- The Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) knocks 30% off your system cost.
2. State and Local Incentives
- Many states offer rebates, tax credits, and net metering.
- Check DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency) to see what’s available.
Our state (Maryland) offers a grant of up to $7,500 for a contractor installed system. They also offer low-interest (6.99%) financing on new systems that we will apply for.
3. Cost Breakdown
- According to SolarReviews, a fully installed grid-tied system should not cost more than $2.95 per Watt or $2,950 per kW BEFORE incentives. This does not include battery backup.
- For a 28.7 kW system, that’s $84,665
- After the 30% tax credit, it drops to $59,265
4. Installation Approach Options
| System Type | Total Price | Price/Watt | Est Cost/Month | Est Cost/Month After Incentives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fully Installed | $84,665 | $2.95 | $982.60 | $687.81 |
| DIY | $43,014 | $1.60 | $499.21 | $349.45 |
- Fully installed systems are through a contractor that does everything from start to finish.
- DIY includes system components, design, and permitting. We provide the labor.
- These figures reflect a FULLY financed solution over 10 years @ 6.99% interest. The more money you put down up front, the less you will pay monthly.
5. The Budget
We are chosing the DIY approach. With a little effort and enginuity we are going to save half the cost of a new system. Since we are not using a contractor, we will not qualify for the grant program in our state but we will still qualify for the 30% tax credit and the low interest financing.
We compared pricing from 3 different DIY solar package companies and took the average to find our DIY price. After incentives we are budgeting $30,110 after incentives.
Conclusion
Going solar isn’t complicated after you break it down step-by-step. Pick the right system, size it properly, and use every incentive you can. We’re doing it at Green Villager, and we’ll show you how. Stick with us as we move to the next step: choosing the best solar provider, equipment and our installation process!
Leave a Reply