of Los Angeles gets 75% of the annual sun
0
%
Homes in Los Angeles Are Solar Viable
0
K
Only 2.6% of Homes Have Solar Installations
0
K
Rooftop Solar Capacity Distribution in Los Angeles
Below we outline how many homes are capable of handling different sized solar systems:
0 ~ 5 kW – 165.2K
5 ~ 10 kW – 227.1K
10 ~ 15 kW – 115.2K
15 ~20 kW – 52.9K
20 ~ 25 kW – 25.2K
25 ~ 30 kW – 13.4K
30 ~ 35 kW – 8.6K
35 ~ 40 kW – 6K
40 ~ 45 kW – 4.4K
45 ~ 50 kW – 3.3K
Yearly Energy Generation Potential (MWh AC)
The below data shows the total solar energy potential if all homes were to install a solar system (A megawatt-hour (MWh) is a unit that measures electric energy.
Flat Roof – 8.4M MWh
South Facing – 3.4M MWh
West Facing – 2.2M MWh
East Facing – 1.4M mWh
North Facing – 158.4K MWh
Solar Energy
For Your Home
(On Average 1,854 hours of sunlight per year is useable in Los Angeles)
Solar System Size Breakdown
Your monthly electric bill is used to estimate how much solar electricity you would need based on typical utility rates in your area.
A 2.8kW solar system will cover about 94% of your electricity usage.
A 3.5kW solar system will cover about 98% of your electricity usage.
A 5kW solar system will cover about 97% of your electricity usage.
A 6.8kW solar system will cover about 99% of your electricity usage.
Cost of Solar Systems
Largest lifetime savings can be had by purchashing your solar system in full upfront. By doing this, you will be the outright owner, which means you may claim any local, state, or federal incentives in place.
A 2.8kW solar system will cost $13,223 (before federal tax incentives)
Total payments over 20 years:
Maintenance: $0
Remaining utility bills assuming 2.2% annual price increases: $4,323
Total: $13,223 + $4,323 = $17,546
State and Federal Incentives
Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC): $3,438
State tax credit: $0
$17,546 – $3,438 = $14,108
Total 20-year cost with solar
Includes above costs and incentives: $14,108
Total 20-year cost without solar
Assumes 2.2% annual increase in electricity prices: $23,511
Total 20-year savings
Net present value at 4% discount rate: $3,284.
$23,511 – $14,108 = $9,402
You would save $9,403 in 20 years by installing a 2,8kW solar system.
A 3.5kW solar system will cost $15,263 (before federal tax incentives)
Total payments over 20 years:
Maintenance: $0
Remaining utility bills assuming 2.2% annual price increases: $3,898
Total: $15,263 + $3,898 = $19,161
State and Federal Incentives
Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC): $3,968
State tax credit: $0
$19,161 – $3,968 = $15,193
Total 20-year cost with solar
Includes above costs and incentives: $15,194
Total 20-year cost without solar
Assumes 2.2% annual increase in electricity prices: $29,520
Total 20-year savings
Net present value at 4% discount rate: $6,152
$29,520 – $15,194 = $14,326
You would save $14,326 in 20 years by installing a 3.5kW solar system.
A 5kW solar system will cost $19,343 (before federal tax incentives)
Total payments over 20 years:
Maintenance: $0
Remaining utility bills assuming 2.2% annual price increases: $5,190
Total: $19,343 + $5,190 = $24,533
State and Federal Incentives
Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC): $5,029
State tax credit: $0
$24,533 – $5,190 = $19,343
Total 20-year cost with solar
Includes above costs and incentives: $19,505
Total 20-year cost without solar
Assumes 2.2% annual increase in electricity prices: $44,542
Total 20-year savings
Net present value at 4% discount rate: $12,471
$44,542 – $19,505 = $25,037
You would save $25,037 in 20 years by installing a 5kW solar system.
A 6.8kW solar system will cost $24,103 (before federal tax incentives)
Total payments over 20 years:
Maintenance: $0
Remaining utility bills assuming 2.2% annual price increases: $4,839
Total: $24,103 + $4,839 = $28,942
State and Federal Incentives
Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC): $6,266
State tax credit: $0
$28,942 – $6,266 = $22,676
Total 20-year cost with solar
Includes above costs and incentives: $22,676
Total 20-year cost without solar
Assumes 2.2% annual increase in electricity prices: $59,565
Total 20-year savings
Net present value at 4% discount rate: $19,405
$59,565 – $22,676 = $36,889
You would save $36,889 in 20 years by installing a 6.8kW solar system.
What if All Homes in Los Angeles Installed Solar?
If all solar viable homes were to install a solar system, the amount of avoided CO2 emissions from the electricity sector in Los Angeles would be the equivalent of the below metrics. (Please note that each metric is singular, therefore; 4.2 million metric tons of Co2 = 891,000 passenger cars off the road, which = 108M trees planted, which = 2.1 million less humans.) These metrics are updated as soon as new information becomes available.
4.2M Metric Tons
of carbon dioxide would be removed from our planets atmosphere. Energy consumption is the biggest source of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for an enormous 73% worldwide.
108M Trees Planted
would be planted throughout the city, each one with the ability to absorb the CO2 that we emit on a daily basis.
891K Passenger Cars
would essntially be removed from the streets of Los Angeles for 1 year. Currently Los Angeles has roughly 7,931,003 registered auto vehicles.
2.1M Less Humans
Each human produces about 2 tons of CO2 a year. The amount of carbon reduced by installing solar systems on every home in Los Angeles would be the equivalent of reducing the cities population by 2.1 million people.
