Residential Solar
Why Go Solar?
Solar energy performs very well in the Pacific Northwest due to our cool, sunny springs, and long summer days. In fact, we get just as many sun hours per day as Germany, a country that until somewhat recently led the world in solar energy generation. With enough sun, what value can solar energy provide for you?
Sustainability
We all share responsibility for the stewardship of our environment. As the consequences of climate change continue to become a reality that people are seeing outside their own windows, many are taking the responsibility to act now into their own hands. Some of our clients want to do their part by installing solar panels on their home or enrolling in a community solar program; for some, it’s adding electric vehicle (EV) charging capabilities; and for a few, it has been cutting ties with the utility grid altogether with solar and battery energy storage. Imagine the impact you want to have on the world, and we will work with you to help achieve those goals, for you, for your family, for future generations.
Resiliency
When we started installing solar in 2004, the primary reason people were choosing to install battery energy storage with their PV systems was to power off-grid homes. But as the Pacific Northwest continues to experience climate variations and natural disasters of more frequency and intensity, or at least some growing uncertainty, many more on-grid homeowners are planning for the next significant power outage themselves. Solar power plus battery energy storage systems can now provide you energy independence from the power grid for your critical needs, with additional benefits such as load shifting, smart home energy management, and EV system integration. Our team has designed and installed solar- and battery-based resiliency systems for hospitals, schools, fire departments, municipal water pumping stations, communications networks, and emergency shelters. We bring our extensive solar installation expertise to every project to ensure that when the grid goes down, your lights stay on. Imagine Energy is one of the most longstanding and best solar energy companies in Oregon because we design for your particular needs and will be here to service your critical solar energy system well into the future.
Money
Imagine Energy has worked with many homeowners to achieve their sustainability goals, and we are happy to customize a system that works for you within your budget. For many homes and sites we evaluate, going solar can create substantial financial value. Here are some of the financial considerations we believe are important when evaluating your project:
Levelized Cost of Energy
Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) is a financial metric that shows the true cost of a kilowatt hour of electricity produced. To calculate this value we divide the solar installation costs (after all incentives are deducted), financing costs, and lifetime projected operating costs by the expected quantity of electricity your solar system will produce for its useful life. This LCOE calculation gives you the effective cost of your solar energy per kilowatt hour and is the same calculation utilities use in determining the cost of energy produced by traditional power plants. Our most recent quotes for systems purchased outright have featured an average LCOE of $.033/kWh for residential photovoltaic systems in the Pacific Northwest. In contrast, current residential utility rates are between $.13 and $.20 per kWh. Major electric utility providers have increased rates almost 40% since 2021 with an average 16%+ increase in 2024 alone, and these price increases continue to trend upward. Once you own a solar system, your price per kWh for the life of the system is locked in.
Home Value
A 2019 study conducted by Zillow concluded that adding solar to your home increases its resale value by a nationwide average of 4.1%. Going by these figures, Oregon’s median home sale price of $495,042 in 2024 imputes an average increase of $20,297 in home sale price with solar on your roof. With a current average installed price of roughly $3.15/W and a current average system size of 8 kW, or $25,200 before incentives and tax credits, and not accounting for a single kWh of energy production savings on your utility bill, solar starts to look like a pretty smart decision!
Financial Incentives
Financial and tax incentives for residential solar panels often change, so it pays to contact us directly for an up-to-date accounting of what is available to you, but our Incentives and Financing section attempts to make sense of these changes as well.
“Imagine Energy installed a 6.36 kW grid-tied photovoltaic system (including SolarEdge inverter and backup battery) at our home. The turnaround from proposal to installation exceeded expectations. The Imagine Energy Solar team has kept an eye on our system and done some spot maintenance (at no additional cost) to ensure a long life span of this system. If you are considering a residential or commercial photovoltaic system in the Portland metropolitan area, make sure that you call Imagine Energy first.”
— Josh H.
