Solar Panel Installation for Schools: Is It Worth It?

Solar panels have a lot of benefits, including lower energy costs and cleaner power. Those benefits are amplified in large buildings that use a lot of electricity, like schools. 

Over 7,000 K-12 schools in the US have already installed solar panels and they’re seeing excellent return on their investments. 

Keep reading to learn more about solar power for educational institutions and how your district or university can benefit from a solar panel installation. 

Solar Saves Schools Money

If your school or university is like most, energy is one of your largest expenses. School buildings and campuses use power for everything from HVAC and lighting to computer equipment, and those costs add up fast. 

Solar panels reduce and stabilize your electricity costs, setting you up for long-term savings. 
    

• Solar panels turn your school’s roof into a private power plant so you can generate your own power and save on electric bills. 
• Solar reduces your reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation, protecting you against inflation and rising electricity rates. 
• Net metering allows schools to sell the excess electricity they produce back to the grid. 

 
The higher your electric bills are, the more you’ll save with solar, which is why large school buildings and universities are such great candidates for solar panels. Just imagine what your school district could do with the money it saves. 

Clean Energy Is Good for Students 

Cost savings aren’t the only reason why solar panels are good for schools—they also introduce environmental benefits. The transition to renewable energy sources like solar is essential if we want to create a healthy and sustainable future for younger generations. By switching to solar, your school is playing an active role in creating a healthier community and a better future for its students. 

Solar Can Improve Your School’s Reputation 

Installing a solar energy system can generate good PR for your school district or university, which can lead to an increase in student applicants and better funding. Teachers, professors, and staff may also be more likely to stay in or apply for a job at a school that takes its environmental impact seriously. 

Schools are Eligible for Solar Tax Benefits 

Solar Tax Credit for Private Schools 

The federal solar tax credit makes solar significantly more affordable for businesses and other for-profit organizations like private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. With the solar tax credit, your institution can reduce its federal tax liability by 30% of your solar installation costs. 

Direct Pay for Public School Districts 

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 created a new direct pay option through the federal solar tax credit. Non-profit organizations, including public school districts, that install solar panels are now eligible for a direct payment equal to the full value of the 30% solar tax credit. Direct pay makes solar more accessible for public school districts. 

Solar Panel Installation for Schools in New England 

Boston Solar is the leading local solar panel installation company in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We have been empowering New England for over 11 years and have installed more than 5,000 solar energy systems. We have extensive experience installing commercial solar panels for large buildings like schools and can design a system that maximizes power production and electric bill savings for your school. 

Learn more about solar panel installation for schools. Call 617-858-1645 or contact us to schedule a consultation.