Commercial Solar
By switching to solar you can immediately lower or eliminate your electricity costs, improving your margins and bottom line.
Your home
Your Business
Your Power
Take Control
Commercial Solar
By switching to solar you can immediately lower or eliminate your electricity costs, improving your margins and bottom line.
Your home
Your Business
Your Power
Commercial Solar Solutions
Custom projects large & small
Small Business Owners
Commercial Real Estate
Investment Properties
Universities & Schools
Solar Farms & Microgrids
Commercial Solar Solutions
Custom projects large & small
Small Business Owners
Commercial Real Estate
Investment Properties
Universities & Schools
Solar Farms & Microgrids
How To Finance Commercial Solar
Cash Purchase
Requires 100% upfront capital investment and O&M costs for 30 years. The organization will be eligible for the 26% Federal ITC, 24.5% State ITC, and MACRS Accelerated Depreciation. The internal rate of return (IRR) on this cash purchase is 32%, and the simple payback will occur in less than 2 years.
Operating Lease
Requires 0% down, with a 10-year lease term at 6.00% interest and a future buyout option. The organization would also be responsible for 30 years of O&M costs but would NOT be eligible for any of the tax credits or other incentives. This system would be cash flow positive from year one.
Bank Loan
Requires 0% down, but the loan is a 7-year term at 5.00% interest and the organization is also responsible for O&M costs for 30 years. The organization will still be eligible for the 26% Federal ITC, 24.5% State ITC, and MACRS Accelerated Depreciation. This system would be cash flow positive from year one.
PPA
requires 0% down, with a 20-year PPA rate with 0% escalator, and the organization will have the option to purchase the system after 20 years (incurring O&M costs for the last 10 years of the 30-year lifespan). This system would be cash flow positive from year one.
How To Finance Commercial Solar
Cash Purchase
Requires 100% upfront capital investment and O&M costs for 30 years. The organization will be eligible for the 26% Federal ITC, 24.5% State ITC, and MACRS Accelerated Depreciation. The internal rate of return (IRR) on this cash purchase is 32%, and the simple payback will occur in less than 2 years.
Operating Lease
Requires 0% down, with a 10-year lease term at 6.00% interest and a future buyout option. The organization would also be responsible for 30 years of O&M costs but would NOT be eligible for any of the tax credits or other incentives. This system would be cash flow positive from year one.
Bank Loan
Requires 0% down, but the loan is a 7-year term at 5.00% interest and the organization is also responsible for O&M costs for 30 years. The organization will still be eligible for the 26% Federal ITC, 24.5% State ITC, and MACRS Accelerated Depreciation. This system would be cash flow positive from year one.
PPA
requires 0% down, with a 20-year PPA rate with 0% escalator, and the organization will have the option to purchase the system after 20 years (incurring O&M costs for the last 10 years of the 30-year lifespan). This system would be cash flow positive from year one.
Government Rebates/Credits
Commercial Solar is eligible for a variety of federal, state, and local incentives. When added up, these incentives can potentially cover 45-80% of your overall system cost.
Government Rebates/Credits
Commercial Solar is eligible for a variety of federal, state, and local incentives. When added up, these incentives can potentially cover 45-80% of your overall system cost.
Solar Can Be Financed Through a Variety of Mechanisms
PPA
The solar financier raises the necessary Tax Equity and other capital, develops and maintains the project, and charges a pre-set fee per unit of energy ($/kWh).
Operating Lease
Allow for quick ownership of the solar asset and can provide the Tax Equity necessary to monetize the tax benefits.
Self-Finance
Companies that have available financing, tax appetite, and the right economic drivers can self-finance a system, sometimes backed with bank debt supported by the system assets.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
PACE financing is tied to the property, not the end-user or property owner. Therefore, it’s not reliant on the owner’s creditworthiness.
Solar Can Be Financed Through a Variety of Mechanisms
PPA
The solar financier raises the necessary Tax Equity and other capital, develops and maintains the project, and charges a pre-set fee per unit of energy ($/kWh).
Operating Lease
Allow for quick ownership of the solar asset and can provide the Tax Equity necessary to monetize the tax benefits.
Self-Finance
Companies that have available financing, tax appetite, and the right economic drivers can self-finance a system, sometimes backed with bank debt supported by the system assets.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
PACE financing is tied to the property, not the end-user or property owner. Therefore, it’s not reliant on the owner’s creditworthiness.
Who’s a Fit for Commercial Solar Power?
Operate in various states like California, Hawaii, or in the Northeast, where energy is expensive and/or there are incentives to leverage
Manage multiple locations with large, good quality rooftops, or have available land or a large parking structure adjacent to the facility
Prioritize offsetting energy consumption at the local level
Want customers to see their solar systems for marketing purposes
Have a commitment to sustainability
Have large energy load requirements
Who’s a Fit for Commercial Solar Power?
Operate in various states like California, Hawaii, or in the Northeast, where energy is expensive and/or there are incentives to leverage
Manage multiple locations with large, good quality rooftops, or have available land or a large parking structure adjacent to the facility
Prioritize offsetting energy consumption at the local level
Want customers to see their solar systems for marketing purposes
Have a commitment to sustainability
Have large energy load requirements
Spread The Word About Solar & Get Paid For It!
1st Referral earns you $500.
2nd Referral earns you $750.
3rd Referral earns you $1,000
Spread The Word About Solar & Get Paid For It!
1st Referral earns you $500.
2nd Referral earns you $750.
3rd Referral earns you $1,000
Getting Solar For Your Business
1.
Determine financial and sustainability goals for your business. Start by ensuring that solar energy is a fit for your organization.
- Are electric utility costs a significant contributor to your operating costs?
- Are you located in a region with average or above-average power costs?
- Will “going green” raise your organization’s environmental profile among customers, regulators, and your community?
- Is space available on or around your facility for installing solar panels and storage equipment?
3.
Partner up with a commercial solar energy specialist. Too many solar projects end in failure because customers skip this critical step. The range of vendors professing expertise span local contractors, public utilities, and recognized industry leaders. The key to your success lies in avoiding off-the-shelf solution vendors and contractors or electricians “doing solar” on the side. Even before you schedule the first meeting, get references, and check prior jobs to make sure you do business with a proven, reliable partner.
2.
Gather the facts of your recent energy usage. At least six months of electrical bills are essential to this process, but data for a year or more will allow you to identify seasonal peaks and valleys, as well as unusual consumption patterns such as equipment outages or unscheduled overtime. In addition, financials related to business losses resulting from previous power outages, and projections of future business expansion, will help quantify the monetary advantages of solar energy.
4.
Last, award your business to a full-service solution provider that can handle the rest of the work for you – from financing to system design and construction, grid connection, and maintenance. For this final and most critical step, choose a partner with strong financial backing that assures you of long-term support, and demonstrated experience building and supporting solar infrastructures of the size and complexity your business demands.
Getting Solar For Your Business
1.
Determine financial and sustainability goals for your business. Start by ensuring that solar energy is a fit for your organization.
- Are electric utility costs a significant contributor to your operating costs?
- Are you located in a region with average or above-average power costs?
- Will “going green” raise your organization’s environmental profile among customers, regulators, and your community?
- Is space available on or around your facility for installing solar panels and storage equipment?
2.
Gather the facts of your recent energy usage. At least six months of electrical bills are essential to this process, but data for a year or more will allow you to identify seasonal peaks and valleys, as well as unusual consumption patterns such as equipment outages or unscheduled overtime. In addition, financials related to business losses resulting from previous power outages, and projections of future business expansion, will help quantify the monetary advantages of solar energy.
3.
Partner up with a commercial solar energy specialist. Too many solar projects end in failure because customers skip this critical step. The range of vendors professing expertise span local contractors, public utilities, and recognized industry leaders. The key to your success lies in avoiding off-the-shelf solution vendors and contractors or electricians “doing solar” on the side. Even before you schedule the first meeting, get references, and check prior jobs to make sure you do business with a proven, reliable partner.
4.
Last, award your business to a full-service solution provider that can handle the rest of the work for you – from financing to system design and construction, grid connection, and maintenance. For this final and most critical step, choose a partner with strong financial backing that assures you of long-term support, and demonstrated experience building and supporting solar infrastructures of the size and complexity your business demands.
Reasons to Go Solar
Many expanding businesses invest in solar power and storage to help offset the added expenses resulting from their growth-related investments, such as the additional electrical demand imposed by facility expansion.
Solar can also provide branding and community goodwill benefits derived from reducing the environmental footprint of your business.
Without battery storage to hold the excess energy, they cannot contribute to your energy requirements at night or in inclement weather.
These spikes are costly because demand charges are assessed for the highest 15-minute spike in demand during the billing period, as measured at the meter.
Energy storage has the effect of evening out the load measured by the utility meter. Important in the “shoulder” hours, when sudden load spikes might result in demand charges.
Couple solar with related infrastructure investments, such as major roof repairs or new construction.
Combining photovoltaic (PV) solar systems with battery storage solutions increase your total savings.
Nor can they satisfy “surge” demands beyond their rated output, forcing companies to buy commercial electricity to satisfy spikes caused by events such as equipment start-up.
Combining PV systems with storage effectively mitigates these spikes.
Reasons to Go Solar
Many expanding businesses invest in solar power and storage to help offset the added expenses resulting from their growth-related investments, such as the additional electrical demand imposed by facility expansion.
Solar can also provide branding and community goodwill benefits derived from reducing the environmental footprint of your business.
Without battery storage to hold the excess energy, they cannot contribute to your energy requirements at night or in inclement weather.
These spikes are costly because demand charges are assessed for the highest 15-minute spike in demand during the billing period, as measured at the meter.
Energy storage has the effect of evening out the load measured by the utility meter. Important in the “shoulder” hours, when sudden load spikes might result in demand charges.
Couple solar with related infrastructure investments, such as major roof repairs or new construction.
Combining photovoltaic (PV) solar systems with battery storage solutions increase your total savings.
Nor can they satisfy “surge” demands beyond their rated output, forcing companies to buy commercial electricity to satisfy spikes caused by events such as equipment start-up.
Combining PV systems with storage effectively mitigates these spikes.
Questions to Explore When Switching to Solar
How much electricity does your business consume?
How should you finance your business solar panels?
Are you eligible for solar grants and tax credits?
Questions to Explore When Switching to Solar
How much electricity does your business consume?
How should you finance your business solar panels?
Are you eligible for solar grants and tax credits?
Accelerated Depreciation
Valuable ROI
View the costs of installing a solar system as an investment, not an expense. The returns on your investment — in terms of the thousands of dollars your business will save over the years — will often surpass most other commercial or financial investments.
Net Present Value
This is one of the least-performed estimating techniques since it takes other elements into consideration – such as the rate of inflation and what else could have been done with the money spent on going solar. Historically, solar systems have shown a large, positive value over time, making them a fundamentally sound investment – the main goal of this estimate is to determine how good the investment truly is in any given scenario.
Internal Rate of Return
The ultimate goal is to determine your return throughout the lifetime of the system – many businesses use this technique when comparing investment opportunities and will typically choose whichever project offers the greatest return on their money. IRR rates are based on the results of an NPV examination and will take into account elements like the type of loan used to finance the project, the interest rate on debt, upfront rebates, and similar elements
Establish Your Business As a Leader in Green Energy
You’re sending a positive message about sustainability and support for the community, country, and planet with the installation of a solar system. Think of the great PR you generate every time customers, employees, neighbors, shareholders, and journalists see solar energy panels on your property. Go solar to protect the environment and improve how everyone in the community sees your company.
Increase Your Property Value
Studies prove that commercial buildings with solar systems have higher property values and sell quicker — sometimes twice as fast as non-solar buildings. And with the solar revolution taking off, solar-equipped buildings will be in greater demand. Note: Adding a solar system will not increase your property taxes.
Improve your cash flow immediately
Once you have your solar system in place — possibly with financing options that don’t require a large, upfront purchase — you can start to save with lower monthly energy bills. With less money going to electricity, you will have more cash on hand.
Control future energy costs
Businesses trying to predict operating costs for the next year and beyond are at the mercy of volatile energy prices. Facing unknown national and world events, no one can predict the energy landscape and what your utility will charge. With a solar energy system that dramatically reduces electricity costs, you can budget more effectively since you will not be adversely affected by rising energy costs.
Benefit from tax credits and accelerated depreciation
Businesses and nonprofits can benefit from the recently extended Solar Investment Tax Credit, which allows a 26% federal tax credit if you build a system by the end of 2020. Your savings are even greater since businesses can depreciate 85% of the purchase costs of a solar installation purchase price over six years. Most of the depreciation can be taken in the first year and all of it within 5 years.
Accelerated Depreciation
Valuable ROI
View the costs of installing a solar system as an investment, not an expense. The returns on your investment — in terms of the thousands of dollars your business will save over the years — will often surpass most other commercial or financial investments.
Net Present Value
This is one of the least-performed estimating techniques since it takes other elements into consideration – such as the rate of inflation and what else could have been done with the money spent on going solar. Historically, solar systems have shown a large, positive value over time, making them a fundamentally sound investment – the main goal of this estimate is to determine how good the investment truly is in any given scenario.
Internal Rate of Return
The ultimate goal is to determine your return throughout the lifetime of the system – many businesses use this technique when comparing investment opportunities and will typically choose whichever project offers the greatest return on their money. IRR rates are based on the results of an NPV examination and will take into account elements like the type of loan used to finance the project, the interest rate on debt, upfront rebates, and similar elements
Establish Your Business As a Leader in Green Energy
You’re sending a positive message about sustainability and support for the community, country, and planet with the installation of a solar system. Think of the great PR you generate every time customers, employees, neighbors, shareholders, and journalists see solar energy panels on your property. Go solar to protect the environment and improve how everyone in the community sees your company.
Increase Your Property Value
Studies prove that commercial buildings with solar systems have higher property values and sell quicker — sometimes twice as fast as non-solar buildings. And with the solar revolution taking off, solar-equipped buildings will be in greater demand. Note: Adding a solar system will not increase your property taxes.
Improve your cash flow immediately
Once you have your solar system in place — possibly with financing options that don’t require a large, upfront purchase — you can start to save with lower monthly energy bills. With less money going to electricity, you will have more cash on hand.
Control future energy costs
Businesses trying to predict operating costs for the next year and beyond are at the mercy of volatile energy prices. Facing unknown national and world events, no one can predict the energy landscape and what your utility will charge. With a solar energy system that dramatically reduces electricity costs, you can budget more effectively since you will not be adversely affected by rising energy costs.
Benefit from tax credits and accelerated depreciation
Businesses and nonprofits can benefit from the recently extended Solar Investment Tax Credit, which allows a 26% federal tax credit if you build a system by the end of 2020. Your savings are even greater since businesses can depreciate 85% of the purchase costs of a solar installation purchase price over six years. Most of the depreciation can be taken in the first year and all of it within 5 years.
What Commercial Businesses are Saying About us!
Great people to work with, professional and excellent customer service! Would recommend them to anyone wanted to go solar for home or business.
Bear solar was a pleasure to work with on my residential solar panel addition. Bear solar was the only company that provided a professional presentation using software that showed potential energy capture scenarios with different panel types and a no hassle sales pitch. I requested over 10 different bids from other companies. Some companies were pushy while others weren’t prompt. It was a pleasure to see Bear solar be competitive in price and not use spreadsheets in their presentation (spreadsheet formulas can easily be manipulated). I also came away with a quality installation. Please consider bear solar in your solar bids. They are worth your time.
Very honest and reputable company. Azim, the owner is an engineer by trade so you know you’re going to get a great looking installation, top notch equipment and production from the solar system.
Please consider Bear solar in your solar bids. They are worth your time.
What Commercial Businesses are Saying About us!
Great people to work with, professional and excellent customer service! Would recommend them to anyone wanted to go solar for home or business.
Bear solar was a pleasure to work with on my residential solar panel addition. Bear solar was the only company that provided a professional presentation using software that showed potential energy capture scenarios with different panel types and a no hassle sales pitch. I requested over 10 different bids from other companies. Some companies were pushy while others weren’t prompt. It was a pleasure to see Bear solar be competitive in price and not use spreadsheets in their presentation (spreadsheet formulas can easily be manipulated). I also came away with a quality installation. Please consider bear solar in your solar bids. They are worth your time.
Very honest and reputable company. Azim, the owner is an engineer by trade so you know you’re going to get a great looking installation, top notch equipment and production from the solar system.
Please consider Bear solar in your solar bids. They are worth your time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Solar
Residential Solar
How many solar panels do I need for my home?
The typical homeowner will need 28 – 34 solar panels to cover 100% of their energy usage. Although, this is dependent on the area required and location.
Is my house a candidate for solar?
The direction, age, and pitch of your roof are all important details when considering whether or not to install solar panels. It’s important to note that a roof with a pitch of 30 degrees and no obstructions (Example: any skylights and chimneys) is ideal. It is also important to determine if your roof is in a shadow (direction your home is facing & total sun coverage during the day) Contact our team and schedule a free consultation to see if solar is a fit for your home!
What solar incentives and rebates are out there?
Currently, the residential federal solar tax credit gives you a dollar-for-dollar reduction against your federal income tax equal to 26% of the final cost of solar energy systems you install on your home. Starting in 2021, the tax credit will step down to 22%. After 2021, the tax credit for residential solar ends.
Commercial Solar
How can running my business on solar increase my bottom line?
By switching to solar, the building can lower their electricity bill by 20-40%, improving their margins and bottom line. Average projections within the industry state production at roughly $0.06 – $0.15/kWh based on a 20-year project life, location, and current federal and state incentives.
Why should our business go solar now?
By installing solar, your business will be able to lock in electricity prices and reduce reliance on an unpredictable expense. Going solar makes it easier for companies to budget and plan for the future. In total, the ITC and depreciation benefit can reduce the system price by as much as 60 percent.
Additionally, if your business operates in states where energy is expensive or where there are incentives to leverage, solar is a great option for your commercial properties. You should also consider solar for your business if you: prioritize sustainability, prioritize offsetting energy consumption on a local level, manage multiple locations with quality rooftop “real estate”, or if your business has large energy load operating costs / requirements.
How much money can my business expect to save with a solar system?
By installing solar, your business will be able to lock in electricity prices and reduce reliance on an unpredictable expense. Going solar makes it easier for companies to budget and plan for the future. In total, the ITC and depreciation benefit can reduce the system price by as much as 60 percent.
Additionally, if your business operates in states where energy is expensive or where there are incentives to leverage, solar is a great option for your commercial properties. You should also consider solar for your business if you: prioritize sustainability, prioritize offsetting energy consumption on a local level, manage multiple locations with quality rooftop “real estate”, or if your business has large energy load operating costs / requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Solar
Residential Solar
How many solar panels do I need for my home?
The typical homeowner will need 28 – 34 solar panels to cover 100% of their energy usage. Although, this is dependent on the area required and location.
Is my house a candidate for solar?
The direction, age, and pitch of your roof are all important details when considering whether or not to install solar panels. It’s important to note that a roof with a pitch of 30 degrees and no obstructions (Example: any skylights and chimneys) is ideal. It is also important to determine if your roof is in a shadow (direction your home is facing & total sun coverage during the day) Contact our team and schedule a free consultation to see if solar is a fit for your home!
What solar incentives and rebates are out there?
Currently, the residential federal solar tax credit gives you a dollar-for-dollar reduction against your federal income tax equal to 26% of the final cost of solar energy systems you install on your home. Starting in 2021, the tax credit will step down to 22%. After 2021, the tax credit for residential solar ends.
Commercial Solar
How can running my business on solar increase my bottom line?
By switching to solar, the building can lower their electricity bill by 20-40%, improving their margins and bottom line. Average projections within the industry state production at roughly $0.06 – $0.15/kWh based on a 20-year project life, location, and current federal and state incentives.
Why should our business go solar now?
By installing solar, your business will be able to lock in electricity prices and reduce reliance on an unpredictable expense. Going solar makes it easier for companies to budget and plan for the future. In total, the ITC and depreciation benefit can reduce the system price by as much as 60 percent.
Additionally, if your business operates in states where energy is expensive or where there are incentives to leverage, solar is a great option for your commercial properties. You should also consider solar for your business if you: prioritize sustainability, prioritize offsetting energy consumption on a local level, manage multiple locations with quality rooftop “real estate”, or if your business has large energy load operating costs / requirements.
How much money can my business expect to save with a solar system?
By installing solar, your business will be able to lock in electricity prices and reduce reliance on an unpredictable expense. Going solar makes it easier for companies to budget and plan for the future. In total, the ITC and depreciation benefit can reduce the system price by as much as 60 percent.
Additionally, if your business operates in states where energy is expensive or where there are incentives to leverage, solar is a great option for your commercial properties. You should also consider solar for your business if you: prioritize sustainability, prioritize offsetting energy consumption on a local level, manage multiple locations with quality rooftop “real estate”, or if your business has large energy load operating costs / requirements.