Feel like you have a good sense of what going solar is all about?

Great! The next step is to use the Solar Calculator to figure out the costs and returns of your solar investment.


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Solar Calculator

Getting a free instant quote takes only a few minutes. It’s a three-step process:

  1. Fill out the form below so that we can give you the most accurate estimate of the cost of your system and the value of your investment.
  2. Choose whether to redeem your Solar Renewable Energy Credits now or later.
  3. Review your estimate and let Astrum Solar know if you’re ready to take the next step.

We know that the values you enter will be estimates, and you will be able to change them when you see the results to see how different values affect the results. So just put in your best guess for now!


Ready to get started?

Location

Please note: Astrum Solar currently does installations in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. If you are outside these areas, please contact us directly at info@astrumsolar.com

Solar System

South facing roofs with absolutely no shading issues are ideal. For an OK location, enter 800, for a Good Location, enter 950, for an ideal Location, enter 1250. Click here to view sample locations.

Sample Locations

Sample Locations
Watts

The size of the system usually depends on the amount of unshaded roof space available. For reference, 100 square feet of unshaded roof space can hold approximately 1000 watts of solar panels. Click here to see how different sized systems look on a roof. The average system size is 5000 watts because most houses have a large portion of their roofs shaded by trees. For system sizes over 20,000 watts please contact us.

System Sizes

System Sizes

Electricity Utilities

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The Dept. of Energy predicts a 10% increase in 2009 countrywide. Click here to see 2000-2009 electricity prices.

U.S. Electric Utility Rates

Electricity Prices in US and Maryland

Electricity rates have historically increased by 9% a year over the last 9 years, but with significant fluctuations as you see in the chart above. Electricity rates are forecast to rise nearly 10% in the coming year.

While nobody can predict the future, it is safe to assume that electricity prices will continue to rise at a rate of 5% to 10%* (and who knows how fast they'll rise if carbon dioxide emissions are taxed?). We factor this assumption into the payback calculations in our Solar Calculator and show you how much you can save with solar panels, by freeing yourself from rising electricity prices and effectively locking in your own electricity rates for over 25 years!

*Source: U.S. Department of Energy

$

If you have a years worth of bills, add the total up and divide by 12 since bills in the summer may be quite different than bills in the winter. This will allow us to determine the amount of your electricity that will be generated by the sun, and what your annual energy savings will be.

Real Estate

The "Home Appraisal Rate" factors in the amount by which your home will increase in value as a result of adding solar panels. The Appraisal Journal has established a standard rate (based on strong data) of 20, meaning that for every $1.00 reduction in annual utility bills, your home value is increased by $20. So, for example, if your panels save you $700 a year in electricity costs, your home value appreciates by $14,000. With solar panels, the home buyer is buying lower utility bills for the lifetime of the house. So you can see why home appreciation is a very important part of the financial picture. Learn more about home appraisal rates and home value appreciation with solar panels.

Years

If you don't plan to sell your home, enter 40 years, the expected lifetime of the panels.

Taxes

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Please enter your combined federal and state tax percentage. This will help us show you the return on your investment compared to other investments like the stock market or money market accounts. If you're not sure, enter 30%.