Clearly-illustrative, on purpose

The savings calculator that shows its work

Four inputs, and every assumption printed next to the answer. This is a ballpark, not a quote — a real number needs a site assessment with a measured roof, a shade study, and your actual utility tariff. If your roof doesn't pencil, we'll say so right here.

Average monthly electric bill

Check a recent bill, or average a summer and a winter month.

Which way does your main roof face?

South-facing The ideal — full production Southeast / southwest Nearly ideal East / west Common and workable North-facing only Weak production

How much shade hits that roof?

Little or no shade Open sky most of the day Some shade A tree or chimney clips part of the day Heavy shade Large trees or taller buildings most of the day

Where's the home?

Your illustrative worksheet

Estimated usage—

Suggested system—

Year-1 production—

Share of usage offset—

Installed cost (gross)—

Year-1 bill savings—

Simple payback—

25-year net position—

"Net position" = 25 years of estimated bill savings minus the gross system cost, before any incentive programs.

What this number is — and isn't

A real quote needs a site assessment: roof measurements, an instrument shade study, 12 months of usage, and your utility's actual tariff. And we've assumed $0 from tax credits or rebates — current programs vary and change; we check what applies to you and show each one as its own line item. Book the free assessment.

The fine print, in large print

Every assumption in the math above

01 Utility rate assumed at $0.14/kWh, escalating 2.5% per year. Your actual tariff will differ.
02 Installed cost assumed at $2.60–$3.10 per watt, gross, before any incentive programs.
03 Exported energy credited at ~90% of retail on average — utilities rarely pay full retail for every exported kWh.
04 Panel output degrades ~0.5% per year (a standard manufacturer curve).
05 System sized to ~90% of your annual usage — overbuilding mostly pads the invoice.
06 $0 assumed from tax credits, rebates, or utility programs. Current programs vary and change — we check what actually applies to you and show it line-by-line in your quote.
07 This is an illustration, not a quote. A real number needs a site assessment: roof measurements, a shade study, your last 12 months of usage, and your utility's actual tariff.

No pressure — literally

Want the real number instead?

The free site assessment takes about 90 minutes and ends with a fixed, line-itemed quote — or an honest 'this roof isn't worth it.' Both outcomes are free.

Run the honest numbers Request a quote

Prefer a human? (970) 555-0134 — office hours only, and we never cold-call.