When we say there’s never been a better time to switch to solar energy in Nova Scotia, we really mean it. Thanks to Efficiency Nova Scotia’s new SolarHomes rebate program, installing solar for your home has never been more affordable. The rebate was released this summer and has received a ton of attention from homeowners. They only anticipate the funding will last to cover 2000 homes, so if you are considering solar, now really is the perfect time to get started! What does the rebate offer? The SolarHomes program is available to home owners in Nova Scotia and aims to make solar energy more affordable and accessible by offering a rebate on installation costs. How much can you save? The average rebate is about $7000 and the maximum is $10 000. The rebate is based on the size of your solar system and offers $1/watt of system size, so an 8,000w system (8 kW) would provide a rebate of $8,000. This works out to between 30-40% of your total system cost. This rebate, coupled with great financing programs, has made solar affordable for any household. In addition to that, the average homeowner can expect to save approximately $1300 annually on their electricity bill when they switch to solar. So really, this is the rebate program that keeps on giving! Are there other ways to save? If you live in the HRM, you’re also eligible to benefit from the city’s Solar City program! (We’ll talk more about that in an upcoming blog post, but reach out to us now if you have questions about how it can work for you!)  

What does this mean for Nova Scotia? We all want to do our part to protect the environment (and lower our power bill!), but in the past, solar energy hasn’t been an affordable option for everyone. Thanks to these new rebate programs, installing solar energy is not only accessible, but financially beneficial to Nova Scotians, and it is a huge win for the province environmentally. Where is the funding coming from? Both the Government of Canada and the Nova Scotia Government have committed funds to making this program possible. The Government of Canada has committed $14 million per year for four years, and the Nova Scotia Government has committed $3 million per year for four years. What’s the next step? At Solar Ascent, we don’t just install solar panels. We’re here to walk you through switching to solar every step of the way. Get started now with your free customized assessment, and we’ll guide you through the entire rebate process, so you ensure you’re getting the most value from the programs. To get started with your solar energy system, get your FREE customized assessment today!