Save money and the planet with solar

According to NY Open Data, the median cost of a solar system as of April 5, 2025 in Westchester County, of which the Rivertowns is apart, is $34,654 for a 9.02 kW system, which is the median size for the county. The median net cost after incentives is $17,904.

Simply put, the more you pay for electricity the more you can potentially save. If your average electric bill is $100 dollars and you install a system that offsets that amount, then you’ll save $1200 a year. If your average bill is $500 a month, then you can save $6,000 a year. Of course a system that offsets a $500 monthly bill will cost more than one that offsets a $100 bill; but economies of scale apply and, generally, the larger the bill offset, the greater the savings and the faster the payback period and ultimate return on investment.

Numerous studies, including by Zillow and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, show that the addition of solar boosts home values by several percentage points equating to tens of thousands of dollars for the average Westchester home. Further, solar is the only home improvement that adds value but not extra taxes, thanks to the solar property tax abatement.

The environmental impact of going solar is multifaceted. First, compared to large scale solar plants, rooftop solar has even less of an environmental impact. That’s because there’s no forest or natural habitat to clear, as is the case for the massive solar farms now being developed across the country. Second, solar produces no greenhouse gases. So the amount of fossil fuel generated electricity you’re offsetting is a measure of your newly shrunken ecological footprint.