Dwellvance
Solar Savings & System Size Calculator
Estimate your solar system size, annual solar production, potential electricity savings, installation cost, incentives, and simple payback for your home.
Tell us about your home
We’ll use this information to create a planning estimate. You’ll be able to review the assumptions before seeing your results.
What This Solar Calculator Estimates
The Dwellvance solar calculator provides a planning-level estimate of solar system size, annual electricity production, potential savings, installation cost, incentives, and simple payback based on your home and the information you provide.
Your estimate can be affected by location, electricity usage, roof orientation, shading, electricity rates, solar export compensation, installation cost, and applicable incentives.
How Solar System Sizing Works
Solar system sizing starts with your home's electricity usage and the amount of solar energy available at your location. The calculator uses your ZIP code and annual electricity usage to estimate the system capacity needed to target approximately 100% of your annual electricity usage based on the modeled solar production for your location.
Roof orientation and shading can also affect the planning estimate. These factors help provide a more useful estimate than relying on electricity usage alone.
How Solar Savings Are Estimated
Solar savings depend on how much electricity your system produces, how much of that electricity your home uses, your electricity rate, and how exported solar electricity is valued by your utility.
The calculator uses these inputs to estimate potential annual savings. If a verified electricity rate is not provided, financial results may not be available even though solar production can still be estimated.
Solar Installation Cost and Payback
Solar installation costs vary by system size and project conditions. The calculator can use a planning-level installation cost benchmark, or you can enter a known project cost if you have one.
If you enter verified incentives, the calculator subtracts those incentives from the installation estimate to calculate an estimated net installation cost. Simple payback compares that net cost with estimated annual savings.
Solar Calculator FAQ
How does a solar calculator estimate system size?
A solar calculator can use your location, electricity usage, and solar resource to estimate the system capacity needed for your home. Roof orientation and shading can also affect the estimate.
How much can solar panels save on electricity?
Potential savings depend on solar production, electricity usage, your electricity rate, how much solar energy your home uses, and how exported electricity is valued by your utility.
How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves?
Simple payback depends on the estimated net installation cost and annual savings. The result can vary based on installation cost, incentives, electricity rates, solar production, and utility export compensation.
Does the solar calculator provide an installer quote?
No. Dwellvance provides planning-level estimates rather than installer quotes or guaranteed savings. Actual project costs and solar production can vary based on site conditions, equipment, utility rules, and other factors.
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Solar Data & Methodology Sources
Dwellvance uses established U.S. government and national-laboratory resources to support its solar production and planning-level cost estimates.
Solar production estimates are informed by NREL PVWatts.
Planning-level installation cost estimates reference the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Photovoltaic System Cost Benchmarks.
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Learn about solar installation costs, potential savings, system sizing, payback periods, and battery storage before evaluating your home project.
Solar Installation Cost
Understand installation cost benchmarks and the factors that affect pricing.
Solar Savings
Explore how electricity use and utility rates influence potential savings.
Solar Payback Period
Understand how project costs and estimated savings relate to payback.
Solar System Sizing
Learn how household electricity use influences system capacity.
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Explore how battery storage changes a solar project's configuration.
Solar Calculation Methodology
Review the assumptions behind Dwellvance's solar estimates.
Dwellvance provides planning estimates, not installer quotes or guaranteed savings.