Despite Subsidies, Homeowner Retrofits Like Solar Panels Still Take Decades to Pay Off
A new WaPo analysis shows going green at home leave households in the red.
by Matthew Xiao Apr 15, 2025
Even with generous subsidies, green retrofits such as solar panels and heat pumps take anywhere from 8 to 48 years to pay off for homeowners, according to a Washington Post analysis released Monday. [emphasis, links added]
Solar panels, one of the most popular retrofits, typically require more than eight years to offset their upfront cost despite existing federal and state incentives that cut their price by more than half, the Post reported based on Harvard University’s modeling of a typical American home.
The findings come as the Trump administration moves to roll back the Biden administration’s climate agenda, including the Inflation Reduction Act.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Inauguration Day freezing the $8.8 billion in home energy rebates authorized by the act.
https://climatechangedispatch.com/despite-subsidies-homeowner-retrofits-like-solar-panels-still-take-decades-to-pay-off/
