Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)

SRECs are the key to making money from solar power in DC. They’re certificates that you get for generating solar electricity. Here’s the thing – DC offers the highest and most stable SREC prices in the nation, and you can cash in your SRECs for thousands of dollars annually from your solar system.

What Are SRECs, and How Do They Work?

As the solar panel owner, you can help utilities meet their RPS goals by generating solar electricity and creating SRECs. You get one SREC for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of solar electricity you produce, which is equivalent to one megawatt-hour (MWh).

How Much Can I Earn From SRECs in DC.?

The amount of money you can make from SRECs depends on two factors: How much solar electricity you generate, and How much SRECs are worth at the time of sale.

How to Sell SRECs in DC?

You also need to find a buyer for your SRECs, which can be challenging if you don’t have the time or expertise to navigate the SREC market. That’s why most solar panel owners use an intermediary service called an aggregator or broker, which acts as a middleman between you and the buyers.

Solar Energy System Property Tax Exemption

One of the benefits of installing solar panels in Washington DC is that you can save money on your property taxes. The Solar Energy System and Cogeneration System Personal Property Tax Credit exempts you from paying any additional taxes on the increased value of your home due to your solar system.

DC Solar For All Program

Solar for All is a program that aims to provide the benefits of solar energy to 100,000 income eligible families in DC. by 2032. The program offers free or discounted solar power to eligible residents, either by installing solar panels on their homes or by subscribing to community solar projects.

How to Qualify for Solar for All

To qualify for Solar for All, you’ll need to meet the income guidelines below, based on your household size and income. Please note that guidelines change over time.

How to Benefit From Net Metering in DC

With net metering, you only pay for the net amount of electricity you use from the grid each month. If you produce more electricity than you consume, you get a credit for the excess generation at the full retail rate. This credit will roll over to the next month indefinitely, until you use it up.

Which upgrades cut summer cooling costs the most?

Energy Audit, Insulation

If you’re paying an arm and a leg to keep your home cool this summer, you probably want to know what you can do to bring your bills down.

This article ranks four upgrades by how much they reduce summer cooling costs.

Attic insulation
Crawlspace / basement insulation
Wall insulation
Windows

Please note! We’re only talking about rankings for an average home. If you’re curious about what matters most for your home in particular, give us a call at: (888) 586-3343 or send us a message anytime.

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EDGE Energy stands out as a six-time ENERGY STAR Contractor of the Year. Since 2006, we’ve completed more than 5,000 energy-saving projects in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia,

#1 Attic insulation

Attic insulation typically has the greatest impact on reducing average summer cooling costs in residential homes, as it directly combats radiant heat gain from the roof and minimizes the stack effect that pulls hot air into living spaces.

This can lead to savings of 8-12% or more when combined with air sealing or radiant barriers in hot climates.

#2 Crawlspace / Basement insulation

Crawlspace or basement insulation ranks next, particularly in humid regions where sealing and insulating vented crawlspaces prevents moist outdoor air infiltration, reducing latent cooling loads and overall energy use—sometimes having the most significant effect on summer performance among envelope upgrades.

#3 Wall insulation

Wall insulation follows, addressing conductive heat transfer through exterior surfaces, which can contribute to steady heat gain but is generally less dominant than roof or underfloor issues in cooling scenarios.

#4 Windows

Windows have the least relative impact among these, as while they account for 25-30% of total residential cooling energy use via solar heat gain and conduction, upgrades like low-E replacements often yield lower ROI (60-70%) compared to insulation measures (100-200%), and savings are more noticeable in homes with very old single-pane units.

Cooling Costs: The Bottom line

This ranking aligns with principles from ENERGY STAR, DOE, BPI, and Krigger’s Residential Energy textbooks, which emphasize starting with extremes like attics (top of the neutral pressure plane) and underfloor areas for both heat flow and air leakage.

We also give careful consideration to climate-specific nuances. For example crawlspaces shine in humid summers for dehumidification benefits, but windows may edge them out in arid areas with high solar exposure.

Overall savings from these upgrades can reach 15-20% on cooling bills, but air sealing should accompany insulation for maximum effect, and site-specific factors like accessibility and existing conditions influence the exact SIR.

If this question is for a particular house, a BPI-certified audit would refine the priorities in addition to pre-qualifying them for local utility rebates like those in Maryland or DC.

Start by giving us a call at (888) 586-3343, or send us a message anytime:

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