Is solar worth it in New Brunswick? Start with the honest numbers
·Rudi Fowler
People ask me all the time whether solar is worth it here. I do not have a one-size-fits-all answer, and I am suspicious of anyone who does.
When the numbers usually work
Solar is strongest when a home has meaningful annual electricity use, a roof or ground-mount location with good sun, and an owner who expects to stay long enough to benefit from years of production. The design should be based on real usage, real shading, and the actual property rather than a generic sales estimate.
A proper proposal should show the panel layout, expected production, equipment, warranties, and assumptions behind the financial projection. That is the same information included in the East Coast Sun sample proposal.
When I tell people not to bother
Heavy shade, limited roof area, an unsuitable orientation, very low electricity use, or a roof that needs replacement can change the answer. Sometimes the most useful advice is to reduce consumption first or wait until other work is done.
Run your own numbers
Try the ROI calculator for a ballpark, then request an estimate and I will pressure-test it against your actual roof.