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Solar Panels for Landmarked Homes in NYC

New York City has some of the most stringent historic preservation rules in the country, and Brooklyn is home to many neighborhoods with a high number of homes with landmark designation. For these homes solar installations must be completely invisible from all angles on street level, front and back.

Landmark status used to be considered disqualifying for solar. Not anymore. That’s because BSW has developed zero visibility installation methods, and has mastered the City’s complex landmarks design and application rules. As a result solar is not only possible on these formerly “no go” properties; but landmarked homes are now among our most common project types in Park Slope, Bedford Stuyvesant, Sunset Park and other historic neighborhoods.

Solar systems installed on landmarked homes in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
Solar systems installed on landmarked homes in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
Solar arrays pitched at 2 degrees to avoid visibility from the street.
Solar arrays pitched at 2 degrees to avoid visibility from the street.
Solar arrays pitched at 2 degrees to avoid visibility from the street.
Solar arrays pitched at 2 degrees to avoid visibility from the street.
A BSW surveyor conducting a landmarks visibilty test
A BSW surveyor conducting a landmarks visibilty test

Value

Solar incentives and sky high electricity rates make NYC one of the best solar markets in the country. Rebates and tax credits can cover up to 70% or more of gross costs for most projects.

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For full details scroll over the different incentives below.

Federal Solar Income Tax Credit

26% of solar system costs can be claimed as a federal income credit. The total credit can be divided among shareholders and owners on a unit equity basis. The credits can be divided over multiple tax years if a client is unable to fully utilize it in a single year. The federal solar income tax credit, which was scheduled to drop from 26% to 22% in 2021, will stay at 26% for two more years.

Your Out-of-Pocket Cost

Up to 70% Covered

NYC Solar Property Tax Abatement

20% of solar system costs can be claimed as a local property tax abatement with the NYC Department of Finance. The abatement is divided into annual 5% installments over a four year cycle. As of August 2020, the NYC PTA has been extended until 2023.

NYS Solar Income Tax Credit

Residential solar owners can claim a $5000 tax credit on their New York State income taxes. The credit can be divided over multiple tax years if a client is unable to fully utilize it in a single year.

NYS Solar Rebate

New York State residential solar projects receive a rebate that reduces their upfront contract price. The rebate declines over time based on the amount of solar installed in different regions of the state. For residential projects in New York City, the state rebate is currently $.30 per Watt of solar installed which reduces out of pocket costs by roughly 5%.

Federal Solar Income Tax Credit

Your Out-of-Pocket Cost

Up to 70% Covered

NYC Solar Property Tax Abatement

NYS Solar Income Tax Credit

NYS Solar Rebate

Let’s Talk

Ask us about the Historic Homeownership Tax Credit.

If you’re in an income qualified historic district you could be eligible for an additional 20% state tax credit!

Payback Period

5-8 Years

Avg. 25-Year Savings

$35,000-$45,000

Increased Property Resale Value

Avg. 5.4% (Zillow.com)

Low Cost Financing Options
Let’s Talk

Ask us about the Historic Homeownership Tax Credit.

If you’re in an income qualified historic district you could be eligible for an additional 20% state tax credit!

BSW
Insurance Package

We’re committed to your system’s performance, monitoring, and payback.

We’ve got you, and your roof, covered.

30-Year Total
System Warranty

All BSW solor systems come with an industry leading 30-year warranty that covers all aspects of the system including the panels and inverter.

Power Production
Guarantee

We guarantee your solar production. If your system fails to perform as expected, BSW will provide cash compensation to cover the loss in savings.

24/7 Real-Time
Monitoring

Systems report performance data to our monitoring staff who are notified if irregularities occur. Data is reviewed monthly to ensure systems are producing as designed. Customers can also track performance via their individual monitoring portal.

Completion Timeline

Average project completion time from contract signing: 4 -5 Months

 

Scroll over project steps for full details.

Assessment & Proposal

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Project Initiation
(1 Month)

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Landmarks Approval
(4-6 Weeks)

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Permit Application
(1 Month)

 Approval Icon

System Installation
(1-3 Days)

 Installation Icon

Inspection & Meter Swap
(2 Weeks)

 Inspect Icon

Tax Season

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Assessment & Proposal

BSW survey specialist completes 1-hour home assessment; You review project proposal with BSW solar consultant, and discuss tax credit eligibility with your accountant

Project Initiation
(1 Month)

You choose solar system size, sign contract, pay $3,000 down payment; BSW drafts project plan set and completes professional engineering review.

Landmarks Approval
(4-6 Weeks)

BSW completes landmarks survey, submits visibility summary and approval request to LPC; makes revisions (if necessary)

Permit Application
(1 Month)

BSW submits stamped plan set and building and electrical permit application to NYC Department of Buildings; awaits approval.

System Installation
(1-3 Days)

You schedule convenient day/time & pay remaining installation fee; BSW orders equipment, installs solar system at your home.

Inspection & Meter Swap
(2 Weeks)

BSW schedules ConEd meter swap and DOB electrical and building inspections; You provide access for swap and inspections (1 hour each).

Tax Season

BSW supplies state and federal tax forms; You claim our solar tax credits (& repay bridge loan if needed)

Customer Experience

“BSW is a great company to work with. They are knowledgeable, honest, hard-working, committed, have integrity and communicate well. They had great references including among flat-roof homeowners in the Brooklyn historic districts, like ourselves. I really liked that BSW would guarantee a level of solar production sufficient to match the business case in their proposal - that makes the decision virtually risk-free for the homeowner. BSW completed the system design and permitting process (including Landmarks approvals) faster than expected. . . Our system has now been operational close to 3 months during the shortest and coldest days of the year (Dec, Jan, Feb), and we've generated nearly all our electric usage during that time. I expect the solar panels will more than fully cover our usage once there is more daylight in spring & summer. I'm a very happy customer, and I recommend BSW without hesitation.”
Marc G., Crown Heights
“These folks are great - everything about the experience was absolutely top-notch! When we bought our house in Prospect-Lefferts Garden four years ago, I looked into going solar, but, was frankly super confused by all the different information I found on-line. The Brooklyn SolarWorks folks explained the entire solar process, including all the tax breaks and loans available. They handled the rebate paperwork, all the permitting (including the Landmarks Commission permit), the install, and all the post install inspections. They were always available to answer questions, and were always extremely pleasant to work with. I really can't say enough nice things about them. If you are in Brooklyn and wanting to put your roof to work or concerned about the environment (or both), these are absolutely the folks to call.”
Celena M., Prospect Lefferts Gardens
“BSW was a wonderful company to work with. We were very excited about going solar but we had many questions about the possible risks given that the initial outlay can be significant. BSW very patiently and straight-forwardly answered our questions over a period of weeks as we decided whether to go forward. Each step of the way, from designing the right system for us, to Landmarks and DOB permits to install and final sign-off, they were there for us as promised. They are clearly passionate about the solar revolution and they did their work with utmost respect for our space. They met and exceeded our expectations and gave us full confidence all the way through. And they helped explain the tax and related credits both before, during and after our work with them. These folks are real specialists in the historic Brooklyn market. They're the folks to go with!”
Dominick M., Park Slope

Anatomy of a Solar System

Residential solar systems are surprisingly simple, consisting of only a few main components located on the roof and in the basement. BSW’s experienced installation team can complete a typical project in just one day with minimal disruption to your home and routine.

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