Solar panels differ in price depending on who manufactured them, and the amount of power that they generate. That said, high efficiency solar panels (e.g., 420W panels with more than 20% efficiency at converting sunlight into electricity) cost around $1,300 per panel to purchase and install.

Donating a solar panel can be 30% - 75% less expensive then buying a solar panel for your own project. The reason is that many non-profits receive grants from federal, state, county, or municipal governments that can be applied to their solar project. They may also have internal funds that are partially covering the project cost. The net result is that dollar-for-dollar donating a solar panel may have more of an environmental impact then installing your own panel.

If your main goal is to reduce your carbon footprint, which organization receives your solar panel matters less then how much carbon your panel offsets. You can see a list of expected offsets by visiting Solar Projects Accepting Donations.

Yes! Our homepage typically highlights the non-profit with the most return for your investment (i.e., the most CO2 avoided dollar-per-dollar). If your primary goal is to reduce CO2, we suggest that you choose the project on the homepage. If you would prefer to select a non-profit whose primary mission aligns with your other giving objectives, you can look at our list of Solar Projects Accepting Donations.

Yes! The organization featured on the homepage, and the organizations listed in Solar Projects Accepting Donations, are non-profits registered with the IRS at 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations. As a result, your donation are deductible on your United States income taxes.

Depending on the organization to whom you make a donation, the state in which you pay taxes, and your tax situation, there may be additional tax benefits when you donate a panel. For example, in the State of Colorado you may be able to claim a state tax credit for 50% of your donation if the recipient of your panel is an eligible childcare facility under the Colorado Child Care Contribution Credit (5C).

Yes! Each of the non-profits listed on this website have agreed to apply 100% of your donation toward the purchase of a solar panel.

No. Your donation is made directly to the non-profit that intends to purchase and install a solar project.

Yes! The location of the non-profit impacts the carbon benefit of your donation in two ways. First, a solar panel installed on a non-profit located in a city that receives more direct sunlight will be able to generate more electricity, and, therefore, offset more CO2. For example, a solar panel donated to a non-profit in Denver (245 sunny days per year) will generate more power a solar panel donated to a non-profit in Seattle (152 sunny days per year). Second, a solar panel installed in an area whose public utility is more reliant on "dirty" sources of energy will avoid more carbon than a solar panel installed in an area whose public utility is more heavily invested in renewable energy. For example, a solar panel that generates 1kWh in an area where the public utility primarily relies on coal generation might offsets 2lb of CO2, whereas the same solar panel installed in an area where the public utility relies on natural gas or renewable generation might offset 1 lb of CO2. An estimate of the carbon offset specific to each project can be found in Solar Projects Accepting Donations.

Any non-profit can ask to be included on this website. That said, certain jurisdictions have enacted laws that promote solar projects (e.g., net metering), or provided grants to non-profits to help fund solar projects. Non-profits in those jurisdictions are more likely to embark on a solar initiative, and the return on on your donation (i.e., CO2 avoided per dollar donated) will be greater.

Any organization can be included on this website so long as it meets the following criteria: (1) it is a registered 501(c)(3), (2) it has a solar project plan including a proposal from a solar installation company, (3) it is willing to disclose its expected project cost for the purpose of calculating per panel costs and per panel CO2 avoidance, (4) it agrees to apply 100% of a donation to purchase solar panels, and (5) it is committed to maintaining the donated solar panels. A non-profit can request to be included on this website on the Contact page.

Most non-profits focus their resources on their core mission (e.g., educating children, helping communities, etc.). Taking steps to reduce carbon is often a "nice to have," but not a "must have." Although solar projects will help the non-profit in the long-term by defraying or eliminating their energy needs, and stabilizing their operating costs, that long-term benefit requires individuals, like you, to make a green endowment.

No. In order for a solar project to make sense for a non-profit a number of things must be in place. First, the non-profit must own their own building so that they have a place to install panels. Second, the building must be conducive to solar generation (e.g., unobstructed south facing roof is best). Third, the non-profit must be located in a place that makes sense for solar (e.g., conducive energy laws and direct sunlight). As a result, you may not find your favorite non-profit on this website.

It depends on the type of panel, how much sun reaches the panel in a typical day, and how many days of direct sunlight are expected in the area throughout the year. As all solar projects are slightly different, the expected energy generation for each project can be found on the Solar Project Accepting Donations page.

The non-profit to whom you donated will get to utilize the energy created from your donated panel.

You can see an estimate of the amount of CO2 that will be offset by your panel in the Solar Projects Accepting Donations page. After the panel is installed it is up to the sponsoring organization whether they can, and will, provide you periodic updates concerning the levels of CO2 avoided.

If your primary interest is making an environmental impact, it is typically more effective to donate a solar panel then to install your own. The reason? Even if the solar panel generates the same amount of energy, and avoids the same amount of carbon, it is often far less expensive to donate a panel then to install one. See FAQ: Donations, Is it cheaper to donate a panel or buy one for a home project? That said, if you own a home that is in a state with sufficient sunlight, and laws that assist solar power generation, installing your own solar panels can be a great first step toward carbon neutrality. If you don’t own a home, have already supplied your own energy needs, live in an area where solar energy is not as efficient, or want to maximize the amount of carbon avoided, then donating a panel may be the best way to reach carbon neutrality.

No! The carbon impact of a particular solar panel depends on a number of variables including the expected amount of sunlight in the city where the panel will be installed, and the CO2 intensity of the public utility in that area. You can find a per-project estimate of CO2 reduction on the Solar Projects Accepting Donations page.

A renewable energy credit (REC) represents the environmental benefits of generating electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, or hydro power. The benefit from a REC has already occurred (hence why the REC exists) when you purchase it. To think about it another way, regardless of whether you purchase a REC the same quantity of CO2 will be offset and no additional renewable capacity has been created. When you donate a solar panel you are increasing the renewable capacity in a way that would no occur but-for your donation. The solar panel will then create energy, and in the process RECs, that in many jurisdictions will be sold to the local power utility.