Residents define the cost-effectiveness of rooftop solar in various ways, largely depending on one’s income. Many higher-income residents focus on lifetime financial return on investment, middle-income residents on the energy bill savings exceeding any financing payment, and lower-income residents on immediate cost savings without an up-front cost or taking on debt.

This section covers three steps for a Solarize team to integrate into campaign planning to make solar cost-effective for lower-income residents:

1. Reducing the price of the solar system
2. Partnering with mission-aligned financing institutions
3. Integrating credit score alternative or enhancement mechanisms