8 things to know about solar energy

Solar panels are becoming more common in today’s society, and you’ve probably seen them on the roofs of your neighbors’ homes and businesses as you drive through town. With the urgency to go green, the demand should continue to rise rapidly. So, if you’re thinking about switching, you should know a few things first.

1.    Renting vs. buying solar panels

To make solar power more affordable and accessible, you have the option to rent panels for a low monthly rate. Renting can be an excellent option for families who want to try solar power before investing more money. First, however, you should consider the benefits of buying your own solar system. For example, you can take advantage of the solar investment tax credit when you buy. But if you rent, you do not hold ownership of it. So you wouldn’t qualify for the tax benefits.

2. You can save on utilities

Solar energy saves money on your electric bill every month because you’re no longer entirely reliant on the power grid. Traditional energy companies tend to charge more during peak energy usage times. This can often lead to costly bills that fluctuate every month. So by switching to solar, you can significantly avoid large spikes in your statements.

3. Solar power is reliable

There are plenty of myths about solar energy being unreliable, and many of them come from a place of ignorance. For example, some people believe that your solar power won’t work when it’s nighttime, storming, or cloudy. However, this is simply not the case. When you have the correct number of panels and an adequate battery storage system, you could actually have enough energy to power your home if the grid goes out during a severe thunderstorm. Therefore, solar is more reliable than traditional electricity.

4. Solar energy reduces your carbon footprint

You may have been taught the meaning of carbon footprint in school or online, but did you know that solar power can reduce yours significantly? The sun is a renewable energy source, and solar panels don’t pollute the air when they operate. This makes solar energy much better for the environment than burning fossil fuels. Plus, fossil fuels are non-renewable. So we won’t be able to use them forever, making solar the primary source of energy for the future.

5. Your property value will increase

Installing solar panels is still a home renovation! Therefore, they can significantly boost your home’s value since they’re commonly desired by prospective homeowners who don’t want to pay the installation fees. This also means that your home might just sell faster than other houses on the market that don’t use solar energy, giving you a competitive advantage.

6. Solar panels work in all climates

There is some confusion about whether solar panels work in cold climates. This can be attributed to a lack of knowledge of how energy is made using solar cells. It is created with sunlight using photovoltaics, not heat. Therefore, a solar system will work anywhere. So rest assured that if you live in a colder climate, you can still power your home with the sun.

7. Solar panels have a long lifespan

Solar panels can last for around 30 years with very little maintenance. However, you should consider the age of your roof before installation. Removing and reinstalling solar panels to replace a roof can be costly. So it’s best to have them installed on newer shingles. This way, you can replace them both at the same time to cut costs.

8. You’ll have more energy independence

Traditional power is created by burning harmful fossil fuels, some of which the US gets from other countries. By being dependent on others for something so essential, we’re taking a risk. In addition, the power grid can be iffy during severe weather anyways, so you’re paying a lot of money for something that isn’t the best option.

However, solar energy fixes both of these problems. When you have solar panels, you get your energy from sunlight, making your home energy independent. Plus, you may not have to worry about losing power when you have enough stored away in your home.

In fact, you can even help the US become less reliant on other countries for energy. If you have a big enough system, you may produce a surplus of power. This can be sent back into the grid for the electric company to use instead of fossil fuels. Additionally, many companies use a metering system, which gives you credits toward your utility bill for your contribution, increasing your cost savings further.

Conclusion

Solar power is becoming popular in households worldwide as the climate crisis becomes more dire each year. However, there are many positive things about using solar panels that some people don’t realize. So instead of making assumptions out of fear of the unknown, hopefully, this article could provide some insight into the actual benefits of solar energy.