The many benefits of solar energy

If you've been considering a solar panel system, you’ve probably already been exposed to solar marketing, whether through ads promising free solar panels or a knock at the door from an eager solar salesman ready to convince you why you should install solar. To make the right decision for your home, you should be able to distinguish between the real pros and cons of solar power and some solar myths that are sometimes perpetuated in the media. Is solar a smart long-term investment that can reduce your carbon footprint?  The answer is an unreserved yes. But even something as trendy as solar can have downsides. Let’s break down the top perks and quirks of going solar.

Main advantages of solar power

Lower your electric bill

Improve the value of your home

Reduce your carbon footprint   

Generate your own energy/pride of ownership

Solar will either drastically reduce or totally wipe out your electric bills

This top benefit of solar panels is pretty straightforward – when you install solar energy for your home, you generate your own electricity, become less reliant on your electric utility and lower your monthly electric bill. A solar panel system normally has a 25-30 year lifespan, which means that you can cut your electricity costs for decades into the future by going solar.

It improves the value of your home

Millions of U.S. home and business owners are interested in solar panels but haven’t taken the time to figure out all the options to install them. This consumer reality and the undeniable benefits of having solar panels on a home support recent studies that found property values increase after solar is installed. To learn more about the increased resale value of solar homes and find out just how much solar adds to the market value of your property, check out this article on solar and property values.

Solar can pay you money while you’re earning back your investment

Due to a number of awesome solar incentives in the U.S., solar panels can actually turn you a profit in addition to generating bill savings that pay off the price of the system. Solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) and net metering are two key benefits of solar that allow you to earn bill credits (or even extra cash) as your system produces power. In these scenarios, you are compensated for the electricity that your solar panels generate. If you live in a state where either of these incentives applies, you can expect both immediate and long-term returns from your solar investment.

Going solar gives you control over rising energy costs

Many homeowners face anxiety when it comes to their electricity bills because, in most scenarios, there is little you can do to control your utility electricity rate. While the cost of solar has decreased by more than 70 percent in the past decade, the cost of electricity has risen by about five percent, and that trend in rising electric cost is expected to continue.

Solar energy's advantages run deep. Many individuals feel empowered by generating their own power and they sometimes generate enough that they are able to sell some back to the electric grid or even share with their neighbors. In the future, technological advances will make solar more efficient and less expensive. But financial advantages are not why many homeowners developed an interest in solar. The principal reason to go solar for many is the environmental impacts. Cleaner air is a goal for nearly everyone and it's a wonderful feeling to know that you are generating electricity that does not cause respiratory distress for many people. Solar is the solution to several world issues but now is the time, before it's too late.

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