How solar affects global warming

Climate change is one of the most important issues the planet faces. Energy policy is so important now because of the data that scientists have discovered about the rate at which the planet is warming. Climate projections have been extremely optimistic and researchers are more alarmed than ever before to see the dramatic reduction in the polar ice sheet.  News reports of global weather extremes, droughts, wildfires and more show us in tangible terms that we are experiencing the protestations of a warming planet. Solar energy offers the hope of a global energy solution now. Prices for solar panels are falling, which motivates many more people to consider installing solar. Despite the fact that global capacity for solar energy production is doubling every year, the question of whether or not to install a solar energy system is one that homeowners are faced with more often than ever. Now there are several companies offering to outfit homes with solar panels at little to no cost to the owner—with some conditions we’ll discuss a little later.

Solar costs are falling despite the tariffs on

The price for installing a solar energy system is less than ever before and incentives and tax breaks aid substantially in this effort. Even though the price per watt of photovoltaic panels has fallen more than 20 percent since early 2010, a system required to power the average American home still costs from $8,000 to $25,000. Fortunately, transitioning to solar actually costs less than the initial sticker price because of some financial incentives from the government. It is important to note that solar costs have steadily been dropping and competing technologies aid in keeping costs falling. You can get a solar power system installed for little money down, but the companies that provide them do so in exchange for signing an equipment lease and relinquishing government rebates and a cut of any extra energy produced.

Federal tax credits for solar power

Tax credits are making it more enticing for homes and businesses to enter the renewable energy world. This includes a 30 percent federal tax credit based on the cost of installing the system. The state you live in will have its own form of a rebate and it's important to be aware of any credits or rebates your state, county or solar company offer. In California, for example, the rebate amounts to several hundred dollars in many cases. In some states, it’s in the thousands.  In addition to getting a large portion of the upfront cost covered, you’re actually able to sell excess electricity you generate back to your utility company in some cases. This often takes the form of a credit that accumulates throughout the year and becomes a considerable bonus depending on how much excess power you have to sell.

Electric bills are history

In some situations, installing solar power in your home doesn’t entirely make you independent from the power grid. You will still need a way to transmit the excess power to the utilities and without large and expensive batteries there’s no way to store excess solar power for later use. Even though you’re still connected to the power grid, the amount of energy you’re producing can than take care of your needs, so you’ll no longer be paying an electric bill. For most households, this means a savings of hundreds of dollars per month, especially during hotter summer months when electricity usage is higher.

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.

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