Determine if Getting a Solar System is For You

If you have contemplated getting a solar pv system, there are several things to consider. We understand that this can be overwhelming. While everyone will say that solar is an investment that can decrease your carbon footprint, solar power can have their disadvantages. Here are some pros and cons of going solar.

PROS

When I say decrease, I mean reduce it from hundreds of dollars to something like $10. Maybe even free and maybe even a credit applied to the next month. This perk is pretty upfront. When you install solar power for your home, then you harvest your own electricity. You become less dependent on your local utility and like we mentioned, you have the potential to take awar your electric bill. A solar pv system is built to last about 30 years, which means you can cut your utility costs for decades.

Recent studies discovered property values increase after solar is installed. It’s that simple. The humorous thing is if there were more Toyota Priuses than trucks in the area, then the value increased more. Solar is so trendy right now that in some cases it can increase the value of homes enough to completely offset the cost of installation. So, even if you’re thinking of relocating in the future, you’ll earn back your solar panel investment when you sell your home.

Let’s face it, the price of powering your home is more expensive this year than it was last year, and it is not likely to freeze any time soon. This makes everyone nervous because there is nothing you can do to control your rate. Think about this, the price of renewable energy has dropped by more than 70 percent in the past decade alone, while the cost of electricity has risen by an average of five percent in the same time. If you go solar, you not only have abundant power, you also have some leverage over those rising costs.

There are several of incredible solar incentives right now in the U.S. In addition to being able to use 30 percent of the cost of installation as a tax write off in every state, some states have Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) and Net metering which give homeowners some great added benefits. SRECs are a solar incentive that allows homeowners to sell certificates to their utility. Net metering is a different term for the same thing. You get to sell power to the utility company.

CONS

Rooftop solar panels are installed by connecting a rack mounting system to your roof. Certain roofing materials used in older or historical homes, such as slate or cedar tiles, can’t handle those racks, so that may be a problem, but it also might be time for a new roof. There also may be a rooftop deck or the home could be covered by a number of trees, making it difficult for light to get to the panel. Solar panels have no problem with clouds. They do, however, have issues with things that block the light, like trees.

Yes, solar power increases the value of a home, but it does it over time. If you are planning on moving out and selling your home next month, it is not economically feasible to install solar power this month. It is not guaranteed that you will get back that cost by the increased value of the home.

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