Environmental advantages of solar

Record high temperatures are dominating the weather news this summer. Global warming’s impacts are being felt all over the globe.  Immediate action must be taken in order to stop this alarming trend or we will face even further peril. An immediate solution is solar power. Solar panels are a great way to offset energy costs, reduce your carbon footprint and provide a host of other benefits, such as supporting local businesses and contributing to energy independence.

Reduce or eliminate your electric bills

Some people make the assumption that cloudy locations are inappropriate for solar panels. Cloudy locations typically receive more than two hours of sunlight per day, while sunny locations receive an average of 5.5 hours of sunlight per day. Although sunny days will generate more solar energy, solar panels will continue to produce energy even when the weather is cloudy. Indirect, or diffused, sunlight continues to help power your home. Generally speaking, cloudy days usually produce around 10 to 20 percent of the power produced on sunny days.

Earn tax credits and rebates

Most people don’t realize the savings available from solar tax credits and rebates. At the outset, you will get 30 percent of total system costs back from equipment and installation as a federal income tax credit when you file your taxes. For example, this means you would save $7,500 on a solar system worth $25,000. Combine this with state and local rebates and Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), and total costs can be reduced by half. The SRECs are generated throughout the year, and you can sell them to utility companies, which for some, can generate a very impressive return on the initial investment.

Start saving from the first day of solar installation

Annual energy expenses can be in the thousands. In fact, the average annual energy expenditure per person is $3,052, including transportation and home energy. Solar power can lessen or eliminate these costs as soon as they are installed. They also offer long-term savings, because it’s essentially free to capture the power of the sun. Solar panels significantly improve your home's resale value. Most home buyers understand what a home with solar panels means. Not only will they be able to generate their own power, but they will do so without the initial investment in installation. According to research, the average homeowner sees a $5,911 resale value increase per installed kilowatt. That means if you install a 3.1-kilowatt system, you could improve your home’s resale value by almost $18,000.

Solar panels also extend the life of a roof, because they protect from the elements, such as rain, snow, and debris. They make the house more energy-efficient in the summer because the hot sun is not beating down on the roof directly—it is instead being absorbed by the panels, keeping the house temperature lower.

Generating your own energy empowers people

Those who have installed solar energy systems are often the best sales tool a solar company could have. Experienced solar users can tell us about all the positive factors associated with solar energy. An overlooked factor in solar is the empowerment experienced as solar users generate their own energy. In addition to the financial and environmental advantages, solar provides independence from the electric grid. During peak demand hours, a solar-powered home with battery back up is not vulnerable to outages from the grid and in some areas, this is a huge advantage due to the frequent power outages.

Now is the time to join the solar revolution!

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles

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