Solar power’s advantages

Combating pollution is frequently considered the best reason for installing your own solar energy system. But due to declining prices of solar panels, financial considerations are becoming more prominent. Solar energy is a present that keeps on giving for people, businesses, and the environment. No matter what the temperature is outside, as long as the sun is shining, a solar energy system generates electricity to power your home or business for numerous years to come.

There is a multitude of benefits that many home and business owners around the United States can enjoy by turning to solar. Following are some of the ways that solar can help you save money include:

Decreasing your monthly electric bills;

Take advantage of a 30% federal investment tax credit (ITC);

Implementing state sales and property tax exemptions;

Using net metering credits (available in participating states) to offset electricity costs; and

cashing in on Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs), which are available in some states.

Solar’s advantages are long-term and steady

The benefits of solar energy don’t stop with the financial advantages. There also are a number of environmental benefits as well, which are less apparent. The sun, a star that is estimated to be in existence for another four to five billion years, makes solar power a viable renewable energy scheme for home and business owners around the world — now and for future generations. Because solar energy is one of the world’s most plentiful energy resources, solar systems take advantage of the 173,000 terawatts (TW) of solar energy that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report “strikes the earth continuously.”

Electricity is measured in terms of watts (W), kilowatts (KW), megawatts (MW), gigawatts (GW), and terawatts:

1,000 W = 1 KW

1,000 KW = 1 MW

1,000 MW = 1 GW

1,000 GW = 1 TW

When measuring a terawatt of solar energy you’re talking about almost unfathomable numbers. Consider that 1 terawatt is equivalent to 1 trillion watts of electricity. Now, multiply 1 trillion by 173,000. Clearly, considering the degree of pollution on the planet, and the incompetence of some governments to show the courage needed to address the problem, there is an urgent need to think creatively to solve the climate crisis. Solar energy provides the immediate solution, but are we ready to make the commitment needed in order to assuage the damage done by fossil fuels?

Anticipated growth of solar energy

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), solar electricity generation is expected to continue its growth from a supposed average of 209,000-megawatt hours (MWh) per day to an average of 287,000 MWh per day in 2019. This means that solar production is estimated to be able to power 287 billion watts of electricity. But that growth is not happening fast enough according to those who know the most about climate change. According to these experts, we are already past "the point of no return" and there will be little we can do at this late stage to mitigate the worst of climate change's effects.

To do your part, consider installing a solar energy system to participate in the solar revolution! By installing solar power, you are making a strong statement to the officials who deny that climate change is an issue. But you are also making a wise financial investment that begins paying for itself from the first moments of installation.

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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