It’s hard to deny the fact that solar energy is more popular than ever. As people become more aware of environmental issues, they’re pushing for more environmentally-friendly options. That’s why solar power made up 50% of all new energy production in the first part of 2022.
Are you not convinced that it’s worth it to go solar yet? Read the post below to learn the benefits of solar power and why it’s worth investing in it.
1. Reduce Your Energy Bills
Of all the reasons people invest in solar panels, reducing energy bills is one of the most common. Solar panels cost a lot of money upfront, but you’ll break even over time and start saving money because of your power savings.
People who aren’t in a good location or don’t have much space to work with can reduce their bills by a lot. They’ll need to invest in other power-saving methods to reduce their bills further.
However, people with enough space can completely eliminate their bills. They can do this because of net metering and battery storage for their solar system.
2. Get Tax Credits
Even though solar panels have come down in price a lot over the years, they’re still expensive. Depending on your final cost, you may wait 10 years to pay off the cost of your installation.
The good news is that there are government incentives that can help. You’ll find national and local tax credits available if you purchase solar panels.
Be sure to look to see what tax credits you qualify for. With these, you can significantly decrease your actual solar panel’s cost and reduce the time it takes to break even on your installation.
3. Increase Your Home’s Value
It wasn’t always easy to gauge the value of solar panels on a home. Because of that, you may not have seen an increase in your home’s value in the past. But now that the value proposition of solar energy is clear, it’s seen as a value-add to a home.
Because of that, you can expect your home’s value to go up when you purchase solar panels. The value you usually see depends on your total energy savings every year.
As a result, you can make some of your money back if you decide to sell your home in the future. If you stay in your home long enough and break even on your solar panel cost, that’s extra profit for you when you sell your home.
4. Avoid Blackouts
Power grids have improved over the years, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never suffer from a power outage. This is especially true as the weather gets warmer and more strain gets put on the grid.
Many locations have already started implementing rolling blackouts to avoid that extra strain. If you don’t produce your own energy, you may end up in the dark.
If you power your home completely with solar, you won’t need to deal with that problem. You’ll be self-sufficient for your energy needs and keep the lights on when everyone else is in the dark.
5. Low Maintenance
Many people worry about maintenance when they think about installing solar panels. They understand that they’ll save money on their power bills and break even over time. But they also worry about the added maintenance cost they’ll go through every year.
One of the great things about modern solar panels is that they are well-built. In most cases, you won’t need to do anything to maintain your panels.
Most people will have maintenance done every year or two but won’t do anything else beyond that. Some people may also want to clear debris off their panels to increase their efficiency. That doesn’t add much cost compared to the money you pay for traditional power.
6. Use Net Metering
In some cases, you won’t make enough power in your home to power it at all times. This is especially true if you don’t have batteries. You’ll still need to draw from the grid at night.
That’s where you can make use of the extra power you produce during the day. You can sell that energy back to the grid to get credits. These credits will offset your energy cost and reduce your total bill.
You can also participate in a sustainable community and contribute to a community solar installation. In this case, you’ll be one of many people contributing and can draw from the solar energy your entire community produces.
7. Get Performance Guarantees
One issue people have with solar is that panels will degrade over time. You won’t get the same production 10 years from now as you do today.
But solar manufacturers know how much to expect when it comes to performance degradation. Solar panels have a specific amount of decline in efficiency every year.
Because of that, solar companies offer performance guarantees. If you don’t get the expected amount of solar production, you can use your warranty to get help. This means you know how much energy production you’ll get over the years.
Now You Understand the Benefits of Solar Power
It’s not an easy decision to invest in solar panels. You’ll spend a lot of money to get your installation up and running, even if you take advantage of all the solar credits. That means you must do your due diligence to be sure solar energy is right for you.
But now that you understand the benefits of solar power, you should have a better idea of what solar energy offers. Take the next steps to go eco-friendly today and reach out to a solar panel installer to talk to an expert about installing solar panels.
Do you want more tips that will help you do more to save the environment? Read more informative posts on the blog.