Your decision to switch over to the use of solar energy has most likely been impacted by solar marketers either physically at your doorstep, an ad on television or radio or even via the spam on the internet.
In order to properly make a decision based on actual facts and not on enticing hyperbolic statements, you may need to be properly enlightened on the upsides and the downsides of the use of solar panels..
What exactly are the desirables and undesirables that come with the use of solar? Advantages include energy from the use of solar could bring about a reduction in bills from electricity consumption, an appreciation in the value of your properties, the creation of profit, protection from increasing costs of energy, and a reduced in carbon you emit.
Disadvantages include the fact that solar cannot be used on all and any roof, it probably is not the better investment especially when considering relocating, solar can cause a lowered investment return when the bill from electricity use is small, it could be expensive up-front, and getting the right company for installation may not be easy.
Among the general upsides and downsides of making use of solar energy, below are the few that repeatedly stand out:
UPSIDE OF SOLAR SYSTEM
- A decrease in bills from the use of electricity
- Greatly increases value for your home
- Minimizes carbon emitted from you
DOWNSIDE OF SOLAR SYSTEM
- Cannot be used on all roof
- It is not advisable in the case when you plan to relocate soon
- The high cost of solar paraphernalia
The significance of the use of solar: Major advantages to always be conscious of.
Solar panel electricity has quite a number of significant advantages. Here a few essential ones for consideration:
1. It could greatly minimize or end bill expenses from the use of electricity.
This is a straight forward benefit that is enjoyed from the use of energy from a solar electrical system in a home setting. As you enjoy electricity generated freely, you are independent of supplied utility and therefore minimize regular electricity bills. The panels used for solar electricity generation are durable and can be used for upwards of 25 to 30 years. The implication of this is that the costs of electricity are totally put off over a very long period of time. You can make use of available tools such as the ‘instant estimate tool’ to get an estimation of your bill savings over a long period of time and also reviews that are personalized for projected cost savings from solar for 20 years.
There is a dwindling in the price of solar throughout the nation. View the costs in your location and receive solar quotes for free from Next Generation Energy.
2. It increases home value
In the U.S, there are millions that own a home and could benefit from the use of a solar electric system but face a basic challenge of being ignorant of what is required for its installation. This is because they have not diligently given it enough attention. This fact about consumers coupled with the obvious advantages of using solar in a home setting promoted some studies that have been recently conducted, which show that the value of property appreciates after the installation of a solar electric system. Therefore, the second advantage of the use of solar can eliminate one of the disadvantages stated above – if you plan to relocate very soon. After the sale of the panels for your solar energy generation, you will recover your money and possibly more after you have sold your house. To get more knowledge on the appreciated value in the resale of homes with solar electricity, look out for exactly what solar increases the purchase value of the property by. View the article on ‘solar and property values’.
3. You can get paid by solar and simultaneously earn from the investment you have made
As a result of the several incentives on solar within the U.S., you can make profit added to the savings from a bill which clears out the system’s cost. ‘Solar renewable energy credits (SRECs)’ coupled with ‘net metering’ are essential solar incentives which give room for you to merit bill credit (and in some cases extra money) while your system generates electricity. For these cases, compensation for produced electricity from your solar system is paid to you. If where you dwell in a place that either incentive is applied, you may anticipate the immediate and long-run returns over your investment.
4. You gain control of increasing costs in energy
Many of those who own a home deal with anxiety when faced with charges from the use of electricity. In many cases, there isn’t anything that can be done to control the rate of electricity. On one hand, the expense incurred on solar has reduced by over 70 percent during these past 10 years while on the other hand, that of electricity has gone up with 5 percent and has an expectation for a constant progression. You become the driver in terms of the production of energy when you adopt the use of solar. Quick adaptation by utilities is being made towards the increasing use of energy that is renewable. The U.S. government is fast adding to its aim for the reduction of emitted gas from greenhouses making this the best time to become autonomous with energy.
5. With solar, the carbon emitted is reduced and promotes non-reliance on energy
In the use of solar, the most admired advantage which is also patriotic is that the environment also benefits even as the country is transformed from fuels from fossils. In the bid for solutions to energy to aid the U.S. to minimize the total emissions, the country seems to be establishing non-reliance to quit excessive dependence on generators of fuel from fossils abroad. Just as the cheapest methodology to minimize the output of carbon in respect to change of climate of the globe is being sought for by the world, energy from solar is now a major resource and to a great extent a right to brag for the day of the earth and also July Fourth.
Are there downsides of adopting solar? The 5 top disadvantages of energy from solar
Energy from solar is not flawless. Consider the following to be conscious of when making the decision to opt for solar.
1. The panels for solar energy cannot function on every roof type
Panels for rooftop installation are done by racking which is also the same as connecting to the roof a mounting system. Some specific materials for the roof in homes that are old or historical like slate, cedar tiles and etc., can be difficult to work with by solar installers. Lots of homes and apartments use skylights or have additions of rooftop decks which could cause the process of installing the solar not easy or expensive. However, over time in the U.S., this may not be an obstruction in the adoption of mass power from solar. In the case where your home is not fit for installing rooftop solar energy, there are options of panels that are mounted in the ground or purchasing shares from the solar garden community could help level up this disadvantage.
2. Solar may not be the best when you want to relocate
The use of solar is a good investment financially though, it could be a good while before reaching a point where you break-even. About seven-and-a-half is the average period in the U.S. for solar payback. Homeowners that are young may feel like using a solar panel on the roof of his or her home is not a worthy investment. However, there can be an improvement in the value of your property if and when your home is sold. Therefore this downside can be leveled up if you decide to purchase a system using cash or a loan.
3. Savings from solar are low if electricity is cheap
The major and optimal benefit of energy from solar is the reduction in your dependence on provided utility and also as a result save money. This benefit, however, presumes that the homeowner gets a sizable bill from electricity usage. For homeowners in places like Louisiana that have electricity cost 25+ percent cheaper than the nation’s average, the solar installation may not be quite attractive compared to homeowners in Hawaii that pay over double the rate of average electric.
4. Solar cost up-front can cause intimidation if you have no access to financing for solar.
All over the nation, there is an argument concerning what homeowners are to pay for solar from the pocket. The net price for panels used for solar energy generation is dependent on credits from tax, rebates, and the choice of financing you make. Even if you easily can get an amount of the average expense of solar in your location or perhaps a personalized home estimate, a simple response is if you do not meet up the requirement for a zero down loan for solar, the cost upfront for the solar is quite sizable.
The downside here is vivid: it is not everybody that has the money at hand for an investment of this magnitude with payment upfront. Having stated the above, several financing options for solar are available to help anyone with this downside. Examples are the loan programs agreement of power purchase and leases.
5. Getting quality installers of the solar panel at the local level and comparison of quotes may not be easy
Many homeowners have an association in common with solar. This basically involves coercive front door sales reps of solar who pressurize customers to opt in for a contract of 20 years before clarifying them on the entire scope the offer covers or the reliability of the company. Of the many fast-growing markets worldwide, the solar market is one of them and more companies are employing aggressive means to obtain a percentage of the market. Owing to this, many people find solar shopping tiring and confusing. With luck, easier ways to purchase solar that gives homeowners control have sprung up. The next level energy marketplace is a 100% online platform of shopping comparison which gives room for the comparison of solar quotes of from top installers that have been pre-screened in the area you reside in.
Important notes: A comparison of the pros and cons of solar energy panels
Following the review of our upside and downside of solar, there are vivid notes to be conscious of:
- Solar panels for rooftop are not perfectly fit for all: Just like other products for home efficiency, panels for solar power bring about benefits to the homeowners, including the desired upgrades in energy as well as a reduction in an electricity bill. The description does not fit everyone.
- Think of the use of solar as an investment: an investment that yields major returns and has low risk though the investment is hefty nonetheless.
- Solar is the least expensive option for the U.S. movement towards energy that is clean. Nothing is vague concerning the future of energy in America. There is a transition in the U.S. away from fossil fuels from and toward renewable sources. One of the best solutions for a consumer is solar.