Written by Davey Newlove
Solar power is a technology that is growing in popularity year after year. When deciding whether or not to go solar, doing proper research is of the upmost importance. When doing your research, it is important to take a look at the pros and cons of solar power. This will help you purchase a solar system that will fit your home and lifestyle perfectly. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of solar energy!
Solar Power Can Drastically Reduce Your Power Bill
The top benefit that people are looking for when going solar is to see a reduced monthly power bill. When you install solar on your home, you generate your own power. This means that you become less dependent on your utility company which in turns leads to a smaller power bill. A solar power system typically has a lifespan of 25-35 years. This means that you can take advantage of this technology for decades to come. According to EnergySage, “the cost of solar has decreased by more than 70 percent in the past decade, while the cost of energy has risen by about 5 percent.” This trend is expected to increase in kwh price for the foreseeable future. Solar power will help you take your power back and help curb the rising costs of energy.
Low Electricity Costs Means Low Solar Savings
As previously stated, lowering a high electric bill is one of the top reasons why people decide to go solar. This condition assumes that customers have high power bills. That is not always the case for everyone. If you live in a state such as Georgia or Louisiana, going solar may not be the right choice for you as power rates are lower than the national average. Since customers are paying less for energy, the savings that they get on their electricity bills from solar are also less. If you live in a state or jurisdiction that offers net metering, you may also be able to sell excess power back to the grid for credits on your bill.
Solar Reduces Your Carbon Footprint
Solar power is a clean and renewable source of energy. Unlike natural gas, coal, oil and other fossil fuels, solar energy does not directly release pollutants into the environment. Solar also eliminates waste that comes from dirty electricity generation processes. Solar also does not require water to generate power, which is also beneficial to the environment we all live in. When solar is compared to nuclear energy, solar even comes out on top in terms of clean energy.
Solar Doesn’t Produce Power at Night
One of the downsides to solar energy is that it is dependent on the sun. When the sun is out, you can generate power for your property. When it is night, the source of energy you need is gone. One way to avoid this problem is to get a battery back up system to store the excess power. This is the power that you don’t use right away. The battery stores it instead of sending it
back to the grid. This would allow you to tap into the excess power at night to further help you reduce your electric bill.
Solar Improves Your Home Value
When you install solar panels on your home, you help increase the valuation of your home. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), for every $1 that you save on your power bill your property value increases by $20. That makes solar attractive for many customers. For example, if you have a system that saves you $500 per year, the property value would increase by $10,000. Mix a higher home value with a lower electric bill and you have a great return on investment (ROI) from an installed solar system.
Solar Isn’t Ideal if You’re About to Move
Solar is a great financial investment, but it can take some time to break even on your ROI. With the cost of solar becoming cheaper, the time it takes to break even has dropped significantly, but it still takes years to reach that point. For example, it could take around 8 to 9 years to break even on your solar system. For someone who is looking to move in the coming years after their install, installing solar power may not seem like a worthwhile investment. However, as mentioned before, solar does increase the value of your property which could help you recoup those costs fairly quickly.
Solar Is a Low Maintenance Energy Source
When you go solar with JSunPV, you are assuring that you are getting a system installed by highly qualified professionals. Once you have your solar system installed, it requires very little maintenance compared to other forms of energy. There are no moving parts in a solar power system, providing peace of mind and worry free ownership. Solar panel equipment includes manufacturer warranties to cover typical operational issues. All systems installed by JSunPV benefit from on-line system monitoring as well as on-call service maintenance calls.
As you can see, there are pros and cons to solar energy. The pros clearly outweigh the cons. If you feel that you are ready to get started on your solar installation project, contact JSunPV to get started on your project today!