More people than ever are choosing solar energy to power their homes, and it's not hard to see why: There are many advantages of solar energy, and almost no cons of solar to speak of. As the world grapples with the impact of climate change, we can take action by choosing better and cleaner sources of energy to power our homes. Solar power is a renewable source of clean, green energy that can replace the fossil fuel and natural gas energy sources that we've relied on so heavily in the past.
Installing solar panels on your home can also have a range of other positive impacts, including saving on your energy bill, and increasing the value of your home. As you learn about installing a solar power system on your home, consider these four fantastic benefits of going solar.
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1. Solar Can Lower Your Electricity Bill
Let's start with one of the most significant benefits of solar energy: Installing solar panels may reduce your total electricity costs and help you save money on your utility bill.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that the average U.S. home spends over $1,400 a year on electricity bills. With rooftop solar energy, you can offset your monthly electricity costs, which may save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your solar energy system.
Advances in technology and the improvement of solar warranty coverage mean that solar panel ownership is becoming easier and far less expensive. Considering that the average solar energy system can last an average of 25 years and often pays for itself in just 6-10 years, solar panels will likely save you significant money in the long run. If you’d rather just pay for the energy you use when switching to solar, leasing solar panels is also an option.
Among the financial benefits of solar panels, most homeowners are eligible for tax rebates and incentives that can increase their total savings. For example, the federal solar tax credit allows you to deduct up to 30% off the cost of your solar energy system from your federal taxes in 2023. If your local utility company offers it, net metering allows you to earn credit for the extra energy you produce and feed into the grid.
With solar panels, you can generate your own power, putting you firmly in control of your energy and savings. By installing solar batteries, you can also store the excess power your panels generate, and then you can use that power when your solar panels don’t generate enough electricity to meet your home’s energy consumption needs.
2. Solar Can Help The Environment
An investment in solar is an investment in sustainability, and there are many environmental benefits of solar. You can dramatically decrease your carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels while improving your impact on global climate change. Solar energy is clean, green, and renewable—a better solution for your home, your community, and the environment.
The fossil fuels we've used for decades to produce electricity have a negative effect on our environment, causing significant air pollution. Releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere has led to poor air quality and shifting weather patterns. In addition, fossil fuels are a limited resource and are not going to last forever.
Unlike other home energy sources, solar panels don’t disrupt ecosystems, create greenhouse gas emissions, or release harmful pollutants into the air and water supply. Solar is also a great way to boost interest in clean technologies and the economies they support.
Solar energy is one of the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy sources available. The amount of energy that reaches the Earth’s atmosphere with just one hour of sunlight can provide for the energy needs of every human being for an entire year. Since one megawatt-hour (MWh) of solar energy produced can offset approximately 0.5 to 1 ton of carbon dioxide produced, it's easy to see how effectively solar energy can help reduce your carbon footprint.
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3. Solar Can Help You Avoid Power Outages
Homeowners in the United States experienced over eight hours of electric power interruptions in 2020, the most since the U.S. Energy Information Administration began collecting electricity reliability data in 2013. Many of these outages occur during extreme temperatures, tropical storms, hurricanes, and wildfires. As a way to deal with more frequent power outages, Americans have begun pursuing various backup power options for their home.
Backup generators and solar battery storage are the two main energy technologies that homeowners consider for their backup power needs. While both options can help during a power outage, the combination of solar panels and solar battery storage may be a preferable alternative because they are low maintenance, reliable, operate quietly, and provide clean energy.
4. Solar May Increase The Value Of Your Home
Among the benefits of a solar system, installing solar panels can increase the value of your home. Buyers and sellers now consider a solar installation to be an important home upgrade, like a finished basement or renovated kitchen.
Some experts estimate that a home's value could increase up to $20 for every $1 that a solar energy system saves on energy costs per year. Zillow also found that homes with solar panels sell for 4.1% more than homes without, worth an additional $9,274 in value.
In short, solar-powered homes have been shown to stand out, earn more, and sell faster in the national real estate market.
The Many Benefits Of Solar Panels
One of the core benefits of solar power is that choosing to install solar panels has a positive impact on you and the planet. A residential solar power system gets you one step closer to energy independence and helps you know where your power comes from, how it's produced, and how it's consumed.
A solar power system can save you money, cut down on carbon emissions, and help you remain prepared during an energy crisis or blackout. If you’re comparing the advantages and disadvantages of solar, we think you’ll find that the pros vastly outweigh the cons!
While electricity rates continue to rise, solar energy continues to become more efficient, reliable, and affordable every year. It’s also one of the cleanest, renewable power sources we have, and it’s available in abundant supply.
If you want to learn more about installing a solar panel system on your home, contact Palmetto today. With our Free Solar Design and Savings Estimate Tool, you can see how solar panels would look on your home, and find out how much you might be able to save.
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Cory O'BrienSenior Director - Growth MarketingCory brings over 8 years of solar expertise to Palmetto, and enjoys sharing that knowledge with others looking to improve their carbon footprint. A dog lover residing in Asheville, NC with his wife, Cory graduated from UCSB. If you run into him, ask him about the company he founded to rate and review beer!
