The cost of solar power continues to drop as more households are switching to this source of renewable energy. Reaching out to a contractor with a license to install solar panels is an excellent long-term investment for many homeowners. Solar panels are an eco-friendly option, and you will never have to depend on coal, oil, or natural gas for your electricity.
If you are still undecided, here are a few of the top benefits of switching to solar energy for your home.
· Zero Emission Energy
One of the most important advantages of solar energy is not financial but environmental. Solar energy produces no greenhouse gases and no carbon emissions that could harm the environment and contribute to climate change.
Homeowners who are concerned about the long-term environmental impact of fossil fuels can use solar energy to put those concerns into practice. For those homeowners, the money they save is simply a bonus.
· Protection from Unstable Energy Prices
Traditional energy sources like oil and natural gas are vulnerable to world events and political crises. A change of government half a world away or a burst pipeline at the bottom of the ocean can cause a huge spike in oil prices right here at home. Solar energy helps isolate consumers from those price shocks by providing a steady source of reliable clean energy no matter what is happening around the world.
· Peace of Mind
One of the appealing aspects of using solar panels is that it’s a clean and renewable energy source. Solar panels don’t produce harmful emissions, which is a great way to reduce pollution and maintain a clean environment. You will have peace of mind knowing that you are playing a small yet important role in protecting the environment.
· Low Maintenance
No one enjoys spending a lot of time on maintenance. Fortunately, a solar energy system requires minimal maintenance, which saves you a lot of time and work. You will only need to clean your solar panels twice a year to maximize efficiency. There are no moving parts on a solar panel, thus you will not have to worry about typical wear and tear. You will need to change the inverter after five to ten years, as it is constantly working on converting solar energy into heat and electricity.
What are the Must-Haves for a Solar Installation?
Unfortunately, solar panels aren’t suitable for everyone. Although solar panels don’t need sunlight in order to work, they are compromised by shade. If your roof is under the shadow of a large tree between 10am and 4pm, you won’t be generating any electricity, and even if just one of the panels is in shade, it will affect the performance of the others.
Your home also needs to be south facing, or at least within 45 degrees of south. Southwest or southeast will work, but the level of power generated will be lower.
The angle of roof tilt also plays a part. For example, if you have a roof tilted at 60 degrees and you face east or west, you won’t be able to generate as much as a home with a south facing roof angled at 30 degrees.
Can Solar Panels Save You Money?
Electricity generated by solar panels is “green” so everything you generate can be used for free. Even if a solar panel system can’t provide 100% of your electricity, but it can certainly top it up. So if you are currently running an Economy 10 heating system, adding solar panels will save you a considerable amount per year because at least some of your electricity will be self-generated, which is no bad thing. Another plus to having solar panels installed is that any excess electricity generated can be sold back to the grid.
