Not only is solar energy good for the environment, but you can also make money by selling excess energy to the grid. While costs have dropped in recent years, installing and maintaining solar panels can be quite costly. Solar panels are best suited for homes that receive extensive sun exposure throughout the year. In most cases, installing a rooftop photovoltaic solar panel system will offer a higher lifetime value than staying connected to a conventional utility provider.
However, that doesn't mean solar is the right choice for every homeowner. According to studies, homes with solar energy systems actually sell for more than homes without them. Across the United States, Switching to Solar Energy Could Increase Your Property Value Even More Than a Kitchen Renovation. This is another reason why solar panels are worth it.
A payback period is the amount of time it takes to recoup your initial investment. Solar panels can help you save enough money on energy bills over time to offset upfront costs. How much you save each month depends on the size of your solar system, your home's energy consumption, and other factors. Although solar energy is a major investment upfront, it shows that solar energy pays off in the long run.
For 25 years, solar energy costs less than half what it would pay the utility to produce the same amount of energy. Most solar proposals and calculators provide figures based on estimates that customers are able to purchase a system, but as solar energy spreads into the mainstream, financing is becoming a more common way to cover installation costs and start-up costs of the system. This is because, while home solar energy works well for some consumers, for many others it is simply not the right choice. These companies will conduct virtual consultations to provide accurate information and estimates on their potential solar energy savings.
Net metering is a billing tool in which the energy produced by your solar energy system is sent back to the grid. If you decide to hire someone to complete the solar panel installation, add that fee to the total cost of solar energy. If you know your current energy consumption, you can calculate how much you will have to pay for solar panels. A well-known study by Zillow shows that houses with solar installations tend to sell 4.1% more than houses without them.
Sticker clash is common in solar energy, especially for those who advertise with misleading marketing such as “free solar panels” or “getting paid to use solar energy”. Instead, consider options such as community solar energy that don't lock you up with panels on your roof for decades. We need to look at how clean energy compares to alternative methods of supplying energy to your home, because solar panels are only worth the investment if they can outperform the other options on the market. Most people are eligible for the federal solar tax credit, which currently refunds 26% of their total installation costs as a credit toward their federal taxes.
Even if it is possible to move the panels, you will have to pay a significant sum to a solar installer to remove the panels and reinstall them on a new roof. By comparing multiple solar energy quotes, you will gain greater competition for your business and transparency, which will ultimately mean a higher quality installation at the right price. There may be local incentive programs that add to the federal credit to get even more savings to help ensure your solar panels are worth the investment. As with any high-cost purchase, buying solar energy requires a lot of research and consideration, including a thorough review of companies in your area.
After evaluating your options for benefits and savings, solar is a smart move even if you live in a cloudy city. .
Leave Reply