Solar energy is no longer just a pastime hobby anymore; it is the future alternative for powering homes and saving our earth. And surely you — like other homeowners want to know: Is it time to go solar? The answer isn’t as simple as it seems, and here is how you can avoid committing an expensive mistake (or a worthy investment).
Is Solar Right for Your Home?
The first step in exploring solar energy at your home is to check if your house has an ideal spot to install solar panels. If your home roof doesn’t have direct strong sunlight, it might be time to create the space for it. So how to determine this? Check this page where WhatCost explains if solar panels are worth it for your home.
If you’re looking for a quick estimate, Well, just take a walk around your property. Is the rooftop covered in tree branches, buildings nearby, or other blockages to the sun? Is the roof pitched in a way that it will receive maximum sunlight exposure?
Traditional south-facing placement offers the most efficient production rates, though today’s solar panels have advanced far enough to make east- and west-facing installations anywhere from 75–90% efficient as south-facing ones. Better yet, your installer should analyze your site using specific software to spec the best array possible for your site.
Understanding Costs: Solar vs. Traditional Electricity
Even for those who would be a great home solar candidate, cost is a large barrier. Installing solar panels is not an inexpensive endeavor, with the typical cost of installation ranging from $15,000–$25,000 depending on system size and local labor rates. That is a large sum of money, particularly for homeowners who want to save on costs wherever they can.
That’s not the end of the story, though. Your solar investment will pay you back — when you install solar panels, you protect yourself from escalating electricity costs. The typical electric rate increase is about 3-5% a year. Over the next 25 years, that can have 2x or even 3x the cost of your original installation. In about 6–10 years, you’ve broken even and are producing your own clean energy for free. Sounds awesome right?
Maintenance and Longevity
Fortunately, solar panels are relatively low-maintenance. You can help maintain its productivity by cleaning the panels as needed (certain panels in dusty, rainy areas may perform more efficiently with some periodic attention).
But in the back of your mind, you still might wonder: if things go wrong, what then? Choose a reputable installer with solid customer reviews and warranties. A few strong reviews can be the difference between a nightmare installation and a successful, easy solar process.
Solar Isn’t a One-Size-Fits-All Solution
So here’s the truth: solar power has its many benefits and blessings but is it really worth the money for everyone? Well, not really. Say, you want to move from your current abode in the next few years — you just might miss out on your solar investment paying your big bucks back.
And on the other side if your home has particularly low energy bills (it’s rare, but it happens), then it just might not be worth it. Why would you spend so much installing solar panels only to discover that paying energy bills is less costly?
At the end of it all, here are some questions you gotta ask yourself first;
● How long do you plan on staying in your home? Is it 10 years or more?
● Are you someone truly committed to minimizing carbon emissions and reducing your energy consumption?
Going solar might just be the light to the dark gloom of paying high energy bills (pun intended).
This article is written by WhatCost
