Are Solar Panels Worth the Investment?
A lot can be said about solar energy and whether it not it can solve electricity problems. Considering that homeowners are looking at ways to make their homes more energy-efficient, one technology that can play an important role in that is solar energy.
Solar panels are red hot at the moment. From Elon Musk’s solar panel roofs to football-sized grid systems, there isn’t a better way to harness the energy from our sun. And we can use that energy to entirely power our homes. But that presents a question of its own. Namely, are solar panels worth the investment?
If you’re interested in finding out the answer to that question, then this is the place to be. In this article, we will look at whether or not installing solar panels will benefit your home. So, let’s start.
Initial Costs
First things first, we have to look at the initial costs for installing solar panels. Naturally, the costs vary depending on where you live and depending on the size of your home. If we look at statistics from the Center for Sustainable Energy, the initial costs for installing solar panels can be anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 on average.
While that can be plenty, we shouldn’t forget the fact that this is an investment for your home. Next up, we have to go beyond the initial investment and analyze other factors such as maintenance. The good thing about solar technology is that maintenance is fairly minimal. Solar panels do need looking after, but it’s mostly making sure they’re clean and free of debris.
So beyond the initial costs and costs for installation, there aren’t any other. But how much can solar panels save you? Plenty of governments around the world are pushing for renewable energy. So chances are there will be tax credits available to you that can help you cover some percentage of the initial costs. Considering that most come with a 15 to 20-year warranty, it’s safe to say that installing solar panels can be a sound investment.
Drastically Reduce the Electricity Bill
Regardless if you’re a homeowner or a business owner, we all know how high the electricity bill can be at the end of the month. So we’re looking at all kinds of ways to cut energy costs. But if you don’t prefer showing with cold water or getting new windows to preserve the cold and hot air inside your home, one way to drastically reduce the electricity bill is by going solar.
Solar energy has the potential to generate enough electricity to power your entire home or business for the next 20+ years. By harnessing the power of the sun, we can produce 100% of our energy needs. Even if you install a few panels, that will still drastically lower your electricity bill.
Protect Against Rising Energy Costs
Utility prices have been rising a lot in the past couple of decades. We’ve now come to a point where we have to do all kinds of things just to keep the electricity bill on the low. But with the rise of solar energy, we can kiss goodbye to the rising energy costs sat out by utility providers.
Since solar energy gives you the option of producing your own electricity, you don’t have to spend a single dollar on electricity if you install a system big enough to produce 100% of your energy needs. Simply said, one way to protect yourself against the rising energy costs is by going solar.
They Increase the Value of Your Property and Business
If we look at it from a different perspective, solar panels help us more than we can imagine. Homes and businesses equipped with solar systems are more expensive than those without, according to multiple studies. Real estate agents say that these properties sell much faster and are in much higher demand than ever before. People see the potential in solar technology, and they want a piece of that.
So potential homeowners and property buyers are more likely to purchase your property if you have solar panels installed. As we learn more about solar panels and the technology behind it, the demand for them will grow much more.
Make Your Home Green
Everyone wants to go green nowadays. One way to do that is to reduce our carbon footprint. While we can do that in many ways, one way is to install solar panels. According to studies, installing solar panels is so beneficial to the environment that many experts equivalate it to planting 100 trees each year.
Finishing Thoughts
By installing solar panels for your home or business, you are financially benefiting by cutting energy costs. Not only that, but the initial costs come nowhere near close to what you’re getting in return. Compared to the lifespan of the technology and the fact that you’ll be helping the environment, we can safely say that solar panels are well worth the investment.