There’s probably been no better time to reduce your carbon footprint with solar power than now. The overall cost of a solar panel system is down about 70 percent since 2012 and prices continue to get better. The solar tax credit and zero-down financing options may also make it easier for you to decide— if you’re thinking about going green.
On top of that, going solar can make you a lot of green, too. Solar panels will save you money on your utility bill and increase your home’s value. A report by the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab found each watt of solar adds about $4 to a home’s value in California and about $3 elsewhere. The report also found it’s easier to sell a home equipped with solar, which is great news because getting a return on your investment is what matters most.If you’re still not sure if a solar energy system is right for you, let’s look at a few more reasons going green makes more sense than ever before.
Solar Panel Quality
The quality of solar panels keeps improving. You can take comfort in knowing this is money well-spent.
Monocrystalline Panels are the best your money can buy. They have the highest efficiency rates because they’re made out of the highest-grade silicon, last 25-35 years, and come with a 25-year warranty. They’re also worry and maintenance-free. There is no upkeep once they’re on your roof.
Monocrystalline panels are designed to withstand hurricane-force winds and temperatures well beyond 100 degrees.
Smart Technology
Going green has never been smarter. Your solar energy system comes with something called a “Smart Meter" that your utility company provides.
Every 10 minutes your solar array sends an update to the meter. It will tell you things like:
- How much energy your panels are producing
- If a panel is not working properly
- How much credit you’re owed on your next bill
You are never left in the dark, both figuratively and literally. You solar energy system keeps your lights on and your smart meter keeps informing you how your system is working.
Better, Up-To-Date Equipment
The brains of your solar energy system are the microinverters connected to each of your solar panels. Their basic function is to change the sun’s rays into energy you can use in your home.
The advantage to having microinverters is they make more power because they work each panel separately. And when compared to string inverters- you’re much better off. That’s because the old string inverters work like a string of holiday lights. If one goes down, they all go down. Not so with microinverters. Microinverters protect the entire solar system to limit the downtime if a panel is not producing.
You can use the wi-fi in your home to track your solar production on an app.
Solar Offsets Electricity Costs
If you are going green, net metering could end up being the reason why. That’s because the solar power being converted into energy you use for your home can be calculated. And if you make an arrangement with your electric company, you can sell the excess power your system produces back to them. This is usually in the form of a credit on your next bill, or some companies will even cut you a check each month.
Your solar energy system will begin offsetting your electricity costs immediately. Whether your system is designed to produce 60, 70, or 80 percent of your power—it’s going to positively affect your bill.
It’s money you’d be spending anyway. Instead of giving it to your electric company, while absorbing their rising costs each year, go solar and save. You can use the money you save to pay for the cost of your solar energy system.
You can see how going green with solar can save you lots of money, while helping the environment at the same time. A solar panel installation starts paying for itself the minute it goes online.
If you’d like to find out about some other ways you can save big on your solar panel cost, talk to one of our solar panel experts.
