If you live in the state of Arizona, I’m sure that you’ve already seen solar panels installed on several rooftops.
However, if you are not sure if solar energy can make a difference on your monthly energy bills, I suggest you to read this article to the end of it.
To better understand if installing solar panels in Arizona is a good investment for you and your family, let’s see what are the advantages of using solar energy in one of the sunniest states of the United States.
The number of annual sunny days in Arizona
In terms of sunny days, Arizona seems to be one of the sunniest states in the country, because it receives an average 299 sunny days each year.
This number is even higher or equal to the number of sunny days received by other sunny states in the United States such as New Mexico (280 sunny days per year), Nevada (294 sunny days per year), Texas (205 sunny days per year), California (284 sunny days per year) and Colorado (299 sunny days per year).
Receiving such a large number of sunny days each year, we can say that Arizona is extremely suited for solar power generation.
Is your house a good candidate for solar panels?
The state of Arizona is in the Northern Hemisphere, and this is the reason why your home needs to have at least one roof facing south for best exposure to the Sun.
No trees or other obstacles should be between your roof and the Sun.
However, to be sure if your house is suited for solar, you should first contact a solar company in Phoenix.
Advantages of solar power in Arizona
To produce a good amount of clean electricity using a solar PV system, we need days with a clean sky because only this way, your PV system will be able to show its true potential.
1. Generous tax credits still available
The Arizona government offers a tax credit of 25% for installing a solar PV system in 2021, and you should act right away because the percent will decrease in the coming years (unless the Congress renews it).
More than that, the tax credit can also be used for cooling, lighting and general electricity related to solar power.
Water heating also costs much less with solar. Stop using your electric water heater that consumes huge amounts of power every month, and switch to solar because you can get hot water for free if you let the Sun do its job.
2. An additional tax credit of 22% provided by the federal government
The federal tax credit for solar installations is still available in 2021, but is only 22%.
This year (2021) is one of the last years when you can use the federal tax credit to lower your investment in a new solar PV system.
3. A solar PV system can lower your monthly bills
A solar panel system installed on your roof can be considered a small power plant that works only for you.
During the day, the energy produced by your panels will be used in the house, and only during the night you will rely on the energy provided by the grid, which will lower your monthly energy bills.
If you want to pay almost nothing on energy bills, you have to install a battery system that will store the excess energy produced by the PV system during the day.
That energy can be used during the night and the next morning, and even in cloudy days when the panels will generate less power.
4. A decreased carbon footprint
By consuming mostly the clean electricity produced by your panels, you will consume less power provided from the grid, and this way you will pollute less.
Every house that produces its own power from renewable energy sources has a decreased carbon footprint, which means that it pollutes less compared to the homes relying only on power provided by the grid.
5. Becoming energy independent
Having a small power plant installed on your roof means that you are no longer so dependent on the grid.
If you have a battery system connected to your solar panels, you can store some of the energy produced by them and this will make you even less dependent on the grid.
A larger PV system that produces enough power to cover all your energy needs in the house and some of the power consumed by your neighbours will even generate money for you through net metering.
Net metering allows utility customers to send the excess energy produced by the panels back to the grid, and this lowers their energy bills.
6. The solar PV system installed on your roof increases your home value
Having a solar panel system installed on your roof will automatically increase the value of your home by 2 to 3 percent.
However, you have to own the solar PV system installed on your roof because if you leased it, and the PV system is owned by a solar company or a bank, it will not add any value to your house.
Conclusion
Don’t forget that solar power is a renewable energy source that does not pollute the environment, reduces your carbon footprint and can save some money every month on energy bills.
