Benefits of Solar Power: 7 Reasons to Get Solar Panels

In 2020, utility bills are considered a chore in the U.S. by close to 50 million people.

For a lot of people still reeling from the effects of COVID-19 on the economy, the 25% rise in power bills during the summer months took a real toll on most. Power bills have become a constant frustration, and many people are looking for an escape.

This is one of the major reasons to get solar panels. Starting with 2019, solar energy is on an upward trend in the U.S., a situation that’s set to rise even higher in the near future. Solar energy is the perfect escape if you plan to save on utility bills, not just now but in the future as well.

You will also reduce your carbon footprint while using solar panels, so it’s a win-win situation both for your wallet and the environment.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Here is a list of the incredible benefits you’ll get by going solar.

1. Solar Energy Offers Flexibility

If there’s one thing to love about solar energy is the flexibility it comes with. It’ll decrease your dependence on the grid and offer you more control over your energy consumption and production.

You see, when you’re totally dependent on the grid, you can’t say anything when the utility company increases the price per watt, or if the utility company increases the price due to investments in improving the grid.

By installing solar panels on your roof, you suddenly have the ability to customize your power system to meet all your energy needs. If you produce more energy than you need, you can get a solar battery that will save it all up for the days when the sun is hiding in the clouds.

Even better, when it comes to the types, sizes, and quality of the solar panels installed, the options are almost limitless, and the decision will be all up to you. If you go a step further and install the most efficient solar powered lights, you’ll save even more power.

2. You Become Energy Independent

Power outages can be some of the most frustrating, especially if they occur pretty often when they last hours or even days.

When this happens, you’re helpless and completely at the mercy of the power company. With solar panels on your roof and a battery to store the excess energy, your home will continue to have power, regardless of what happens with the electricity provided by the utility company.

How does energy security sound for you? It’s one of the many reasons to get solar panels on your roof. Solar batteries are now more affordable, so more homeowners are now investing in them, and becoming this way less dependent on the energy provided by the grid.

3. You’ll Save on Energy Costs

When you eliminate or at least reduce the energy drawn from the grid, you’ll save on energy bills tremendously. Of course, the amount you save is relative as it’ll highly depend on various factors such as the amount of energy consumption in the house, the number of panels you have, and even the latitude where you live.

For instance, Americans that went solar in 2011 have saved well over $20,000. This is the average savings in a span of 20 years. You see, the price varies from state to state because those in New York, Florida and California saved more than $30,000, while those in Hawaii saved as much as $65,000 (more sun hours per day).

4. You’ll Be Saving the Environment

Conventional energy is produced from fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal. These dirty fuels produce over 65% of the electricity in the U.S., and they are known for the negative effects they produce on the environment, people and animals.

Take coal, for instance, it releases pollutants like mercury, carbon dioxide, lead, methane, and cadmium while burning.

All these pollutants can have adverse health effects that include lung and heart diseases. Prolonged exposure can potentially lead to damage in the breathing passage, skin, eyes, and brain. They also affect the lungs, kidneys, respiratory and nervous systems.

Going solar means that you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint and saving the environment at the same time. Being a carbon free technology the produces only green power, solar panels will help you become a green person.

Is it true that solar panel production does require harmful chemicals and is quite an energy intensive process. However, once the panels are installed on your roof, they will no longer affect the environment and will start generating clean electricity for you and maybe your neighbors.

5. You Can Qualify For Financial Incentives

If you install solar panels by 2021, you’ll get to enjoy the solar investment tax credit or ITC. In 2019, homeowners who installed solar on their roof get a 30% federal tax credit to reduce their installation costs. Those who installed in 2020 got 26%, and those who will install in 2021, it’ll fall to 21% for residential installations.

Starting with 2022, the ITC will stand at 10% for commercial installations while it’ll be eliminated entirely for residential installations. This means that you need to act quickly if you want to cut back some of the installation costs.

6. You Can Even Earn Money From It

If you’re still not ready to install solar on your roof in the coming years you will lose the ITC, and the entire installment will be supported only by you. Several states offer the net metering option for solar users.

Essentially, this means that they allow your solar system to work as a small power station. Excess energy from your PV system will flow back to the grid (to power your neighbors), and this will further reduce your energy bills.

7. It’ll Boost the Value of Your Home

One of the major reasons to get solar panels in 2020 or 2021, is that it’ll increase the value of your home considerably on the local real estate market.

Homes equipped with clean technology (solar panels, wind turbines, etc.) are more interesting for investors because they know that these homes are more efficient (decreased energy bills).

In the coming years, having a solar PV system installed on your roof could be an important factor that could decide if your home is sold quickly on the market at its real value.

Reasons To Get Solar Panels Today

If you’ve been wondering why you should install solar on your roof, now you have seven reasons to go solar.

By using solar power, you’ll no longer have to pay huge power bills, which will only rise even more in the future.

For more in-depth and insightful information about alternative energies such as solar power, please check out the other articles related to solar power.