Do your high energy bills have you thinking about going green? Are you worried about your environmental footprint and want to contribute by cutting your use of fossil fuels?
If those things are on your mind, you’re thinking about installing solar panels to help power your home. While going solar sounds like the cost-effective, responsible thing to do, you know there is an initial investment.
Are solar panels worth the investment? They might be. Read on to find out more.
What Do You Pay for Energy?
The first thing you need to consider is your energy bill. If you pay a lot of money every month for electricity, you could be a great candidate for solar panel installation.
The main idea behind going solar is to save you money. Should your prices fluctuate, you might see reduced savings. Tabulate your costs by the average cost of a kilowatt-hour.
The costs of a kilowatt-hour change, so it’s best to keep track of the price on your bills and then average it out by the year. While the national average is 13 cents per, you may pay much higher or lower depending on where you live.
The more you pay for power, the more investing in solar is worth it.
What’s the Cost?
While the sun is a renewable energy source, that doesn’t mean you won’t have to pay to harness it. Solar energy systems can cost a lot of money. If you invest in solar, you shouldn’t expect to see immediate savings.
You’re investing in the long-term. To help offset the costs and encourage investment, the IRS offers a tax credit to individuals who install solar panels. This tax credit can save you 22% of your installation costs.
How Much Sunlight Do You Get?
Solar converts the sun’s natural energy into power. You know that. You also know the more sunlight, the more power.
If you live in a sunny area like California, Florida, or the Southwest, you receive plenty of sunlight to keep your home powered. Depending on your energy usage, you may get enough sunlight to do away with fossil fuel power completely.
While modern solar energy panels harness and store the sun’s energy, if you live in areas like Seattle or Pittsburgh, you may not get enough sun to make your investment worthwhile.
What is the Installation Cost?
You should shop for your solar system like you would shop for any other big-ticket item. Compare the installation prices of various solar energy providers. Find the one you feel charges the most reasonable price.
No matter the area you live in, the popularity of solar keeps growing. A simple search of solar providers near me will yield results.
Are Solar Panels Worth It?
The environment is on your mind. As the global climate crisis threatens our very way of life, you want to do your part. Installing solar panels to power your home is a great way to offset the damage of fossil fuels.
You also want to save money. Are solar panels worth it? If you live in an area where you receive abundant sunlight and pay high energy costs, your investment will pay off.
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