As of 2019, there are over two million homes with solar panels installed. These homeowners are enjoying clean and affordable energy. If you’re considering installing a solar system, there are a few things you need to consider before taking the plunge.
This guide will walk you through several solar energy advantages and disadvantages. That way, you can understand what’s involved to make an educated decision about what’s best for your home.
So, isn’t it time you learned about solar pros and cons?
Solar Energy Advantages and Disadvantages
If you want to convert to solar, you need to consider the advantages and disadvantages. This requires you to look at the various aspects of the installation process and system. This includes the cost, space requirements, and impact on the environment.
- Pro: Renewable Energy Source
Because solar energy uses the power of the sun, it’s a renewable energy source. As long as the sun is shining; your system is working. This makes it environmentally friendly and reduces the negative impact of energy production on the environment.
- Con: High Upfront Cost
One drawback for many people is the high upfront cost of the solar panels and system. Many homeowners look at their monthly electric bill and calculate how long it will take to break even with the cost of the solar installation. For many, this will take many years, which is too long to make the investment worthwhile.
One idea is to finance the installation. You can discuss with your solar company possible financing options. This reduces the upfront cost, and the monthly payment is often lower than your monthly electric bill.
- Pro: Reduce Electricity Bill
When you have a solar system installed, it will take over the duty of producing electricity for your home’s needs. This means you’ll have very little to no requirements for the electric company’s power.
The less power you use from them, the lower your bills will be. For some, your bill will be zero, and you may even be able to sell your excess power back to the power company. For others, you’ll have to pay a nominal fee to remain on the grid.
- Con: Uses a Lot of Space
The solar panels need to be large. This is to give them the greatest amount of surface space to absorb as much sunlight as possible. Unfortunately, this means they will either take up a large amount of space on your property or your roof.
For some, they may not have the space available for the panels.
- Pro: Low Maintenance Cost
What’s nice about having a solar system is that they require very little ongoing maintenance. This means you have low ongoing costs and time commitments to ensure your system continues to reliably produce clean energy.
Is Solar Energy Right for You?
As you can see, there are several solar energy advantages and disadvantages. The goal is that the potential drawbacks aren’t powerful enough to stop you from moving forward with your solar panel installation.
Browse our other home improvement articles for more tips and advice.
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