As the years go by, more and more Americans are switching to solar energy. Not only is it better for the environment, but it can help you save a ton of money on your power bill each month.
Paying the upfront cost to have them installed is a bit rough, but once you get past that, you can take advantage of all kinds of incentives that will help you make the cashback.
These are only a few benefits of making the switch to solar panels. Check out this guide to learn if this amazing power alternative is best for you.
- You’ll Help the Environment
The main benefit of solar power is the impact that it has on the environment. By using them, you can reduce your carbon footprints in a variety of ways.
Less Air Pollution
Most fossil fuels put off a ton of awful pollutants. When they’re released into the air, you’ll breathe them in. It’s not good for anyone’s health.
The production of solar panels doesn’t put any such fumes in the air. The environment will look a lot better when it’s smog-free, and nobody’s health has to suffer.
Save on Water Usage
Not every energy source uses fossil fuels in its production. Some of them are created using water. Dams are often built to handle the demand.
This can have a huge impact on the environment as a whole. You can cut back on your water consumption by having solar panels installed. They don’t use a drop of water to produce energy.
- Save Money on Your Power Bill
Having solar panels installed can be a bit expensive. Most people can’t deal with the cost unless they take out a loan. The good news is that you can use the money you save on your utility bill to pay back this loan.
Since you won’t be using as much energy from your provider, it will shrink your bill. If you have a bunch of leftover electricity, you can sell it back to your utility company and make a little money from that as well.
- You’ll Increase Your Home Value
There are a lot of people like you out there who want to use solar power, so they can reduce their carbon footprint and save money on their power bill each month.
The thing is, these people don’t want to deal with the hassle of going through the installation process. That’s why homes that already have them are highly sought after.
When it comes time for you to sell your house, you might be able to ask a little extra for it if you have panels. There’s a good chance that it will get snatched up pretty fast.
- Low Maintenance
Once the residential solar installation process is done, you can pretty much forget about them. You may have to clean them every once in a while if debris builds up on them, but it won’t be often enough to be too inconvenient.
Slight Build-up
The easiest and safest way to clean dirty panels is to point a water hose up at your roof. Make sure that you don’t use high pressure because it may cause scratches to form.
Heavy Debris
For heavy debris, you’ll have to be a little more thorough with your cleaning efforts. To begin, you’re going to need to pick up a long squeegee, a brush, a water hose, and a bucket filled with warm water and detergent.
Spray the water at the panels first. This will loosen up any dirt and make the cleaning process go a lot smoother. After that, use the brush and soapy water mixture to clean the surface of the panels.
Make sure that you do this gently, or you’ll scratch them. When you’re done, rinse the panels with the hose again and dry them with the squeegee.
As a pro tip, clean your panels when it’s cool outside. If it’s too hot, the soap may leave some residue behind that will be hard to get rid of.
- Solar Incentives
If price is still something that’s holding you back, know that there are incentives that make it worth it. The best one is probably the federal incentives.
You can write the panels off on your taxes and get a certain percentage of what you spent on them back. Some states do the same thing but on your state taxes instead of your federal ones. Your utility company might be willing to give you a great cash rebate as well.
- You Can Use It Everywhere
As you go about your day, your solar panels are hard at work absorbing light from the sun. It converts this light into energy that you can use whenever you want.
Solar panels don’t only power houses. There are boats and electronics that can use them as well. Even some spacecrafts can make use of this power source.
It’s also a great solution for those in regions that can’t make use of traditional electrical sources.
Consider Switching to Solar Energy Today
Making the switch to solar energy is a great way to save some money on your utility bills each month and give back to the environment at the same time.
Some people hold back on getting them due to the expense, but there are incentives in place that can help make the cost a little less painful on your wallet. Talk to your local company and start taking advantage of this amazing energy source.
Are you looking for additional ways to make your home more efficient? Check out our blog daily for all the latest tips and tricks.