Does Solar Energy Savings Outweigh The Costs?

If you are thinking about adding a solar electric system to your home, the costs and the savings are big issues. First, there is the initial outlay of buying and installing the panels. But there are also a lot of ways that you will be saving money, not only with your immediate energy savings, but savings against rising fuel costs and the increase in your home's value as well.

Since so many factors go into installing a solar electricity system, each house needs to be considered on a case by case basis. The pitch of the roof, the direction it faces, the location of shade trees or buildings that might block sun from reaching the panels must all be evaluated. And an accurate evaluation is extremely important for each system to function at maximum efficiency. Professional installers can provide accurate quotes for the materials and installation for your individual site.

Does Your Local Electric Company Support Net Metering?

Your instant power savings will bear on whether or not your local electric company participates in net metering. Net metering refers to the policy which some electric utility companies have of buying back excess electricity that is produced by customers who have solar panel installations. If your local electric company offers this, you will see a substantial decrease in your electric bills. Some customers actually have a zero balance each month as their solar panel system generates enough electricity for their own use as well as excess to send back into the grid. But even if your electric utility does not allow net metering, your electric bills will still be reduced. During the day when the sun is hitting your solar panels, your appliances will be running off your own solar energy rather than electricity from the grid.

solar panel shingles
Photo courtesy of Inhabitat.

Solar Panels Systems Hedge Against Inflation

And there is also the probability that solar electric systems will become valuable assets to homes in the near future. As energy costs continue to rise, awareness of the value of alternate energy systems is on the rise. If you have a history of energy savings that you can show to a potential buyer, it can be a strong incentive for them to choose your home over one that has higher energy operating costs. And since energy prices are predicted to be higher in the future, your solar panel system represents a real hedge against inflation. A solar electric system also means that your house won't be affected by brown outs and power outages that can occur due to bad weather or simply due to grid overload.

Related topics about Solar Energy Savings


will solar panels work during winter

If you live in an area that has long, harsh winters you may be wondering if your house is a good candidate for solar panels. After all, days or weeks of overcast skies, snow flurries or monsoon rains hardly seem compatible with a technology that relies on the sun for its power.

invention of wind cubes

A unique wind turbine has been designed just for industrial and commercial power users that are in an urban location called the WindCube. Depending on the amount of usage that is needed, wind cubes can be installed one at a time or as a pair. One single wind cube can generate up to 60kW of power and the dual wind cubes can generate 120kW.

Turbine Wind Energy

Learning about alternative sources of power may help you to save a considerable amount of money for your home or business. So, if you're having a building constructed from the ground up, you may want to look into turbine wind energy. Learning more about this principle will help you to do your part for the environment, and the number of wind-powered buildings all around the world is growing daily.