Will Solar Panels Add Value To My Home?

Adding a solar electric system to your home is a major decision and investment. And if you are considering it, you are also probably wondering if they will add value to your home. The answer depends on a lot of factors. Here are some things to consider.

First, how aware is your community of the benefits and value of solar energy? If you live in an area where a lot of people are interested and involved in the green living movement, potential buyers may be willing to pay more for a house that already has a solar electric system installed. But if you live an area where there is very little eco-friendly activity, where people don't care much about recycling or environmental concerns, buyers may be indifferent the effort and money you have put into installing solar panels.

Everybody Enjoys Saving Money

But even in a community where people never think about green living, usually everyone can appreciate saving money. Does your house have a history of energy savings over a number of years? If you can produce a paper trail of your energy savings over the past few years, you will have good evidence that the solar panels you installed are a benefit to new owners. With the cost of heating and cooling often running into several hundred dollars each month for some families, savings on utilities becomes important.

How Do You Prove That Your System Is Saving You Money

But what can you do to prove energy savings if you have only recently installed your solar panel system? You can call your local electric utility company and ask them for their statistical projection of how much your electric bill will decrease. You can also get data from the company which installed your solar energy system. Most of the larger solar installation companies have marketing departments that gather that kind of data to help people see that solar panels will generate energy savings for them.

Another factor to consider is how common solar energy systems are in your housing market. If solar panels are common, your real estate agent will be able to give you actual statistical data that shows the difference in selling price between houses with solar panels and houses that have only public utility electric service. If this kind of data is available in your market, you have the best possible proof that can show a potential buyer.

Related topics about solar panels

how effective are solar hot water systems

Solar hot water heating systems are relatively simple to install, easy to maintain and the most cost effective way to introduce your home to solar energy. They can save considerable energy and cost when they replace an electric hot water heater. And they can be successfully used even if you live in a climate where freezing temperatures are common during the winter.

Wind Power For Homes - Yes, It's Possible

Electricity is getting more and more costly and is a huge burden on the environment. So it is no wonder that there are many individuals that are going green in order to not only save money, but save the earth as well. This includes everything from battery powered cars to wind power for homes.

What Are Wind Farms

There are many different forms of renewable energy available today and one of the fastest growing sub industries is that of wind power which is growing approximately thirty percent per year. Wind power works by converting the kinetic energy of the wind into electricity. Rather than having large power stations like many of the traditional methods, this kind of renewable energy comes from wind farms.