Solar systems have come a long way. Back then, the military first acknowledged the practical use of solar panels. In the late 1950s, the American military outfitted satellites with solar panels to allow them to generate power on their own.
A few decades after, the only places you’ll find solar panels were in calculators—they’ve only become more common during the tail end of the 1970s. Nowadays, you can find panels sitting comfortably on the roofs of your neighbors’ homes or the buildings you drive by.
And the sight of those panels might have left you wondering, ‘Why are home solar systems so popular recently?’ To know the answer to that question, continue reading below.
Solar Systems Are Eco Friendly
Whatever people may say about how much factories generate carbon and waste when making solar panels, no one can deny that solar systems can offset those emissions when they’re used optimally throughout their lifespans.
Unlike other types of power production, solar systems don’t need to consume large amounts of water. Most coal and nuclear power plants require vast amounts of water to operate. Solar—the ones that use photovoltaic cells—doesn’t have that requirement. While a regular solar system is too small compared to a power plant, more homeowners having one can reduce their dependence on these heavy water consumers.
Also, you don’t need to cause harm to the environment through fracking and to dump nuclear waste. You don’t need to find a power source with solar—the sun’s up there in the sky! You don’t need to frack and dig for oil and the like underneath. Solar companies need to only determine what is the most optimal solar system based on your needs and you’re good to go.
Solar Systems Are A Good Source Of Reliable Energy
The only time the sun won’t shine on Earth is when the world is in its last days (which is more than five billion years from now). Even if there are clouds in the sky, solar panels can still generate electricity if it’s not nighttime. Of course, that’s only true if you live in a sunny region. That’s why many people contact companies like Smart Solar Energy in Olympia Washington.
And if you want to ensure that you’re making the most out of your solar system, you must install your solar with the help of professionals and solar companies. Typically, it’s recommended that they get mounted or installed on the ground in addition to the ones on your roof. Also, if you want to let them receive a lot of sunlight, you must ensure your panels face south.
In the United States, everywhere is a good place for solar systems. While people in the western and southwestern parts can enjoy solar energy more, other parts of the country, except those in the far north, can still enjoy the sun as a free energy source.
And in the future, newer technologies can become available to the consumer market. For example, do you know that some solar setups can allow the panels to track where the sun is? With that tracking capability, it allows a solar system to ensure that they get all the sunlight it can during the day to ensure you’ll get the most electricity you can.
Solar Systems Are Encouraged By The Government
The government is still giving tax credits to people installing solar systems in their homes. And you can’t scoff at the amount of money the government is willing to shell out to push everyone to go solar.
The solar investment tax credit should’ve ended a few months ago. Thankfully, the federal government extended it. You can enjoy a 30% tax credit if you install solar until 2032. After that, the tax credit rate will decrease.
Additionally, if your budget is limited and you can’t afford a massive solar system with batteries installed, you can still make the most out of it through net metering. Know that you can’t use the excess power your solar system can generate without batteries. You can let your power company use that excess power with net metering. In return, they’ll reduce the amount of your electricity bill according to the amount of electricity they receive from you.
Solar Systems Are A Great Financial Investment
Aside from guaranteeing that you’ll have a consistent supply of electricity in your home, a solar system can significantly reduce your electricity bill. On average, it can take six to ten years before your solar panels pay for themselves. Because of that, solar and renewable energy has become a desirable topic to discuss by people in financial circles.
Of course, the amount you can save and the time before you can feel your investment returns depend on how you efficiently use your electricity and the number of panels you’ll want to have.
On the other hand, solar power has been touted as the cheapest type of electricity in the United States.
Solar Systems Are Easy To Upgrade And Maintain
Maintaining your solar system is as simple as ensuring dust, bird poop, and leaves aren’t covering the panels. And if one of the panels breaks down, you can just replace them. And thankfully, most solar contractors provide guarantees and maintenance plans – making solar upkeep a piece of cake.
And in the case of upgrading your solar system, most of the time, you’ll just need to get your panels exchanged for much better ones. Depending on the maker and model, you can just add new panels or batteries to perform an upgrade.
Solar Systems Are Attractive To Homebuyers
Regardless of how a minority of people say that solar panels are ugly, homebuyers nowadays are smart enough to ignore that. Most people looking for new homes are more focused on the economic advantage a solar system can provide them. It’s believed that solar panels improve property values.
You may be asking why homebuyers would instead go out of their way to favor properties with solar systems and why they’re willing to spend more for them. The main reason is that it’s much cheaper and more convenient. Know that solar panels and the other components of solar systems are very cheap. The only thing that makes them expensive is the people who’ll install and set them up for you. Rather than them spending their time and energy dealing with the installation process, they’d rather have their new homes come with the solar system that they need.
Take note that, on average, homebuyers are willing to shell out USD$15,000 as long as the property they can get has a solar system that can generate 3.6 kilowatts of electricity. In addition, properties with solar systems often get sold for more than 4% of the price compared to the ones that don’t have it.
If you do the math, the money you’ll spend today for your solar system can instantly return the moment you decide to sell your home in the future. There’s no need to wait 10, 20, or 30 years. And note that the sunnier the location where your home is at, the higher your solar system can improve your house’s value on the market.
Solar Systems Are Built To Last
Experts guarantee that most solar panels have lifespans between 25 and 35 years. In fact, even the ones that people built and installed in the 1980s are still working today. Nevertheless, their output can decrease even if these panels can survive for decades.
A study found that only 0.75% of 10,000 solar panels operating for 15 years have failed. Basically, it can be concluded that solar panels only have a failure rate of 0.05% per year.
Also, you should take note that while solar panels are getting cheaper every year, the number of years the warranties that come with them becomes longer every year as well. Nowadays, you won’t be surprised if the solar contractor you’ll get will be willing to give you a 30-year warranty for the solar system that they’ll install. That’s how confident they’re with their products and the technology itself.
Solar Systems Are Becoming Cheaper
If you look into how much solar panels cost a decade ago, you’ll be surprised at how they have become cheaper. Aside from panels, batteries, particularly lithium-ion ones, have become more affordable.
Solar Systems Are A Good Option To Help You Go Off-Grid
Most people are stuck living in cities and suburbs because of the conveniences these places offer. Nevertheless, find these locations off-putting because of various factors like crimes, traffic, and overcrowding. Some would rather live in mountains, unclaimed lands, and even parks.
Unfortunately, the biggest challenge those secluded regions have is that they’re off the grid—meaning there’s no electricity. And even if they force a utility company to give them juice, it can easily cost them tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
With solar systems, that challenge vanishes into thin air, allowing people to pack their bags and leave the city and suburban life whenever they want.
Conclusion
The reasons why solar systems are popular nowadays center around the convenience of having the power to generate electricity independently. And once you figure out how precious and valuable that is to a homeowner, you’ll immediately understand why there are a lot of good reasons why more people are investing in having a solar system of their own.
