Solar Resources

The Pros and Cons of Switching to Solar

April 12, 2022

If you’re thinking about installing solar panels in your home and switching to solar power, you may be wondering what the pros and cons of solar energy are from a balanced perspective. In this blog, we’ll walk through the primary benefits and drawbacks of solar energy.

Pro: Resale Value

Homes that have solar panels installed sell for more money than homes without. If you install solar panels and then wind up selling your home down the road, that investment will improve your resale value and earn you more money for your house.

Con: Solar Panels Can Get Pricey

While the exact cost of installing solar panels in your home varies according to factors like the state you live in and how much roof space you have, generally speaking, the upfront cost for the panels and installation can be a bit high. In the US, solar panel installation costs an average of between $15,000 and $25,000.

Pro: Cost Savings

While installing solar panels can be expensive, solar energy has never been more affordable or accessible; the cost is the lowest it’s ever been! There are also payment assistance programs, tax incentives that reimburse homeowners for over 20% of the upfront costs, and the opportunity to earn renewable energy production credits from your local power company. Plus, solar saves the average household $125 per month on their electricity bills. Over the course of your system’s lifetime, it will pay for itself through lower bills and energy credits.

Con: Subjectivity to weather

One issue with being dependent on solar energy is that solar panels require sunshine to function, so during periods of inclement weather and at nighttime, the panels won’t produce energy. However, if your system has a battery that stores the excess energy produced during the day, you can still have power even when it’s not sunny.

Pro: Longevity

Solar panels and their systems last for an average of 25 years. This means that once they’re installed, homeowners can enjoy renewable energy for a full quarter of a century. Other sustainable solutions don’t have the same lifespan. For example, wind turbines typically function as designed for twenty years while natural gas boilers last an average of approximately fifteen years.

Pro: They’re Good for the Planet

Perhaps the most obvious but most important benefit of installing solar panels and utilizing solar energy is that solar power is a renewable energy source. By switching to solar, you limit your dependence on harmful fossil fuels. Installing solar panels has a positive environmental impact that fights against climate change. It also benefits your community by illustrating to neighbors that solar energy isn’t nearly as inaccessible to the average homeowner as it seems, letting them know that they, too, could pursue solar energy solutions.

Bright Eye Solar

Bright Eye Solar is a Lancaster, PA-based solar energy company serving Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. Contact us today for a consultation to find out if solar is right for you.

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