Advantage Of Net Metering
Most states offer energy consumers the choice to opt-in for a net-metering arrangement. This involves remaining connected to the grid even when you have a solar installation through a bidirectional meter.
This allows you to use solar energy when it is available and draw from the grid when the solar system is unable to meet your energy demand. On the other hand, when your solar system is generating more than your energy use, you are allowed to export the excess energy generated to the grid and receive credits or cash as compensation.
With proper planning, Net Energy Metering customers can end up with zero utility bills. However, the NEM policies vary across states and solar companies can help you with the details.
Insurance Against Rising Power Prices
One thing most homeowners know is that electricity keeps getting more expensive. The price of electricity has increased steadily over the past 10 years, with an average increase of about $0.2 per year. The cost of electricity will continue to rise into the future, meaning your electric bill will continue to go up too.
Solar panels protect you from these rising electricity costs. Because you are producing your own energy, you dont have to buy that expensive power from your utility. So, rising electric costs are a worry of the past! In fact, rising prices might actually be a good thing when you install solar.
For example, lets say your utility charges 12 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity. That means with net metering, your utility would pay you 12 cents for each excess kWh of electricity your solar panels produce and send to the grid.
If your utility raises its electricity price to 13 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity, that means the power you send to the grid would also be worth 13 cents.
So, net metering is saving you more money each time your utility company raises its prices!
Creates Wealth And Jobs
In addition, solar energy is a native energy, because it is available practically everywhere on the plant, which contributes to reducing energy imports and to creating wealth and local employment.
For these reasons, producing electricity through solar energy and its efficient use contributes to sustainable development.
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You Are Eligible For California Rebates And Incentives
The Federal government in California offers the best incentives to solar panel investors, making it more affordable for them to install panels on their roofs. In addition, this encourages the investors to go solar. The California solar incentives come in rebates and tax benefits and give you a 25-50 percent discount. As a result, 2021 has seen remarkable changes in residential solar in the Golden State. For example, the building codes made in 2020 demanded the installation of solar in every new home.
The residents of Orange County are making significant considerations for going solar. Every homeowner in California yearns for the independence that comes with investing in Orange County solar.
You should consult a professional solar consultant and installer in your area to help you file all the requirements to reduce the cost of a home solar system. Make sure that you do your research well to avoid solar panel rip-offs.
In the United States, the federal government is promoting solar energy to reduce carbon footprint. As a result, you are eligible to enjoy financial incentives for homeowners who are switching to solar energy as their source of power in the US.
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Cannot Be Used At Night
No energy can be produced by your solar panels at night which essentially means your solar panels can only generate energy 12 hours of a full day. Without any sunlight hitting the solar panels then there will be no energy produced.
This is a disadvantage of solar panels but may be something that is overcome in the future with new technology. There are already talks about an anti solar panel that is able to produce power at night.
Reduce The Amount Of Pollution
Solar energy emits little pollution.
Solar panels emit no pollutants.
However, they do so at the expense of the environment throughout the manufacturing and construction processes.
Compared to the damage caused by conventional energy sources, these environmental costs are insignificant: burning fossil fuels emits around 21.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.
Using the sun to produce more and more of our electricity implies that we are emitting fewer and fewer hazardous emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels.
Solar panels generate electricity without emitting any hazardous pollutants.
The greater the number of houses and companies that use solar energy, the fewer poisonous emissions from fossil fuels are released into the atmosphere.
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The Size Of System Is Dependent On Your Available Space
Available space is a big factor in solar panel installation. If your roof is not big enough, then it means that you may have to downsize your system or rethink about getting solar altogether.
Solar panels are still fairly large products meaning they require a big space to be installed. The size disadvantage means that they cannot be placed into small areas, and actually require a large roof.
This is important for those who are looking to future proof their home with a big enough system to last years.
Some systems however do provide flexible designs for smaller roofs.
Solar Panel Manufacturing Has A Carbon Footprint
Although solar energy is an inexhaustible, renewable resource, the main tool that we use to harness that energy is not.
Solar panels are still an imperfect technology the resources that it takes to produce them are scarce and often hard to acquire. There is also a lot of concern about what to do with the end-of-life product as well, especially older models that were not designed to be recycled.
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Disadvantages Of Solar Energy
Generating solar energy can also have its drawbacks, it is not as simple as going out and buying a TV to plug in at home. We cover all of the disadvantages associated with getting solar panels below:
- 1. High upfront cost
- 4. Solar panels do not work at night
- 5. Finding a trustworthy installer
- 6. Solar panels need to be recycled
- 7. The buying process can be daunting
- 8. Battery storage is expensive
- 9. Low feed-in tariffs
Solar Pv Is A Low Noise Power Option
Weve all heard how wind turbines can have a serious impact on the lives of local residents. This is due to both the visual and noise pollution that they create.
Solar panels on the other hand do not produce any noticable levels of noise. This makes solar farms a low-noise alternative to wind farms. Solar panels are also suitable for placement directly on the roof of a house or other building.
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Solar Panel Arrays Take Up A Lot Of Space
Solar panels are probably larger than you think, with most residential panels about 5 feet long and 3 feet wide individually. What most homeowners dont consider when thinking about making the switch to solar is that not all roofs can fit an array large enough to justify the price of installation.
The average household needs about a 9 kilowatt solar panel system to meet its needs.2 A 9 kW solar array, complete with an inverter, requires about 25 solar panels and can take up nearly 530 square feet of space.
That doesnt include the space taken up on your roof by obstructions like skylights, chimneys or satellite dishes. For safety reasons, most city zoning laws also require that installers leave at least a foot of space between the panels and the edge of your roof.
With all that in mind, can your roof fit 25 solar panels?
Even if homeowners have the space for solar, they may not invest because of their big and bulky nature. In a recent survey conducted by Ecowatch, 31% of homeowners said they wouldnt install solar panels because they think theyre ugly. However, community solar does offer a viable alternative for friends or neighbors to share a solar array without having to install it on a roof. Think of it as a shared subscription plan to clean energy.
One last consideration if you have an older home, especially one with slate or cedar tiles on the roof, then you may not even be able to install a rooftop solar system without first replacing your roof.
Solar Panel Manufacturing Has Some Environmental Impact
While the power that solar panels generate is emission-free, it is important to note that there is some pollution associated with the manufacturing of solar panels.
Some solar panels contain harmful pollutants, like sulfur hexafluoride, which is more potent than carbon dioxide. However, the impact of carbon dioxide on the climate is much greater than that of sulfur hexafluoride.
The environmental impact of solar panels is minimal compared to the amount of damage associated with the mining and burning of fossil fuels.
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Thinking About Installing Solar Panels
With energy prices at record levels, there has never been a better time to invest in solar panel and battery storage solutions. We offer solar panels, battery storage solutions and a combination of both. Whatever your requirements well have a solution thats right for you and your home.
We are currently experiencing high levels of demand for these solutions so dont delay. Give us a call on 01925 696250 and speak with one of our friendly experts or
Start Your Solar Journey Today On Energysage
The best way to take advantage of all that solar has to offer is to compare quotes. On the EnergySage Marketplace, youll receive up to seven, free quotes from installers in your area so you can easily compare your options, allowing you to find a system that meets your needs at the right price. Want a quick estimate of what a solar installation will cost? Check out our solar calculator.
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How Does Solar Energy Work
Solar energy is generated from solar PV panels installed on homes, buildings and solar farms across the world. They all essentially use the same technology to
Each solar panel is made up of small solar cells that turn the daylight into electric current, which feed through an inverter into your home or other premises to power your lights and appliances. And what’s more, you don’t need to use the energy as soon as it’s generated. The energy generated in the daytime can be stored in so that you can keep on using the power whenever you need it, even once the sun has set.
There’s a misconception that solar panels only work in full sunshine, and while sunnier days will generate more power than cloudy ones, solar panels will create electricity during all daylight hours whatever the weather.
General Benefits Of Solar Energy
Solar energy is readily available for use upon installation. It is renewable and inexhaustible in whatever quantity required. Below are the general benefits of solar energy.
- Power bills are no longer part of your budget
- Diverse applications without limits
- There are low or no maintenance cost
- Technology development of more efficient panels
- It is weather dependent
- Solar energy can be stored
This form of energy has many social benefits ranging from economics, oil dependence to produce electricity, health benefits, reduction of energy imports for countries that are not self-sufficient in the generation of their own power, and local development, among others.
Solar energy is renewable and inexhaustible, which makes it the best source of energy anywhere though it has not been adopted as widely as it should be. If governments can make programs that incorporate the use of solar energy, then the world would be a better place.
The generation of electricity depends on the burning of fossil fuels. The companies that produce electricity entirely depend on oil. Air pollution and environmental pollution remain high because the demand for electricity is quite high.
Dependence on oil can only go down by the widespread use of solar energy. This reduces the amount of pollution and the harsh environmental effects that come about as a result of energy production.
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Benefits Of Solar Panels On Rental Property
Pass On Excess Energy Production To Other Properties Including Your Personal Home
- Rental property owners can take advantage of solar panels at one rental property to create savings at another property. If you own multiple investment properties, installing solar panels on one property can benefit multiple properties as any excess energy production can be sent to another home in the same grid.* This also applies to your personal home or business that does not have solar panels. This allows landlords to double up on the savings from one solar panel installation and maximize the value on the investment.
Justify Charging More For Monthly Rent
- To continue from the previous benefit, if electricity costs are completely eliminated from investment properties and there is only a loan payment then you can roll that expense into rent. Instead of your tenants setting up an account with their local provider and paying another bill each month, they pay a higher rent which covers the cost of the loan on the solar panels. This increase in rent will endup being less than they would have paid in electricity bills over the course of a year saving them money and giving them piece of mind during the summer months when they are running their air conditioners. Instead of the tenants paying fluctuating electricity bills, landlords can charge their tenants one fixed price this has made apartments more attractive to rent.
Increase The Value Of Your Property
Solar Improves The Value Of Your Home
Millions of U.S. homeowners are interested in solar panels but havent taken the time to figure out what it takes to install them. This consumer reality and the undeniable benefits of having solar panels on a home complements recent studies that found property values increase after solar is installed. Thus, the second pro of solar can help to level out one of the cons that we discussed earlier even if youre planning on moving in the near future, youll earn back your solar panel investment and then some when you sell your home.
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Solar Energy Saves Water
Each new day is a close risk of running short of water. Regular electricity production entirely depends on water. Tons of liters of water are used during production to cool off generators, refine fuel, and to help transport the fuel in pipes.
Solar panels, on the other hand, need no water to convert sunlight into energy. The more people install and switch to using solar energy is, the more precious commodity is saved.
Benefits Of Solar Energy To The Environment
One of the great advantages of solar energy over fossil fuels is that compared to fossil fuels, it has a less negative impact on the environment. Among the main reasons that fossil fuels are not environmental friendly is that they produce greenhouse gases which pollute the air and the water. The good news is that solar energy is exactly the opposite of fossil fuels in this regard. Another advantage of this energy type is that it doesnt create any noise! Its important since they are used for residential purposes as well! It is also among the benefits of solar energy in rural areas since many solar panels are installed in these areas.
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Benefits Of Having Integrated Photovoltaics Building Solar Panel
Solar panels are one of the critical pieces of equipment you need for a sustainable building. If your business relies on working during the daytime, chances are thats when you need the most amount of electricity too.
One way you can utilize the free energy from the sun is by adding a Building Integrated Photovoltaic System to your structure. BIPV systems increasing popularity is a result of the ever-growing demand for more renewable energy sources. In this article, youll learn more about the BIPV system and how thatll benefit your business sustainability targets.
What is a Solar Panel?
Before diving deep into the BIPV system, you must understand how solar panels function. Solar panels are a device that generates electricity through several Photovoltaic cells joined together in a single panel. The PV cell contains small semiconductors, usually made of Silicon, and its responsible for converting solar radiation to electricity.
Each panel only generates about 250w to 400w of power, depending on its efficiency and size. Combining numerous solar panels can create enough electricity to equal or surpass your usage.
How are Solar Panels Installed?
Youve probably seen rectangular solar panel modules installed on top of roofs. These are called BAPV .
What Makes the BIPV Different?
Why Would I use the BIPV Over the BAPV?
What Else Do I Need To Keep In Mind?
- Consider Thermal Performance
- Solar Panel Ventilation
- Regularly Scheduled Maintenance
