Homeowners Going Solar This Summer Are in for a Pleasant Surprise

Harlem World Magazine released an interesting piece recently covering solar savings heading into the summer months. When the sun is at its hottest, power bills are at their highest, which is why it makes a whole lot of sense to start looking into solar panel pricing for your home.

The popularity of solar has grown exponentially in recent years, with many solar homeowners reaping the benefits of greener, cleaner energy. Many homeowners save hundreds, even thousands per year in electricity bills after making the switch to solar, a realization that more and more homeowners are coming to each and every day.

When looking at power consumption data and metrics nationwide, you’ll find the average household uses roughly 900 kWh (kilowatt hours) of electricity each month. When we review solar panel system production, we see that solar panels, on average, produce 160% of that number. Meaning solar panels cover all energy needs for a given home, even producing surplus energy that can be rebated to you in the form of statement credits.

Surplus Power Goes Back to the Grid

“Net metering” is the term used to describe your energy bill credits received for excess power produced by your solar array. Sending this surplus power back to the grid is a great way to go beyond reducing your bills, actually receiving credits back, which is basically payment from your local energy provider.

Your monthly bill could even drop as low as zero dollars in certain months. And here’s even better news: making the switch to solar is not an overly complicated process. Just do a little bit of research on solar installers in your area and compare their quotes side-by-side.

Getting your solar panels up and running so that they’re properly connected to your electrical system is something you’ll want to bring in the experts for. Once they’re installed and good to go, you can expect your entire home to be powered by the panels. There are even some really cool extras, like solar lighting and solar pool covers which can also be provided by certain solar installers.

So Many Solar Benefits

Making the switch to renewable energy means you’re proactively joining the fight against climate change. The sun is an all-powerful energy source, meaning your home will never run short of energy. Fossil fuels, like oil and coal, on the other hand, are a finite resource.

Greener, cleaner energy creates safer homes, neighborhoods and cities. The carbon footprint is minimal, as solar panels don’t produce harmful emissions like coal and natural gas do. On top of being a climate warrior, you’ll also be saving thousands, if not tens of thousands, over the life of your system, which should last around 30 years.

Within a five to ten year window, your panels will have completely paid for themselves. Everything after that is pure profit, making solar a fantastic long term investment. Just imagine getting free energy for two decades or even more. That’s the power of solar energy.

More Efficient, More Affordable

In recent years, the cost of solar panels has dropped dramatically. As the technology gets better and better, solar systems have become highly efficient at converting the sun’s natural power into home energy.

They typically don't require much maintenance either. Having your rooftop solar array examined once a year should be more than enough. If you’re in a state where dust is an issue, like a desert for example, you may want to clean your panels every couple of months just to stay one step ahead of the maintenance.

The average solar system carries a 25 year warranty, so you should be completely covered for quite some time after installation. If your panels are connected to power lines and you’re a recipient of net metering, your payoff period may even come before that five year window.

Low Upfront Costs Mean Solar Could Pay for Itself in Under Three Years

Zero down solar is now an extremely popular and attainable option. That means you may not have to pull one penny out of your pocket to start saving 50-70%, or even more, on your monthly energy costs.

After your solar system has paid for itself, you’re basically getting free power for the next few decades. Although it may take up to seven years to reach the break-even point on your solar array, many homeowners are seeing that happen in a three-to-five year window now.

The state you live in and the size of your home and solar system will play a major role in this. At the end of the day, if you’re a homeowner who cares about saving the environment for future generations, while also saving your wallet, solar is a great way to go.