What Are the Benefits of Going Solar?

You have been thinking about going solar for a while, but you're wondering if it's really worth it. Do the benefits truly outweigh the costs? What kinds of risk are you taking on and how will you recoup any potential losses? There are many benefits of going solar, and not all of them can be easily tallied up in your budget sheet. Here are just a few items to put in the "pro" list when you're debating about going solar.

Pays for Itself

Like any purchase that's going to save you money in the long run, it will eventually pay for itself. While the initial install may be costly, you will immediately start to see the benefits in your monthly utility bill. Electricity is expensive, and it's something everyone needs. Solar can not only lessen those costs, it can actually be a source of revenue, if you're in the right place and you get enough sun. If you live somewhere sunny like Arizona or California, solar power that you don't need can be sold back to the grid meaning the power company pays you instead of the other way around.

Best of Both Worlds

You might be wondering what's the point of putting in solar panels if you don't live somewhere sunny. Installing solar doesn't mean you can't still get power from the grid like everyone else, quite the opposite in fact. As previously mentioned, you can sell excess power back to the grid; you have to be connected to the grid in order to do that. So when you install solar power, you're actually getting the best of both worlds; the reliability of traditional sources like gas and coal combined with the affordability and sustainability of renewable sources.

Good Business

Ultimately, going solar is just good business. The cost of fossil fuels will inevitably rise as the fuels themselves become more scarce and more expensive to extract. Renewable energy does not depend on a finite resource, so it's inherently more reliable and ultimately more profitable as the technology continues to improve. On top of that, adding solar panels increases the value of your home substantially. If you know you're going to have to make the switch eventually, doesn't it make sense to get a head start and make the switch now? That way, you're ahead of the curve and already aware of the potential and the potential pitfalls of using renewable resources like solar energy.

Upgrade

You might be thinking that it might be wiser to wait and install solar at a later date. After all, the technology is only going to improve as time goes on. If you wait just a little longer, you might get a better system. You aren't wrong, but that's always going to be true. If you get started now, you can upgrade your system later if you need to, but you will likely get at least 25-30 years of good use out of your current system. Solar panels are a bit like the roofs they are generally installed on: they last a lifetime as long as you take proper care of them, so it's better to install them sooner rather than later.

Clean Conscience

The last benefit of installing solar is not so easy to quantify. You probably try not to think about your carbon footprint, because there just isn't much you can do about it. You need to drive to work, you need to take out the trash, and you need to keep the lights on in your home. Solar panels can help reduce that background guilt. A clean conscience isn't something you can put a price tag on.

The benefits of going solar are both tangible and intangible. You can, of course, save money and add value to your home, but you also get to enjoy the benefits of a cleaner conscience and peace of mind. It's good for your wallet, good for your home, and good for society. Isn't it at least worth looking into more closely?