Advantages of solar energy

Figuring out if solar panels are right for your home can be daunting. If you’re looking to install solar panels, you’ll come across a wide range of information listing out the good that solar has to offer.

Advantages of solar energy

1. Reduces your electricity bills

The biggest benefit for solar buyers is that solar panels can reduce your electric bills. As of 2024, the average household can save about $1,500 per year on electric bills when they install solar panels!

Solar power systems save money by reducing how much energy you need to buy from the grid. In areas with net metering policies, you can earn credits by sending excess energy back to the grid, saving you even more money.

2. Insurance against rising power prices

Electricity prices are high and only keep getting more expensive. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average cost of electricity is about $0.16 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) - a 4.1% increase from the previous year.

Solar panels protect you from these rising electricity costs. Because you are producing your own energy, you don’t have to buy as much power from your utility and avoid paying those high energy rates. In fact, you’ll actually be saving more money with solar panels as electric rates get higher!

3. Solar is cheaper than ever

While electricity prices have continued to climb, solar panel installation costs have steadily fallen. The image below is a graph from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the cost per watt of solar installed on a residential and utility scale.

Solar technology costs less than half of what it did back in 2010. Now in 2024, the cost of solar sits at an average of $3.00 per watt. And when paired with good solar rebates or incentives like the 30% federal solar tax credit, you can bring down the cost even more.

4. Solar is a renewable energy source

Solar is a renewable source of energy, meaning that the sun’s power won’t deplete as we use it to make solar electricity. The sun’s energy will never “run out” – so you can always take advantage of it, without hurting the earth!

Plus, solar panels do not emit any harmful carbon dioxide emissions when they generate electricity, making them a source of clean energy and an integral part in fighting against climate change and reducing our carbon footprint.

5. Diverse uses

Photovoltaic energy can be used in many small and large-scale projects. From powering a home to running space satellites, solar panels are a great way to access energy in even the most remote places.

The most common uses for solar panels are on residential rooftops and large solar farms. But, some smaller-scale uses include solar phone chargers, solar-powered outdoor lights, and portable solar panels for camping and RVs.

6. Great financial investment

Solar panels can pay for themselves in just a few years with the savings accumulated on your electricity bill. In some cases, solar panels can provide better return on investment than in something like an index fund.

The average payback time for a home solar installation is about ten years, but it’s different for everyone. How long it takes to see a return on your solar investment depends on how much you paid for your system, your state, and the incentives available in your area.

7. Low maintenance costs

Solar panels don’t require much maintenance after installation. Solar panel maintenance is generally minimal and usually consists of solar panel cleanings once or twice a year to avoid dirt and buildup.

Solar panels and other solar system equipment have very low failure rates because they don’t have moving parts, especially when you choose reliable brands and a trusted installer. An installer or manufacturer's solar warranty may cover some issues with solar panels, but it’s unlikely the equipment will fail.

8. Energy independence

Solar panels allow homeowners to create their own energy instead of relying on the electrical grid, helping you achieve energy independence.

Energy independence allows homeowners to take power into their own hands and control where your home is getting energy from.

The role of the solar mounting system is critical. If you need a roof mounting system for your home’s roof, you can contact us. Our solar rooftop mounting system includes tile roof mountings, color steel roof mountings, flat roof mountings, standing seam roof mountings, etc.