Weighing Up the Benefits and Drawbacks of Solar Panel Installation

In today’s day and age, the search for alternative, environmentally-friendly ways of powering the world is a huge topic. Solar energy is not exactly a new concept, but it’s still nowhere near as popular or widely used as it should be.

As the earth’s most powerful and plentiful resource, the sun’s solar energy is a key player in how we can power our world for future generations. However, we still have a long way to go in terms of how accessible solar energy is for most households and businesses.

If you’re thinking about opting for solar panel installation, here’s an outline of the pros and cons to consider.

Pro #1: It’s the Most Eco-Conscious Choice

It goes without saying that making the switch to solar energy is a smart, eco-friendly choice that’s better for the environment. It’s also one of the cleanest ways of generating electricity, emitting zero carbon emissions or greenhouse gases.

If you want to make an environmental impact, no matter how small it seems, installing solar panels can and will make a difference in the long run.

Pro #2: It Reduces Your Energy Bill

When you power your home with solar panels, you’re completely off the grid. This means that you don’t rely on the local electricity supply and can save huge amounts on your monthly energy bill.

In some cases, you could even produce excess solar energy which you can then sell to your local utility station, earning you money back on your investment. You can also choose to power only a part of your home with solar energy, such as your lights if you can’t afford an entire solar energy system.

Pro #3: You’re Entitled to Solar Energy Credits

Not only can you earn cash money on the excess power you generate, but you’re also entitled to receive solar renewable energy certificates (SREC). Basically, you receive a certificate for every megawatt-hour of electricity you generate.

You can then sell these certificates to electricity suppliers in your region to fulfill their Renewable Portfolio Standard, according to the state’s solar energy prerequisites. In short, this is just another way to earn money from solar panel installation.

Pro #4: Boost Your Home Value

If you’re thinking about selling your home in the future, installing solar panels is a surefire way to improve your home’s overall value. The bottom line is that homes with solar panels sell for more. This is because of the initial investment you made to have them installed. As well as the energy savings the new homeowners can enjoy.

In some cases, property value could improve by as much as $15,000, when compared to your neighbor’s home without solar panels.

Pro #5: They’re Low Maintenance

Not only are solar panels easy to install, thanks to a reliable solar contractor, of course, but they’re also super low maintenance. They will cost you almost nothing to keep in good shape for years to come because they don’t have any parts that tend to wear down over time. The only maintenance requirement is that you keep them relatively clean in order to function properly. But even then, this is where rainfall comes in handy!

Most residential solar panels should last up to 25 years, allowing you to recoup your initial investment, and sell your house for a great price — even if that’s only in 10 year’s time.

Con #1: There’s a Pricey Upfront Cost

It’s no secret that it costs a fair penny to install solar panels. This is probably the biggest consideration to keep in mind when converting to solar energy. You’ll need to set aside a good sum of money if you’re thinking about a full solar energy system. However, there are more affordable options, too.

For example, you could make a partial switch to solar energy and power only certain sections of your home via solar panels. This is often a good starting point. You could also choose to lease solar panels to test them out before you actually decide to buy them.

Bear in mind that installing solar panels is a long-term investment that only pays itself off after you’ve lived in your home for a few years.

Con #2: It’s Expensive to Store Solar Energy

It’s not rocket science to understand that when there’s a decline in the amount of sunshine in your region, your solar panels will produce less energy. When solar power first became popular this presented a major issue for powering homes (and businesses), and it still does if you can’t afford battery storage.

Nowadays, you can and should invest in backup batteries that store power for those gloomy days or weeks when your solar panels can’t perform at their optimum. You have a number of battery types to choose from, but some of the most affordable and efficient include lithium-ion, nickel-based, and flow batteries.

Con #3: Not All Roof Types Suit Solar Panels

The reality is that not all roof types are cut out for solar panels. Most of the time, this has to do with the weight and size of the panels and whether your roof is strong enough, or in good enough condition.

To add to this, if you don’t have a home that receives a good amount of direct sunlight (aside from midday sun), it can make capturing solar energy all the more challenging. In other words, roofs that angle toward the sun tend to be a better fit for solar panels than homes with flat roofs.

It also comes down to the type of roofing material you have. If you have tiles, metal, or asphalt shingles, this makes installation a lot easier. Other types of roofing materials will increase the cost, labor, and time to install the solar panels.

Solar Panel Installation is a Smart Choice

Switching to a renewable source of energy to power your home is the smart choice in the long run. If each household could make an effort to reduce their energy consumption in meaningful ways, we could reduce the global warming risk to our planet. However, solar panel installation is something to carefully consider — we hope these pros and cons will help you make the right decision.

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