Installing solar panels is a big decision. The installation takes a while and it requires some initial expenses. The biggest problem, however, isn’t the price or the inconvenience. The change is what frightens people the most. Being connected to a city power grid is easy and you know you can rally on it without thinking too much about the process.
Solar panels are still new (or at least they’re perceived as such) and they depend on the weather and climate condition. That’s why a lot of people are worried about making the change and they feel reluctant to do so.
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Energy bills
The single biggest benefit of installing solar panels is in the lower energy bill you’re going to get each month. By depending on energy created by your own solar panels, you don’t need to buy as much electricity as you did before. In some cases, you could even sell your power back to the grid.
It’s, of course, true that these savings come gradually and they take time to accumulate. On the other hand, the cost of installation is something you need to pay right away. However, once you do, with proper maintenance, there’s no additional cost and you could save power for years.
Taxes
The government is also invested in looking for cleaner energy solutions because governments are the only entities large enough to actually make it happen. That’s why you should inform yourself about the tax cuts that you might get by installing solar panels.
There are usually two ways in which this works. The purchase of the panels could be subsidized, which means that you get some of the money you’ve spent for the purchase back or you get a tax deduction on your annual taxes.
Backup and gradual transition
There’s no reason to decide on a big change right away or to make sudden changes in the way your household operates. Solar panels like the ones from Natural Solar could be used as a backup for your traditional energy system. The energy that comes from the sun would only be used if there’s a problem with the electric grid due to weather issues or other unforeseen events.
It’s also possible to make the transition gradual and use solar energy when the conditions allow it and traditional electrical grid the rest of the time, until you’re ready to go off the grid completely.
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Technical considerations
Besides paying for the panels and the battery, you’ll also have to deal with a few other additional costs. First of all, the roof should have direct exposure to sunlight. This is pretty obvious but there are often tall trees in the way that no one thinks of and that need to be taken down for the whole thing to work.
Also, this type of project requires local building licenses and permits. Ask the contractor do they provide the paperwork or you need to do it before any work can actually begin.
The ways of paying for it
There are few to pay for the solar panels. The most obvious and long-term is for you to purchase the panels and the batteries and to be completely independent in terms of your energy usage. The other option is to lease the system. You’re guaranteed to have the power and you’ll pay less for it, but you won’t own the equipment.
The third option is to enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). This will provide you the lowest price based on the bargaining of all the other users who are making the same agreement.
Solar panels are financially sound and environmentally responsible. It’s important to think about the details, but getting them is usually the right way to go.
July 11, 2017
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