Solar energy is a renewable energy source that has become more available to homeowners  throughout the years, making it a cost effective source of energy that is good for us now and future generations. In addition to being clean and low maintenance, compared to fossil fuels, solar energy is cheaper. The government (local, state, and federal) provide incentives to encourage homeowners to utilize solar energy in their homes. The benefit to the environment is by far the greatest.

Better on the environment

Using fossil fuels releases emissions into the air. However, Solar power systems produce clean energy by utilizing the power of the sun, thereby producing no greenhouse gas emissions. What is released is us from our dependency on fossil fuels, the emissions of which have been found to deteriorate the ozone layer. When the ozone layer is diminished, harmful rays from the sun shine down on the earth.

In addition to its propensity for pollution and eating away at the atmosphere, fossil fuels are not limitless. Because it takes millions of years for them to form, if we use them all we would have to wait quite a while for the earth to produce more. Even though there are synthetic fuels, it is questionable that they could meet demand. The only logical solution is to use less of the fuel that is causing the pollution and use the resource that produces none.

Better on the wallet

You can basically get paid for being energy conscious. In addition to saving the planet, the installation of solar panels on your home will also help save you money. When calculating the number of solar panels you need, you need to calculate your home’s energy use. You need to take into account the home’s exposure to the sun, energy consumption (which itself includes such variables as how well you insulate your home and which geographical region in which you live), and what incentives are available from your local, state, and Federal government (i.e., solar tax credit).  To get a better idea of how much it will cost, first look at what you will need.

Logically, the more energy your home uses, the more equipment you will need to convert the energy. The more energy you need to convert, the more equipment you will need to build your system. The more equipment, the more the system will cost. The Solar Power Authority shows that the standard solar system components consist of solar panels, controller, batteries, and an inverter. To further illustrate this logic, look at the numbers.

The average energy usage, according to the United States Energy Information Administration, is 867 kWh/mo. A conservative value to use for the generating capacity of a solar panel is 10 watts/sq. ft. 100 sq ft of solar panels would generate 1000 watts, or 1 kW. Add that to the fact that solar panels have become more cost effective. Over the past few years, the price of solar panels have dropped by 60%.

Energysage.com says that solar energy system maintenance basically falls to monitoring the electrical. Moving parts result in wear and tear and possible replacement costs down the road.The only moveable parts solar energy systems have are its tracking mounts. On the other hand, fossil fuel energy production involves the burning of elements, thermostats, safety controls, etc. Basically, a fossil fuel system has more moving parts, which means more maintenance and even safety issues.

Solar energy’s benefit to the environment is by far the greatest aspect of the energy source. The various levels of government finds this to be true and even encourages homeowners to incorporate it in their homes through such things as tax incentives. Because of its clean energy consumption and lower maintenance costs, solar energy is cheaper to initiate and maintain. Solar energy is a renewable energy source that has become more available to homeowners  throughout the years, making it a cost effective source of energy that is good for us now and future generations.