Installing solar panels at home is a great way to cut back or eliminate your electricity bills. It also helps protect the environment and increase property value. That is why many are tempted to invest into it. However, before pulling out your money there are important things you must consider to tell if spending on a solar power system is worthwhile for you.
Although using solar energy has a lot of benefits for households, environment, and economy, it is not for everybody. An impulse decision to install it in your home could be a waste of money. Especially as this technology is not cheap. It’s important to make sure that you will get the advantages that you are expecting when integrating solar power into your home.
To help ease your struggles on whether to invest in solar panels or not, here is a list of vital things to consider before buying and installing the technology into your home.
- Where you live. Your house’s location is crucial in determining whether you have enough sunshine to power up solar panels. You should be living in a sunny region and away from tall buildings or trees. This is because the more time the panels are exposed to unobstructed sunlight, the more energy they are generating.
- How long will you be living in your house? Investing on solar panels costs thousands of dollars. Although there will be big reduction in your electricity bills, it will take at least 5 to 6 years before this investment will pay off. So, if you will be staying in the same house for many years installing this technology in your house can be a great idea. But if you frequently move and change locations, it would be more practical to find other ways to reduce your energy bills.
- Roof. Most solar panels are roof-mounted. Therefore it is critical for your roof to be in good condition as it will carry extra weight. This extra load in your roof depends on the number of panels needed to be installed. An average solar panel weight around 20 kilograms. Also, not all solar energy companies install in all roof type. Many install only on composite shingles roofing and refuse to work with Spanish tiles and wood shingles.
- Energy needed to power your house. It is important to determine this to know how many solar panels you will need. Different households has different energy consumption. Depending on the number of people living there and what electrical devices they are using.
- Price range. With so many solar panel companies, it can be confusing to find quality value for money It is helpful to do product research and see your options first before deciding on what’s best for your home and budget. Solar energy panels are now 60% cheaper than when they first came to the market in 2011. This should give you basis on where the solar panel you are interested in is too expensive or too cheap and probably of low quality.
- Permits. Building permits are required when installing solar energy panels in your house. Make sure to obtain them in your local government to avoid being penalized. Or worst, asked to remove the whole system in your roof.
- Companies. Hire companies that are licensed, offer strong warranties, and don’t have major complaints about their work. This information should be easily found online. Research about the company that you have in mind. And if you have friends that are solar energy users, it’s worthwhile to ask them about their experience with their installation and panels.
Solar panels can last for 20 years or more. If you can integrate this technology in your home, go for it. Using solar energy not only reduces or completely eliminates your electricity bill. Most importantly it protects our planet from the harmful effects of pollutants produced by power plants.
