“Save money on electricity!” That’s most often the thrust behind advertisements and sales pitches endorsing solar energy systems to consumers and homeowners. But with all the information and science going around, it can be hard to spot which bits are actual – and which ones will take another five to ten years of research. Here are five things you may not know – and should – about solar power in the here and now.
3 Solar Energy Facts
The government can help foot the bill. Solar power is a big thing in many developed nations like Japan and Spain. In places like those, the government helps consumers and private companies to switch to solar energy, if it doesn’t already make the switch itself.
North America is no exception. In Ontario, Canada, for example, the local government enters into power production contracts with homeowners to help them recoup the cost of the solar panels faster. Meanwhile, in the United States, there are programs such as the Residential Energy Conservation Subsidy Exclusion that gives tax rebates or utility bill credits to homeowners with energy efficient facilities like solar panels.
It’s getting cheaper. When talking about solar energy, fact is that it’s getting cheaper and cheaper – by about 5% every year, in fact. Just compare how available the technology is today and how only NASA was able to get it a decade ago, and you’ll see that the trend has long been in favor of the mass market. You really can save money on electricity by using solar power.
Even better is the fact that it’s also becoming more available. Contractors installing solar power systems are now a common sight, and the rates are typically competitive. Do it yourself solar panel installations aren’t far away; even today, some home improvement retailers in states like California offer solar panel kits that you can assemble yourself.
It’s much, much cleaner than power from fossil fuels. The average American family requires a solar power system capable of generating around 3 kilowatts of juice. Getting that same amount of energy from traditional fossil fuel sources would require burning more than 500 pounds of coal, to produce almost a thousand pounds of carbon dioxide. In contrast, solar panels require minimal maintenance and have absolutely no emissions.
Cost-wise, things still aren’t cheap as you might like because the technology still isn’t very mature. Better developed solar technology, however, should be on the market within the decade. In the meantime, many governments can assist in funding solar installations and help you save money on electricity costs. You can also build your own solar panels and save money on start up costs. Check out earth4energy for more info.