Advantages of Solar Energy

Solar power is an exciting and inexpensive alternative to power your home or business. These days, it’s tough to disregard all of the advantages of solar energy if you’re looking to install solar panels and ditch traditional sources of energy. If you aren’t utilizing solar power yet, here are some clear cut advantages that might convince you to pull the trigger and start getting that home energy from the sun!

1. It still works on cloudy days

When determining the effectiveness of using solar energy, the biggest factor is the weather. Fortunately, in Arizona, there are more sunny days per year than anywhere else in the United States. This makes it easy for your solar energy system to remain productive all year round.

When your solar panels are soaking in the sun, the excess energy production is stored on the electricity grid through a process called net metering. On a cloudy day, when the sun can’t seem to make it through, the energy you contributed to the grid will come back to you. The unique conditions available in Arizona make it the perfect place for the cost of solar to remain low in comparison to other forms of energy.

2. You’ll save money on your taxes

Apart from the obvious savings on your electricity bill, there are many programs offerings solar tax credits at the federal and local levels which will help you save money. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the amount of income tax you would otherwise owe. For example, claiming a $1,000 federal tax credit reduces your federal income taxes due by $1,000.

The federal solar tax credit, also known as the solar investment tax credit (ITC), allows you to deduct 26% of the cost of a solar power system installation from your federal taxes. This tax credit applies to both residential and commercial installs, and there is no limit on the value of the total system.

This particular tax credit is available for systems installed before December 31st, 2020. Systems installed in 2021 will allow you to deduct up to 22% of the installation cost.

In Arizona, there are incentives for property tax exemptions, sales tax exemptions, and of course, the additional value added to your home. According to a national average, a solar panel system will add 4.1% of added worth to your property.

3. It’s good for the environment

The use of fossil fuels throughout the industrial revolution and in our modern society has proven to be unsustainable. Clean energy is the way forward for everyone to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. By using energy sources like wind turbines and solar, we can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that we release into the atmosphere.

By doing so, we can enjoy a fresher breath of air and the animals and plants get a better shot to grow and thrive. In some urban environments, the effects of large scale coal and petroleum plants have become so bad the air is not healthy to breathe. If we can reduce our emissions, it will help curb these negative effects.

4. It’s safe

Nuclear power, though clean-burning, raises alarms in regards to its safety. With the unpredictability of nature and the enormous costs of operating these facilities, they are at times dangerous to people and the environment. None of these issues are present in the application of solar power. The sun produces its energy from nuclear reactions that happen at a safe distance from earth in the form of light, that is then harvested by the panels placed on your roof.

As solar cell technology advances, we will one day be able to generate most of our power in this way!

Obstacles and Disadvantages of Solar

It wouldn’t be a proper comparison without listing out both the pros and cons of solar energy obstacles as well as the possible risks of relying on solar power for your home or business.

1. It may not work well in heavily clouded regions

Unfortunately, if you live in a heavily clouded region (such as Seattle, who only gets an average of 139 days of sun per year), solar will not be as effective. Cloud cover reduces the amount of photovoltaic light that will actually reach your solar panels during the day. This is also true of heavy foliage that may cast large shadows onto your solar panels as well.

2. Your solar panels need to be positioned properly

As most roofs are slanted in orientation, it is also important that the panels are angled at an advantageous position to take in the most sun. In some cases, the panels may be highly visible which may not bode well with some HOA regulations. There are many solutions to these issues such as trimming trees or mounting on an auxiliary platform.

3. You may require a large system to meet your needs

It is important to understand your energy needs. If you are aware that you use more energy than the average consumer, it will require a larger system to meet your energy requirements. Sometimes, the number of panels required will no longer be practical if space is limited. However, this would be rare for a residence.

4. Solar panels can be damaged

If positioned near a golf course or a baseball diamond, the risk of damage to a system is increased. Though warranties on damage are available, some may exclude these certain situations from being covered. Under normal operating conditions such as rain, wind, or snow, your panels should be hardy enough to keep on producing for you without breaking or causing any issues.

Making the Jump

If you live in a solar-ready area, then you have a clean, cheap, and infinite resource at your disposal. Why not take advantage and let the sun produce for you? Installation and consultations are quick and easy and you might already see some on your neighbor’s roof, so what are you waiting for — Go Solar with Harmon Solar today!