Solar Power is Affordable
Many years ago when solar power was introduced onto the home market, the costs for equipment were so high that there was no way for it to compete with simply hooking up to the local electric company. But now, thanks to technological advances and rising demands that have lowered costs and government stimulus that also offsets the initial installation expense, affordable solar power is now a reality.
People who set up home solar power systems in the early days did so because they believed in helping the environment. They didn’t mind paying more because their goal was to use an energy that was not based on fossil fuels. Other people often chose solar power in areas where utility companies could not easily supply power.
Equipment Costs are Lower
In the past decade, the cost of solar panels has been reduced by half. The panels themselves are also smaller and more efficient making installations cleaner and better looking. There have also been exciting advances like the flat, flexible panels which can be adhered right to the surface of metal roofs with an adhesive. Bulky frames are no longer needed to hold solar panels, and the frame fasteners that caused leaky roofs are a thing of the past. Currently, products are being tested that will replace traditional roofing materials. They incorporate solar cells in the building materials themselves. This will make affordable solar power even more realistic, since the panels will be a part of your roof itself.
Tax Deductions, Incentives and Rebates
Many federal, state and even local governments are offering incentives or deductions when people install solar panels in their homes. This helps make solar energy even more affordable. These incentives may be direct rebates to the homeowner or tax deductions that they can claim that cover the costs of the equipment or installation. Maintenance and upgrades may also be eligible for more incentives.
In some locations, government also pays based on the amount of power you are able to generate. This money is added to the money paid by the utility company for the power you create. While it may be a bit unusual for a utility company to pay for power that they are in the business of selling, they must get a certain amount of their power through alternative energy. Buying some of this energy from customers who have installed alternative energy sources is more cost effective for them than building their own facility. Some utility companies will install a separate meter for monitoring the energy they are purchasing from you, or they will put in a special meter that can run backwards when you are generating more power than you use.
Mail this post
Tags: affordable solar power, home solar power systems, Solar energy, solar panels, solar power
Leave a Reply