Benefits of Solar Panels Homeowners Need to Know

Depending on where your house is located, you may be a good candidate for installing solar panels on your roof. However, many homeowners don’t really know the full benefits of having these devices installed. Although they will cut down on your energy bill, that can be just the beginning of what you get out of solar power.

Interested in learning more? The Bibb Voice is happy to give you the information you need to figure out if solar power is right for you and your home. Here’s a look at some of the biggest benefits of installing solar panels:

Surprisingly Affordable

One of the biggest issues that hold homeowners back from installing solar panels is cost. Now, the initial price tag of solar panels can be a turn-off, but there’s more to the picture than that. First of all, homeowners who are making energy-efficient changes to their property could qualify for the FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage Program. This allows you to roll the price of your energy-saving changes into your mortgage, spreading the costs out over the lifetime of your loan – which leaves you with more funds available for other renovations, like adding a fence to your backyard, repainting your house, or hiring professional gardeners or gutter cleaners.

Not only are there programs that make the initial installation more accessible, but you’re likely to come out on top in the long run due to the money you’ll save on your electric bill. Solar panels pay for themselves throughout their lifespan and, if you have optimal conditions, can do so relatively quickly. From there, you’ll continue to reap the rewards of using less energy from the grid and more from your own power source.

Useful in Emergencies

Another major benefit of solar power that many homeowners overlook is that it’s very useful to have solar power in a major emergency. Even if your solar panels don’t generate enough energy to power your whole home, you can use them to keep essential functions – such as heating, cooling, and refrigeration – going in the event of a power outage. In extreme situations, this could be the difference between life and death.

In order to do this, however, you need to make sure you also install some kind of power storage system. This system can help to keep you and your family safe and well, even when the grid is having issues.

Better for the Planet

Finally, installing solar panels on your home is an extremely effective measure you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. If your grid system works mainly or entirely on fossil fuels, then switching to solar dramatically reduces your personal carbon output. This is a phenomenal way to do your part to keep climate change at bay and keep the planet a safe, healthy place for everyone.

Remember, it’s not just a matter of what you do. Humans in general are far more likely to take a given step if they’ve seen someone else do it. This means that installing solar panels on your roof makes your neighbors, friends, family, and passersby more likely to take this step themselves. Although a single home using solar power isn’t likely to tip the scales on the climate crisis, a solar power trend could make a far bigger difference.

Solar power is a simple, effective step you can take that will make a big difference for your budget, your community, and the planet at large. If you’ve been on the fence, we hope we’ve given you some insight into the pros of solar paneling you may not have previously considered so you can get started on the path to a more energy-efficient future!

The Bibb Voice is the digital media platform of the Centreville Press, Bibb County's oldest newspaper. Call (205) 926-9769.

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