The world is looking for energy alternatives to fossil fuels which have caused enormous damage to the environment. Renewable energy has shown significant potential to generate energy while leaving a minimal carbon footprint. One of the renewable energy solutions is harnessing the power of the sun by using solar panels. Solar power became one of the popular alternatives for fossil fuel as it is environment-friendly and it saves money on electricity bills. Solar power systems used to be too expensive to install, but nowadays they are becoming more affordable thanks to technological advances and government funding. If you are not sure how solar power lowers your electricity bill, read on to know more.
How Does Solar Power Work?
To know how solar power can lower your electricity bill, you need to first know how it works. Simply put, the solar power system uses energy from the sun by capturing the sun rays with solar panels. There are two types of solar power systems:
Photovoltaic Conversion and Solar Thermal Conversion. The most common type is the Photovoltaic conversion, also known as direct conversion, in which you install solar panels to convert solar energy into solar power. Solar Thermal conversion, or indirect conversion, generates and provides heat for your house and water through a thermal collector.
The power generated from the solar power system is renewable as the sun gives us its energy for free. You can install batteries to store solar energy so you can use it at night when the sun is down.
How Can It Save Money?
When you install a solar power system, you have two choices: either buy the system which can be quite expensive, or you can lease it. For both options, you are going to save money on your electricity bills. Although purchasing a solar power system can be expensive, you get the money back in the long run. Depending on the size of your solar power system, you can be fully independent of electricity bills, or you can just pay a portion of it.
When you lease a solar power system, the professionals at Saving On Solar say it won’t cost you much, you will save on electricity bills, but the system won’t be yours. On another note, if you have generated excess energy, you can sell it to the grid through net metering. Installing net metering at your house will allow you to calculate how much energy you are generating, how much of it you are using, and how much excess energy you can sell for the grid.
Things to Be Aware Of
If you want to install a solar power system, you should be aware of a few things. If your roof needs repairs, it will cost extra to install the system. Where you live also affects the efficiency of your solar power system.
Some places on earth are exposed to sunlight more than others and with varying intensity. If you don’t have much sunlight during the day, you won’t get the same power you want to generate. Another benefit you should be aware of is that you will get a tax credit from the government if you are using solar power for your household. This means you will save even more than just merely on your electricity bill. Moreover, solar panels don’t need maintenance so you won’t have regular, added costs.
Solar power is renewable energy that is being used more and more over time. If you are thinking about hopping on the solar power wagon, there is no better time than now. Solar power is a good investment for the near and far future. You will save on your electricity bills and you will preserve the environment even in the long run.