Whether it’s because you are moving to a new sunny area or just want to modernize your home, there has never been a better time to make the switch to solar! Solar energy doubles as a benefit for the environment and your wallet. The clean energy reduces your carbon footprint and supplies your home with free electricity. If you have been debating the switch to go to solar, we want you to know that it will make the most financial sense to do so this year. Continue reading to find out the 5 reasons why 2020 is the best yeat to go solar.
Solar Energy: Why it’s The Way of the Future
Photovoltaic Cells, aka solar panels, capture photons emitted from the sun. These particles excite free electrons in the panels to produce an electrical current that will supply your home with usable energy. Typical energy sources, like gasoline, are fossil fuels that must be burned to extract energy. The burning or combustion of these traditional fuel sources results in dirty and generally harmful pollutants that contribute to poor local air quality and global warming (i.e. particulate matter and carbon dioxide). When you make the switch to solar, you are supplying your home and devices with clean and renewable energy. As a whole, every new solar panel that pops up ultimately makes the transition to a carbon-neutral society easier and more affordable. From residential homeowners to huge government projects, we each have our part to play in making our world healthier and more livable—and solar energy will continue playing a key part in keeping our world green.
Benefit #1 Receive ITC Solar Tax Credit
Perhaps the most important reason why 2020 is the best year to make the switch to solar is because of federal tax relief. Most homeowners will qualify for the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which essentially reduces the equipment cost by 26%. By next year, this percentage will decrease to 22% and by 2022 the program will end; meaning homeowners will no longer receive a federal incentive to purchase solar equipment. In addition to federal incentives, some city and state governments along with private companies are offering their own rebates to promote switching over to solar.
Benefit #2Save Money on Utility Costs
Along with tax write-offs, free energy from the sun will be sure to help you save on monthly bills. According to energysage.com, the average American spends nearly $1,400 per year on electricity bills, and costs are expected to rise over 2% each year. Solar Panels will make worrying about utility expenses a thing of the past. For example, an average 5kW system will save someone in California around $1700 annually.
Benefit #3Increase Property Value
Whether it’s because homeowners are becoming more eco-conscious or because of the unprecedented savings, adding solar panels to a home is proving to be a worthy home improvement investment. According to a recent Zillow study, homes with solar systems sell for an average of 4.1% higher.
Benefit #4Protect the Environment
Climate change is a real concern for people alive today and future generations. The burning of fossil fuels around the globe is leading to global warming and hindering our ability to live in a healthy environment. When you make the switch to solar, you are lowering your carbon footprint and helping yourself and the local community become sustainable. Every year thousands of people die to poor air quality due to fossil fuel burning, your investment in solar brings us one step closer to harmonious coexistence with the natural world.
Benefit #5Peace of Mind – Energy Independence
Do you live in a wildfire-prone area, where planned power outages are common? Or in a mega-city where blackouts happen? If so, then you know how frustrating it can be to lose power. When the electricity is out, you won’t have internet and the perishables in the fridge might ruin. Certain solar panel systems come with energy storage batteries that will hold onto the captured energy and store it so you can use it later. With a solar storage battery, you are independent of the energy grid that powers your community, and you can generate your own clean energy to use, even when your neighbors can’t turn on the lights.
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