FAQs
SOLAR PANEL & POWER BENEFITS
The benefits of solar energy systems are more than two-fold, but when it comes to discussing advantages, we typically focus on the environmental benefits and the financial benefits. Using solar power for energy and electricity does help reduce your carbon footprint by using clean, renewable, and emission-free energy. But it also helps reduce the cost–now and in the future–for those who invest in it. Installing a solar power system can save you money on electric bills, protect you from spikes and surges on the power grid, and even keep you safeguarded from rising electricity costs and rates in the future. Solar panels allow you to keep your costs consistent despite what the power companies might do.
Further, you can actually make money with a solar panel or power system through tax credits and energy contribution credits.
COSTS & SAVINGS OF SOLAR PANEL & SOLAR POWER SOLUTION
Even though many power and utility companies are different, the general rule is that you’re being charged based on electricity consumption. So, for example, if you’re electricity usage increases, that means your bill will, too.
The average home uses roughly 908 kilowatt hours (kWhs) of electricity each month, and the average electric utility rate in the country is .12 cents per kWh. The amount owed is often calculated with the following formula:
Utility Rate per kWh X total kWhs used that month (.12 x 908=$108.96)
It sure will. When you look at your electric bill after your panels have been installed, you’ll see the term “outbound energy.” That refers to the solar electricity (kWh) you’ve contributed to the power grid with your panels. It’s important to look at this bill every month to see if you’ve been properly credited for the additional energy you produced.
This answer is different for every homeowner, so you’ll want to check with your provider. Still, it’s highly likely that your solar panels are covered in your home insurance so long as the panels are directly attached to your home. Typically, they are covered under the dwelling portion of your homeowner’s policy. For a direct and certain answer, though, we recommend checking with your insurance provider.
Yes, you can be. Usually, the way you’re compensated for your solar energy production and contribution is through something called “net metering.” This allows solar energy producers to offset the cost of energy consumption. If your panels produce more electricity than you are using in your home, that excess electricity is then sent out to the local grid. Because of that, your electric meter will run backward–crediting you for your panels’ contributions to the grid.
When you look at your bill at the end of the month, you should see that it shows your total usage cost minus the electricity that your system produced and contributed to the grid.
That being said, every state and local municipality is a little bit different. Check with your local policies to see how they’ll credit you for your energy contributions.
Trends show that installing solar batteries and solar panels for solar power systems can increase a property’s value on the market. According to a Zillow study, homes with solar power tend to sell for about 4.1% more than homes that do not have solar power. The Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report also found that 80% of homebuyers say energy efficiency is a priority.
- Panels, inverters, and wiring and mounting hardware
- Labor costs for solar panel installation
- Energy storage devices, including solar batteries
- Sales taxes for eligible solar installation expenses
SOLAR POWER & PANEL EQUIPMENT
Solar panels collect the sun’s energy and generate electricity. A battery backup system stores that excess power that can be used at a later time when the panels aren’t producing enough (or any) power. For example, if you have a solar panel system and a battery-backed, grid-tied hybrid system, your power can stay online even in the event of a power grid failure or blackout. With a battery-backed system, you’ll never go without power again–no matter what’s happening on the main power grid.
Solar panels are designed to withstand intense weather conditions. That means they’re fairly matched against heat, snow, wind, rain, and beyond. When cared for properly, some solar panels can last up to 35 years before they need to be replaced.
Solar energy systems are designed for minimum maintenance–but it’s still necessary to provide them with some. While you shouldn’t have to replace any solar panels in their lifetime, you might need maintenance done on the wiring of your solar panel system to ensure it’s functioning properly. External tampering and damages (often from squirrels) are top on the list of wiring maintenance, followed by inverter repair, which could occur about 10-12 years after installation. Extended warranties, communication with your installer, and regular maintenance can help to minimize out-of-pocket expenses and cover replacement costs.
We highly recommend scheduling solar panel expectations every 3-5 years to ensure your system is functioning properly.
SOLAR ENERGY
For those who connect their solar panels to the electricity grid, their electricity will shut off in the event of a blackout. This happens to prevent emergency responders and electricity utility repair workers from being injured if your panels are sending power back to the grid. If you’re set up on your own system with backup batteries, your service will not be interrupted because you’ll use the reserved power you’ve stored in your solar panel system’s backup batteries.
Because solar panels rely on the energy from the sun’s rays, a panel cannot produce electricity without sunlight. That means less energy will be generated when the weather is cloudy, overcast, or dark. At night, your panels will not produce sunlight. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t set your solar panel system up for success even when the sun isn’t out.
By pairing your solar panel system with battery backup systems, you can create a hybrid, independent system that stores power for use when the sun isn’t out. Harnessed power from the sun is stored in the battery backup system so that you can continue using the accumulated power you’ve collected even when it’s dark and stormy out.