Solar has always been a renewable energy solution for homes and businesses alike. But how eco-friendly is a solar home electric system? And how can you, as a homeowner, make sure that you have a solar electric system that can meet your family’s needs?
Keep reading to learn more about solar energy, solar electric solutions and how they can help minimize your impact on the environment.
How a Solar Electric System Works
Solar electricity works in two parts. First, the solar panel itself collects energy. That energy is then converted into electricity that you can use in your home. Typically, solar panels will be installed on your roof. But if you want to take full advantage of available sunlight, you can also install racks on the ground with solar panels to collect the sun’s radiant energy.
Here’s how the system works, step by step:
- A photovoltaic (“PV”) cell inside of the solar panel absorbs some of the sun’s radiation.
- A photon from the sunlight knocks an electron free from the cell.
- Electric fields in the panel push those freed electrons to a metal plate.
- The metal plate collects the electrons.
The electrons that the metal plate collects can then be converted into electrical energy using an inverter. You can use the energy right away, or if you have an energy storage system, store it for later. Solar storage systems come in handy when you can’t normally access electricity, like if your grid goes down. That way, instead of using a generator powered by fossil fuels, you can still use clean energy with your battery backup.
How Eco-Friendly Is Solar Electric?
If you’re considering a solar home electric system, you may have more questions about how eco-friendly it is. Can you use it to power your entire home? Can it shrink your carbon footprint?
The short answer the these is yes. The number of solar panels you’ll need to power your home will depend on the size of your home and how much electricity you already use on a daily basis. You can always work with a professional solar dealer to work out how many panels you’ll need.
Environmental Benefits
If you’re looking to help the environment and shrink your carbon footprint, using clean and renewable energy at your home is a great start. One of the biggest benefits of solar electric solutions is that it doesn’t use any fossil fuels to operate and produces no carbon emissions.
The solar panels are absorbing energy from the sun itself, which is already an abundant resource. Switching to solar could be one of the best things you can personally do to help shrink your carbon footprint. In fact, if you live in New York and switch to solar panels, the amount of emissions you eliminate is equal to burning 5,000 lbs of coal a year!
Health Benefits
Along with the more obvious benefit of lessening your dependency on fossil fuels, solar can also positively impact health! Solar energy produces no emissions and no air pollution, so harmful chemicals and particles won’t be added to the air, which contributes to health issues like asthma attacks, heart attacks and even strokes. It may seem like a small impact, but installing a solar electric system in your home is the first step in reducing widespread air pollution, which can affect your health and the health of others long-term.
Solar energy can do so much for the environment and for you and your family. Why wait on installing solar panels?
Do the Benefits of a Solar Home Electric System Outweigh the Costs?
Shrinking your carbon footprint is great, but does that outweigh the cost of initially installing a solar electric system? While you will have to invest in your solar home electric system to install it, federal tax credits and state incentives can help ease the burden.
In addition to those tax credits, solar electric systems can add value to your home and help you save on your energy bills. The price of electricity has only increased in recent years and decades, so investing in a renewable energy source is a great way to lower your own energy costs. Solar storage systems can also help lessen your dependency on fossil fuel-powered electricity and thus help to overall lower your energy costs overall.
With the rising price of electricity, a solar electric system can actually pay for itself in about 5-7 years, with the panels warrantied for about 20 years. These panels require little upkeep, with clearing debris being the only real maintenance required to keep them running at maximum efficiency. With the savings you’ll see on your utility bills, coupled with low maintenance and tax credits for the initial installation, a solar electric system for your home can be an eco-friendly investment that ends up paying for itself in only a few years.
Solar Electric: Eco-Friendly and Wallet-Friendly
If you want to shrink your carbon footprint and help the environment, solar energy is a great option for you as a homeowner. You can install solar panels either on your roof or on the ground using racks to collect as much sunlight as possible. Plus, with a storage system, you can have reliable access to renewable energy at any time.
Switching from traditional electricity to a solar electric system is one of the most effective ways to minimize your family’s impact on the environment, and at the same time, help you save money. If you think you’re ready to install a solar home electric system, get in touch with a reputable dealer and installer.
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