How Do Solar Panels Help The Environment?

PV System

Solar panels are a great way to offset energy costs, reduce the environmental impact of your home and provide many other benefits, such as supporting local businesses and promoting energy independence. Looking to install panels on your home? The micro-grid solutions supplier would like to share the four main benefits of solar panels.

1. Reduce or eliminate energy bills.

Even if you live in a cloudy location, these locations typically receive more than two hours of sunlight per day, while sunny locations receive an average of 5.5 hours of sunlight per day.

Although sunny days produce more solar energy, the solar panels continue to absorb energy even when the weather is cloudy. Indirect or diffuse sunlight will still help to power your home. Cloudy days usually produce between 10% and 20% of the electricity generated on sunny days.

2. Earn tax credits and rebates.

The advantages of solar panels at home are numerous，solar panels are actually paying us. First, when you file your taxes, you will receive a 30% credit on the total system cost from the equipment and installation as a federal income tax credit. This means you can save $7,500 on a solar system worth $25,000.

Combine this with state and local rebates and Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) and the total cost can be cut in half. SRECs are generated throughout the year and you can sell them to utilities, which can generate a very significant return on your initial investment.

The payback period is just 3.5 years and the solar panels have a 10-year warranty and a 25-year lifespan - meaning you can generate electricity for free and get extra credit for more than 20 years. It's both socially responsible and financially profitable.

3. Start saving from day one.

Annual energy costs can run into the thousands. In fact, the annual per capita energy bill is $3,052, including transportation and residential energy. Solar energy, once installed, can reduce or eliminate these costs. They also provide long-term savings as it is essentially free access to solar energy.

Solar panels can significantly increase your resale value. Most homebuyers understand what it means to have a home equipped with solar panels - especially because the system is already in place and they don't have to make the initial investment and installation. According to the study, most homeowners saw an increase in the resale value of $5,911 per installed kilowatt. This means that if you install a 3.1 kW system, you can increase the resale value of your home by almost $18,000.

Solar panels also extend the life of your roof as they protect against elements such as rain, snow, and debris. They make the house more energy efficient in the summer as the hot sun does not shine directly on the roof, but is absorbed by the panels, keeping the house temperature low.

4. Helping the environment, helping us all.

Solar power systems take clean, pure energy from the sun. Installing solar panels on your home helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our collective reliance on fossil fuels.

Renewable energy can also improve public health. Coal and gas plants produce air and water pollution that is harmful to human health. But replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources such as solar power can reduce premature deaths and overall health care costs.

Solar energy can also be useful during droughts or heat waves. Coal, natural gas, and nuclear power use large amounts of water for cooling. During heat waves or severe droughts, as we have experienced in recent years, power generation is at risk. But solar power systems do not need water to generate electricity.

Zenergy focuses on micro-gird solutions and fully integrated renewable energy for industry, resorts, islands, and no electricity area to significantly reduce the energy cost and carbon footprint of our clients. If you want to know more information about zenergy systems, welcome to contact us.