For several years now, the topic of solar panel installation has been a popular topic of conversation among homeowners. The general consensus is that it could help you save money, but how do they really work? Considering that they tend to be on the costly side, is it really worth the investment?

How Do Solar Panels Work?

There is a lot of misinformation regarding solar panels. Will your home still be powered if it’s a cloudy day? Will you have enough hot water for showers and laundry?

Solar panels take photons (particles of light) and turn them into electricity. While they are most effective when receiving direct sunlight, they still generate power even if it’s raining, overcast, or night time. This is because their power is generated from light, and even on cloudy days, some of the sun’s rays get through the clouds. Granted, the panels would generate less electricity this way than on sunny days, but they still generate enough to lower your energy bills. As for night time, the panels have solar storage technology to access electricity created during the day.

Panels can last for many decades, with warranties sometimes extending up to 30 years.

8 Benefits of Installing Solar Panels

1. Lower Energy Bills

Solar panels can produce enough energy to power at least half of your household’s electricity needs. To maximize efficiency, conduct a home energy audit to see if you need better insulation or if there are any leaks around doors and windows.

2. You Don’t Have to Worry About Price Hikes

Utility companies have the luxury of being able to increase their prices without any sense of accountability. At the end of the day, everyone needs electricity in their homes and businesses, so regardless of cost of living increases and stagnating incomes, people go with the flow because they don’t have another option. But with solar panels, you do have another option; a much better one.

3. Add Technology Without Increasing Energy Consumption

If there are four people in your household and everyone is using a different computer, television set, video game console, smart home assistant, automated lighting, etc… everyone gets to do their own thing without worrying that the energy bill will be sky high.

4. Tax Incentives

In 2015, the federal government established a renewable energy tax credit. Through it, taxpayers who are homeowners can claim a credit of up to 30% of the cost of the solar energy system, as long as the property is used as a residence by the taxpayer. There is no limit to this credit, and if it exceeds your tax liability for a year, the excess amount may be carried over to the next year.

5. Increased Home Value

If you live in Texas, installing solar panels means a $3.00 increase per watt to your home’s value. Granted, this increase is in direct proportion with the quality of panels installed.

6. More Opportunities to Save

By regularly slashing your monthly energy bill as well as increased profits if you sell your home, you can redirect those monies towards an emergency fund, saving for a dream vacation, or towards other home projects you’ve been putting on the back burner.

7. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Traditional electricity relies on coal and fossil fuels to generate power. When these fuels are burned to produce electricity, they emit extremely harmful gases that are one of the primary contributors to air and water pollution, land degradation, and a long list of health conditions, such as respiratory diseases and some forms of cancer. Installing solar panels ensures you do your part in decreasing so much toxicity from the environment.

8. Help the Economy

The solar panel industry produces more jobs than the coal, oil, and gas industries. With the many ups and downs the economy faces, it’s always a good thing to contribute to the wellbeing of small businesses and fellow hard-working Americans.

Learn More about Solar Energy Panels With The Help of Allied Siding & Windows

If you’re a Texas resident and you’ve been thinking about installing solar energy panels, don’t hesitate to contact Allied Siding & Windows! Contact us for more information about our services or stop by one of our showrooms in Austin, Dallas, or Houston