Everyone has been hearing so much about solar energy in the media in the past several weeks, especially with President Obama and his administration revealing their plan to increase access to solar energy for Americans. And why not? Whatever your stance on politics may be, this initiative will reduce the cost of energy bills, create thousands of jobs and help us slow global warming by creating electricity without pollution.
Solar Power in California
California seems to be giving the rest of the United States a run for their money when it comes to solar power. They have over 4,000 megawatts of solar power installed on their rooftops and we can safely assume that’s a steadily growing number.
According to several studies, California has at least three of its cities in the top ten solar cities and up to seven in the top fifteen. Keep reading to learn more about solar power energy savings.
What Makes Solar Power Better Than The Alternative?
Right now, we get most of our electricity from coal because it is about five times less expensive than solar power. The problem with coal is that it also adds pollution to the air. It is a very dirty source for energy and it has the highest production rate of carbon dioxide, which is the main contributor to global warming.
It is much more safe to harness sunlight for our energy because it is non-polluting and does not bring harm to our environment. This is also a source of energy that will never run out. Let’s not forget that sunlight doesn’t cost us anything, and while there is an initial investment involved in gaining access to solar power energy, we can never overextend the energy of the sun.
How Exactly Does Solar Power Energy Actually Work?
The sun, like all light, contains energy. When light comes in contact with an object, the energy becomes heat. However, with solar energy, light from the sun can hit solar panels that turn that energy into electricity which we can then use for power in our homes.
More specifically, solar panels are made of photovoltaic (PV) cells. These cells turn sunlight into direct current (DC). An inverter then converts that energy into alternating current (AC) which is what we use to power out televisions and microwaves.
How Much Does It Cost?
When it comes to solar energy, the initial thought tends to be something like “how much would it cost me to install these panels?” Sure, the cost of installation may be significant. Solar panel systems from 3 to 8kW and can cost thousands of dollars to install on your roof.
But remember, the process of making solar panels is a delicate one and its design is very intricate. It is also important to consider the environmental and savings benefits that come along with it. Solar panels are a great investment because there is a vast payoff for not only you, but the rest of the planet.
So How Much Do You Actually Save?
With that said, we’ve come to the most important question. “Exactly how much money will installing a solar panel system on my roof save me in the long run?” When it comes to solar energy, the key is to think about the long-term benefits. Think about how much money you will save over time once you’ve installed a system that gets its energy from the sun.
The average family spends about $170 per month on their energy bill; that means about $2,040 per year. With a solar energy system in place, home owners can save over $1,000 a year on their energy bill.
Solar Power Is Not One-Size-Fits All
There is no one way to exactly calculate how much money one will save when they have solar a panel system installed on their roofs as it is determined by many factors. However, many studies have shown that home owners save about 50%, and in many cases, that percentage can be even higher.
Overall, the amount of money you save on your energy bill each month will depend on how much the panels cost you to install, your energy bill cost, your roof, the size of your property and many other factors.
The cost of energy is rising and the cost of solar energy power is actually dropping. It is becoming far more affordable to access solar power energy today. There are many options you can take advantage of in order to install your own solar energy panels, including leasing the panels or taking out a loan to pay for them. Either way, there are immense amounts of money to be saved in the long run and you are also helping to reduce your carbon footprint. Taking steps like these make for very worthwhile investments that help our environment and make Earth a cleaner, safer place for all of us.
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