Solar energy has become a popular choice as an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional energy sources. Going off the grid for your solar energy needs in California is a great idea for many households. It can provide a significant money savings as well as several other benefits. However, living off-grid is not an easy choice, as it requires a great personal commitment. Living off-grid also requires a financial commitment from the homeowner. Homeowners who are committed to living off-grid but want to save money wherever they can, should look for the best value solar panels for an off-grid home in California.
Why go off-grid?
Many people think that going off-grid for their power source simply means that they will no longer have an electricity bill. However, there are other reasons that make going off the grid a wise idea as well. Going off the grid is good for the environment, as most energy is created from renewable sources. It eliminates vulnerability from utility outages. It allows homeowners to take personal responsibility for their own energy impact on the earth. Also, it makes good economic sense.
When does going off-grid make sense?
Going off of the grid is a personal decision and the best time to do it depends on various factors, including personal motivation. Before you decide to go off-grid, you need to think realistically about what you can do off-grid and how much it will cost. You will also need to take into consideration how much time and you will need to put into living completely off-grid and how it will affect the other aspects of your life. But, once you have weighed all the pros and cons, and make the decision to live off-grid, committing to it will make perfect sense.
Lifestyle considerations
The idea of living off the grid is appealing to many people who are seeking a particular lifestyle. Those who live off the grid tend to desire a more “hands-on” approach to life. They often grow their own food, live off of the land, and sometimes even raise animals on their land. Living off the grid fits into this type of lifestyle of self-reliance and self-sufficiency.
The cost factor
There are certainly cost considerations with going off-grid for your home’s energy source. It is important to compare the cost of solar energy if you stay on the grid as well as for going off of it. Do the math carefully to make an educated choice about going off the grid.
Off-grid real estate costs
The cost of the actual power is not the only monetary consideration to take into account. The cost of real estate can also be much less in areas where being off the grid for your power needs is an option. In some areas, homes that are located off the grid can cost almost half of what homes on the grid cost. Further, the real estate values of homes that are off the grid will continue to rise, especially as solar energy becomes a more sought-after source of power. Even it there is an initial outlay of money to set up solar power off the grid, there is still an overall money savings.
Ongoing costs after installation
Once an off -grid solar system is installed in a home, there are ongoing costs that need to be taken into consideration. You will still need to pay for fuel, upkeep for the generator,and batteries to name just a few expenses. Since there are ongoing costs associated with having off-grid solar energy, most homeowners want to save money wherever they can. As a result, they are looking to find the best value possible on their solar panels to minimize the initial investment as much as possible.
Battery bank
Solar energy is great on sunny days when there is no shortage of your energy source. However, energy is still needed on cloudy days and after the sun goes down. When you decide to live off-grid, you need to have a way to harness the energy when the sun is out and store it for times when it is not. The answer is investing in energy-storing batteries. These batteries can cost several thousand dollars, but you cannot go without them. Before you decide to live off-grid, be sure to have a plan in action on how you are going to pay for them.
Deciding to make the move off-grid in California involves an initial investment and finding a good value on solar panels can be a major key to saving money. Work with an industry professional who can help you every step of the way. From choosing solar panels for to determining the best ways to go off-grid, working with an expert makes it possible to achieve your goals.
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