Residential solar energy systems are at the forefront of efforts to switch to clean energy – not because they’re popular among people who want to conserve the environment, but because they’ve become an affordable and money-saving alternative to powering homes. These four facts will broaden your perspective on how tremendous of an impact solar panels can make in your life.1. The working and middle-class accounted for over 60% of solar panel installations in California last year. Homeowners with median incomes ranging from $40,000 to $50,000 are leading the rooftop solar revolution: middle-class neighborhoods make up the fastest growing areas for solar panel installations in California. Why is this? Protecting the environment is not the only reason that people “go solar.” In one poll by a California solar company asking why homeowners purchased solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, 74% of them said that they did it to save money, not to make a statement about being environmentally friendly. Saving on power bills can be a deciding factor for those who are especially concerned about rising electricity costs.
2. A home solar power system can raise the value of your home. A study performed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that solar homes sell 20% faster and for 17% more than non-solar homes in California. New homes with PV cells, costing $380,000 to $500,000 sold for as much as $600,000. And although they were expected to sell in 3 years, they sold within just one.3. Solar panels require minimal maintenance. 97% of Americans overestimate the cost of installing a solar energy system, including the cost of maintenance and repairs. Other than a semi-annual cleaning, solar panels don’t require a lot of maintenance because the PV modules have no moving parts, and they are also designed to hold up against all weather conditions. Although most solar companies offer a manufacturer’s warranty of 25 years for the panels, some systems may last 40 to 50 years.
4. Installing the right solar system can result in a $0 electricity bill. California home owners can save hundreds of dollars each month by installing a residential solar system. Many local energy companies, such as Solaire, report that their customers end up with a $0 power bill by eliminating electricity costs. It can even take as little as 5-7 years for the solar system to pay for itself.
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