If you’re thinking about investing in solar energy, and even installing a solar panel system, odds are good you’ve already heard endless marketing points about why it’s a good idea. Of course, the last thing you want to do is make this kind of change because someone else has pressured you into it. Sure, there are more solar power companies than there ever have been, but there’s also a copious amount of information available as to what solar energy can really do. And make no mistake: it is an advantageous change to make right now. So let’s cut through the sales points and look into the real perks of switching to solar power, so you can make the informed decision you want to make.

1. Reducing or Eliminating Electric Bills

This is one of the more notable and clear benefits of switching to solar energy. Solar panels allow you to generate electricity on your own, so you can have less reliance on your electric utility and lower your electric bill. Because solar panel systems have such longevity – lasting upwards of 25 years – the cost reductions can be a boon to you for decades.

2. Lowering Carbon Emissions

Because solar power is a renewable energy source, it lowers emissions of carbon dioxide. This ultimately means it will help you reduce your environmental impact. Solar does not directly lead to pollutants being released, either, like regular fossil fuels, making it one of the cleanest energy options you could use. And ultimately, it’s the most accessible form of clean energy that can be used to power your home.

3. Improving Your Home’s Value

Homeowners have continued to report that having solar panels definitively makes their home’s value go up. Finding the right setup of solar panels for your home, then, can do a great deal for you both now and later. This means that, even if moving is in the cards for you, the investment you make in solar energy will be a benefit down the road. You’ll be able to earn it back – and potentially do so with interest – when you sell your house.

4. Earning Money Back Through Rebates and Credits 

There are a multitude of solar incentives that can not only help you save on your electric bills, but also generate a profit, which can help you pay off the system’s cost. The two main ways through which you can do this are net metering and solar renewable energy credits (SRECs). 

To give a brief overview of the two, net metering is basically a tool that allows the grid to store the surplus energy your solar panels generate, and credit it back to you if you don’t use it. And SRECs are essentially a way to make extra money through solar power. One SREC is created for every megawatt hour (MWh) a solar panel system generates. These can then be sold back to utilities companies. They exist because of governmentally-set standards for how much power a state has to generate through renewable sources.  

While your access to these will depend on your state and its solar initiatives, these programs,  generally speaking, can give you electric bill credits as your solar panel system generates power. Be sure to look into your state’s solar incentives as you research solar panel systems – it could be exactly what makes installation worth your while.

5. Having More Control Over Power Usage 

When you begin to rely more on your solar panel system and, in some cases, a home backup battery, you can cultivate more freedom from utility companies. This kind of energy independence can help you in so many ways, from avoiding rising electricity costs to having a source of backup power when the grid is down. 

There are several reasons why this is such a huge advantage, but one of the main ones is the rising cost of electricity across the U.S. According to some reports, it’s gone up 15% over the last ten years. You’re probably well aware of this, and have experienced months when you had no way of predicting how much your electricity bill would be. Using solar power helps you steer clear of this: on average, you’ll be able to expect lower bills, and they’ll be far more consistent. 

Taking Advantage of Solar’s Accessibility 

Trying out solar power is easier than it’s ever been, so if your curiosity is leading you that way, now is a great time to explore further. The accessible costs of solar panel systems and guarantee that it’ll be helpful to the environment are worth the research and efforts required to find the right system for you. Once you’re ready to move forward, you can rest assured that you’ll be taking a step that helps you save money while contributing to your community and to the planet.