By jamesmolina As per the findings of the United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA), electricity and energy production generates a considerable share of greenhouse gas emissions. Though the amount is 30% annually which is quite less, 70% of electricity comes from fossil fuels. They are a reliable means of generating electricity.
A concentrated effort is underway to help reduce dependency on fossil fuels and bring renewable energy to the forefront. They want renewable energy to power residential and commercial properties and optimize energy use.
Energy wastage can be prevented via optimized energy use and changes in behavior which are simple. Turning off appliances, electronics, lights, and other things when not in use is a good thing to do.
Energy Star products can help save energy
A certification program executed by the EPA applies to each appliance, electronics, building material, and lighting; Energy Star-certified products use less energy than traditional ones. A water heater for instance is the second biggest energy consumer in home appliances. A heater certified by ENERGY STAR means it uses less than half the energy consumed by a standard one.
Use of renewable energy sources
The wide array of options for renewable energy grows each year. New technologies are being developed and new-age solar panels are cost-effective, attractive, efficient, and effective too. They come together with a battery setup to store energy for backup. This helps residents and businesses get access to renewable energy at all times (evening during power outages).
How good is residential solar power?
Residential solar energy setups help raise the popularity of solar energy. They make it more desirable because it helps raise the value of homes. Recent studies reveal that almost 30% of single-family homeowners in America have already installed solar panels and setups in their homes. A lot are also planning to do so.
Yet on top of this, almost 67% of non-solar homeowners are pondering investment in solar. 78% of them cite upfront expenses to be a barrier. Somehow energy companies believe there is no need to be worried about it.
When solar-powered homes were compared to normal homes without solar, The former were sold 13.3 % quicker than normal homes and had a rise of almost 25% in their values. Moreover, homeowners with solar believe that solar setups help add a median value of $12,500 to their home’s value.
Numerous financial and loan products especially mortgage and home equity loans are known for basing the line of credit on as-completed and appraised property value. Meaning, that the value of a home after the installation of a proper solar energy system with solar panels, battery, and generator; rises considerably.
Benefits of solar panels beyond electricity
Everyone knows solar energy is a clean source of energy. Project advisory professionals explain that it emits no greenhouse gases. When people invest in solar panels and create their solar setup, they won’t have to pay a dime for electricity. It can last for 25 to 30 years before output goes down drastically.
Solar panels do not require maintenance. They can also create monumental savings on the power bill. Yet it all depends on the power usage and local utility rates.
It reduces electricity bills
Homeowners who can overcome the capital expense of installing solar panels and energy setups can reduce their monthly utility bills by quite a margin. The median monthly bill for homes for electricity without solar is about $130. For homes having solar, the bill is hardly $80. This is why a lot of homeowners go for solar power.
Time to go green
Those who wish to go green can prioritize the environment and sustainability in their homes. Almost 86 percent of homes surveyed that the environment is one of their key concerns why they are considering the use of solar panels.
Though CO2 is produced during the manufacturing of solar panels, installing a complete solar energy setup in homes offsets its generation. It reduces reliance on fossil fuels, reduces a home’s carbon footprint, and motivates buyers to pay a bit more for a green home.
Solar energy is reliable and resilient
No one realizes the true importance of electricity. The desire to have an alternate electricity supply source led many to invest in solar energy (and 84% of them did it due to financial incentives). A large part of the electrical grid in the United States is past its life expectancy.
However, the winter storm that gripped Texas in 2021 cast a shadow over solar energy’s reliability and resilience. Extreme weather conditions where sunlight isn’t abundant require the use of thermal energy. In heatwave having a lot of sunlight, solar energy made a resurgence.
No need to rely completely on utility-generated electricity all the time
Electricity coming from utility companies is becoming expensive for some households. Local power utilities also take time to expand capacities. Most however have started making subsidiaries involving community solar plants. That helps reduce burden, makes electricity affordable, reduces costs, and works as a dispute avoidance method.
