Using Solar at Home - Pros and Cons to Consider

Using solar energy at home has many advantages, but that doesn’t come without risk or compensation along the way. Here we evaluate the many pros and cons of having solar energy at your home.

Using Solar Energy At Home: 6 Pros & Cons You Need To Know

We all know that the climate of our Earth has been changing in a very rapid manner. The temperatures are rising that cause heat waves in multiple regions. Some regions in the third world countries have been battling with the epidemic of the shortage of water.

All of these factors point to one solution that we all must focus on before it is too late. That solution is to conserve our natural resources and not let them go to waste!

The concept of solar energy is not new and has been around for years. It is something that makes sure that none of the energy is wasted, but in fact, conserved.

The sun rays reach our Earth every day without any cost. It is wise to use that energy for the betterment of our own environment.

Solar energy works by converting the energy from the sun into electricity for homes/offices. Consider our sun to be as powerful as a nuclear reactor. Only in this, the entire process is natural.

A nuclear reactor contains an immense amount of energy, so we can only imagine how much energy the sun radiates. The sun releases tiny packets of energy that travel from the sun to Earth in every hour of the day, there is energy in those tiny packets that can satisfy the global energy needs of electricity for a year at least.

We already know how many underdeveloped nations are still fighting to provide electricity to their towns and cities. Solar energy can be the answer to that crisis. It doesn’t take much of our resources and provides us with enough electricity.

Are you thinking about using solar energy for your own home? You should keep reading this article to find out six benefits and disadvantages that come with the package.

And if you want to learn how to get started check out our guide to building your own DIY solar system.

Pros of Solar Energy at Home

1. It Is Cost-Effective

The biggest and foremost benefit of installing solar panels for your home is its cost-effectiveness. It is not as expensive as the usual electricity, and that is a plus for most people.

Using solar energy means you have to rely less on utilities for the production of electricity. That makes your monthly bills decrease (which can be a lot). You can also earn a credit on your statement.

Many electricity companies pay their customers to use the panels for the energy they may not use in a month. In that way, you can make money off the solar panels. However, such companies only exist in a limited number of countries.

To find out if this fact was actually true, a Clean Energy Technology Center in North Carolina did a report on the subject. Their findings supported the claim and were supported by the SunShot initiative. That initiative is a financed solar system.

You can find out the costs of solar panels and installation in your state beforehand to have a full picture of the expenses. So for example if you are living in Illinois, you should search about solar power Illinois to find out about the costs involved.

2. It Is Renewable And Clean Energy

The second benefit of solar energy is that it is clean energy. While one may argue that solar panels also generate pollution, that emissions are only limited to the manufacturing process and not after that.

As we mentioned above, climate change is real, and the harmful gasses are causing most of it. Power plants and factories emit these gasses. These gasses are harmful to the environment and the ozone layer as they are causing the rise in temperature.

Solar energy is a cleaner alternative to conventional energy sources. Solar panels do not emit any kind of gases, which is a huge advantage.

Once you set up your solar panel, you can sleep peacefully knowing that you are not playing a part in negatively impacting our climate and atmosphere. You may need to continue to test your solar panels over time.

See Related: Top Solar Installation Jobs

3. Your Home’s Value Will Be Increased

Solar panels are well-known, but they are still incredibly rare if you compare the number of the population who actually uses them. Due to many benefits, solar panels can increase the value of your house, and it should not come as a surprise. Many studies have been conducted, and they found that installing solar panels for your home can increase the market value of the house.

More buyers are interested because that will also save them the hassle of going through the installation process.

At the moment, you may not see it as a benefit, but in the longer run, it can be incredibly profitable for you. Whenever you decide to move out of your house or move to a different town, you will be able to earn some extra cash.

4. Solar Panels Are Not Noisy

If you have seen any solar panels, you will have observed that they do not consist of many parts other than their huge plates. That implies that there is no machinery involved.

We all know how comfortable and annoying it can be when there is a constant noise in your house. Some people who have to use generators for long time periods will understand this dilemma.

With solar panels, you might as well forget that you have something on your roof that is constantly producing energy. Many people prefer solar panels over wind turbines.

Wind turbines also produce clean energy, but there is so much noise around them that it can be hard to hang out in the area. That is why you will notice all the wind turbines are located in farms etc.

5. Solar Is Accessible In Remote Areas

There are many remote areas in the world where it is almost impossible to access clean water and electricity. These areas are mostly found in underdeveloped countries, but that doesn’t diminish the importance of the crisis. The good thing about solar panels is that they don’t rely on anything.

Whether there are nuclear plants near the area or not, the solar panels work independently and only need to be installed.

There are many rural areas where people have understood the gravity of the situation and have installed their very own solar panels.

They produce clean energy, and there are no electricity blackouts in the house anymore.

See Related: Solar Panel Insurance Guide

6. You Can Use Solar Energy For Different Purposes

Did you know that you use solar energy for diverse purposes? You have the option to generate electricity or heat, whatever you want.

You can also use solar energy to produce electricity in those areas that do not have access to the energy grid. This means that these areas are in need of a number of resources, including clean water. Without the energy grid, solar energy makes it possible to distill water in areas that have a limited clean water supply.

Solar energy is more than capable of powering satellites in space. You can also integrate the energy into the materials that are needed for buildings. A little while ago, transparent solar energy windows were introduced by some companies as well.

Consider these best solar panels for your home to get started living more sustainably.

Cons of Solar Energy at Home

1.      Can Be Expensive When You Install Solar Panels

While solar panels definitely provide you with a cheaper alternative, at the time of installation they can cost you a lot of money. The more you need energy, the more will be the installation cost.

The cost of the entire installation process will include paying for solar panels, solar powered batteries, wiring, inverter, and lastly, for the installation.

On the bright side, the government can give you credits for adding the solar panels, and there are some providers that aim to fund your installation. However, these options are not available to everyone. For some, reducing the costs of solar panels is not an option.

The installation procedure and funding depends on where you live and what your payment plan is. In a way, your energy savings could be equal to your monthly payment.

However, because solar technology is constantly growing, there are chances that the costs may come down in the coming years.

See Related: How Community Solar Works to Save You Money

2.      They Depend On The Weather In Terms Of Energy Production

This is one of the biggest cons of solar panels. We all know that the entire concept of solar energy depends upon the energy of the sun. The solar panels convert the solar energy into energy that you can use at your own home.

However, what happens when it is cloudy or rainy? It can be worse if you are living in an area that naturally has harsh weather (it is almost always rainy).

While the clouds don’t actually hinder the process of energy production, it can slow it down considerably. This naturally means that you already have a limited time to collect solar energy as it cannot be done at night. Follow our guide to understand how solar panels perform in weather conditions.

Out of the remaining time, if it starts to rain or gets cloudy, it can really affect the productivity of your solar panels. That is why we recommend weighing your options in case you are colder regions.

3.      Solar Panels Use Up A Lot Of Space

For those of you who have large energy needs, this can pose a challenge. The more energy you need, the more space your solar panels will require.

Even the best solar PV panels need a lot of space. In some cases, the roofs are not big enough. If you have a small roof that cannot fit the number of solar panels that you need, it can become problematic quickly.

What is the point of installing solar panels if they cannot fulfill your energy needs? In the end, it may end in more loss than profit.

An alternative way to this problem is that you can install some of the panels in your yard. That option has its own challenges.

If your yard does not get sufficient sunlight, you are out of options. If your energy needs are not much, a smaller roof will not be a problem.

See Related: Best Solar Panel Monitoring Systems

4.      The pollution can affect your solar panels’ productivity

Just like the weather, the pollution in your area can also hinder the conversation of solar energy. When there is air pollution, your solar cells will be less effective. This can prove to be a major con for organizations that want to introduce solar panels in areas that have a high level of air pollution.

See how to clean your solar panels to ensure you get maximum production.

5.      Storing Solar Energy Can Also Be Expensive

Something you need to know about solar energy is that it has to be used right away. If it is not used, the energy can be stored in large batteries. You can charge these batteries during the day so that you can use the energy at night.

This is a viable option for those who want to use solar energy the entire day. However, it comes with its own disadvantage.

Storing energy is quite expensive, and not everyone can afford it. In the case where the user cannot spend so much money on energy storage, he can use solar energy during the day, and during the night, take energy from the grid. That is only possible if the system is connected to the grid.

Normally, for people, their energy demand is higher during the day. That means you can meet the needs of your solar energy. Consider using these batteries for solar to dispatch your energy at night or any time of the day.

See Related: Are Solar Panels a Fire Risk?

6.      Can Produce Pollution Initially

The pollution that is produced by solar energy systems is far less when you compare it with the other sources of energy. Nevertheless, the chances of pollution are still there.

During the process of transportation and installation of solar systems, it has been noted that there is some emission of greenhouse gasses. Even though the chances are eliminated after installation is complete, there is still emission of harmful gases.

The manufacturing process also includes the use of some toxic materials and hazardous products. These products can negatively affect the environment.

While the usage of solar energy may seem ideal, just like anything else, it has its own pros and cons. Consider all your options and analyze your energy needs.

Find out how profitable this endeavor can be and make a well-informed decision for your home!

Related Resources

Author Bio:

Louis Paulson is a graduate of California University and is currently working on his dream project of creating organic energy mixes. In his leisure time, he likes to write about climate change, energy, and cleantech. To read more of his blogs, you can visit http://headlinesolar.com/.

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