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A growing number of homeowners are investing in solar panels to reduce their energy bills and lower their carbon footprint. Despite their popularity, there are still many myths and misconceptions surrounding solar power. This post provides a few facts about solar panels to help provide a better understanding of what they can do and when they are a suitable investment.
They generate electricity even when it’s cloudy
Some people still assume that you need a clear sky in order to generate electricity from solar panels. However, this isn’t true at all – even on the most overcast days, solar panels will still generate power. The only time they don’t generate power is at night or if they are covered in snow. This means that they are still suitable for most climates.
They can add value to your home
Solar panels can not just save you money on your energy bills – they can also help create value by boosting the price tag of your home. This added value is often more than you will spend to install them. This makes getting solar panels a worthy investment whether you plan to live at your current home for many years or whether you plan to move.
You can sell your excess energy
If you have lots of solar panels on your property, you could end up generating more power than you actually need. This excess power doesn’t have to go to waste. In fact, you can sell it through net metering programs or solar buyback programs. This means that you could potentially make money out of your solar panels.
You can lease solar panels
A lot of people cannot afford the high upfront costs of solar panels. However, there is an alternative solution: solar panel leasing. This involves a third party installing and maintaining solar panels and paying them a monthly fee to use the electricity generated from their panels. No need to buy panels yourself. Just make sure that the monthly fees are worth the energy savings – otherwise you may as well continue to run your power off the grid.
Planning permission is often not required
In many areas, solar panels are considered a permitted development – you do not have to get permission from local authorities to install them. The exception may be on certain historic properties or homes in conservation areas. This is a perk to consider when weighing up whether to install panels.
They are not suitable for all roofs
If you’ve got an old roof that is poorly supported or in poor condition, it may not be suitable to install solar panels. While some modern panels are quite light, others are very heavy and may end up causing a weak roof to collapse. It is a good idea to get a roofing company to inspect your roof beforehand to determine whether it can take the weight of solar panels. There are improvements that can be made to strengthen your roof in order to make it suitable for solar panel installation.
*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.