Are Solar Panels Right for My Home?
As the land of sunshine and smiles, Florida definitely gets its fair share of sunny weather. As a homeowner, you may be wondering if this is something that you can use to your advantage when it comes to your home’s energy? With the emergence of solar power as a helpful energy tool, more and more people are installing solar panels on their homes. The question that comes next: are solar panels the right option for your home? This article will discuss what to consider when it comes to making this choice.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
Let’s start with the basics: solar panels, while not new, are still a bit confusing to many. We’ll keep it simple and say that solar panels contain cells that take in the sunlight that hits them and convert that to electricity. This energy comes in a direct current, which requires being converted to the alternating current that most electrical systems use with an inverter that is connected between the panels and your power grid. Some of these systems will also include a battery bank for backup power. Solar power is considered a green energy source, so it’s better for the environment…and sometimes better for your wallet!
Which Homes Benefit from Solar Panels?
Now, solar panels can be helpful to anyone but there are some instances where they make more sense. Let’s take a look at some of the big things that can impact how beneficial solar panels would be for your home.
- Location Matters: If you live somewhere with plenty of sunlight, that is good. The closer to the equator, the more powerful that sun will be, too. That makes Florida a good state for solar power. If your home is somewhere with a lot of tree cover or lots of tall buildings overshadowing it, those solar panels won’t be nearly as helpful. You need to keep in mind how much light hits your roof where the panels would go.
- Weather: True, Florida can get some powerful sun…but it also gets some powerful storms that could damage your solar panels when they roll through. If you know that your home sits in a storm path, then maybe solar panels aren’t right for your home. Either way, Florida homeowners should opt for a solar panel system that comes with an extended warranty, just to be safe.
- Financial Component: This is a big one, as installing solar panels and all of their accessories is not a cheap process. If you live in an area where electricity is more expensive, then solar panels may be more helpful. You should also consider if there are any tax benefits, such as incentive programs that offer credits to install solar panels. Another cool thing about Florida is that they have some pretty great buy-back rates with solar power, meaning that you can sell any solar energy you don’t use back to the power company and get money back!
While solar panels can be a major benefit in the sunny land of Florida, that won’t be the case for every home. It’s all about location and the surrounding area, so before you make the choice to add solar panels to your home you will need to consider that. We hope you have found something helpful in this article! The main takeaway we want you to have is that Florida residents can do very well with solar panels if they can afford the upfront costs and their roof gets plenty of sunlight. Take all that we’ve shared into consideration and remember to do your research and shop around for the best deal.
If you are looking to have a custom home built here in Charlotte County reach out to us. We can help you design a house for your family and lifestyle. If solar panels and being green and self sufficient is important to you, it’s important to us. We look forward to working with you.
