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IT'S TIME TO DEBUNK
SOLAR MYTHS
Solar is growing bigger than ever, and yet many people are still confused about what solar energy is and if it is actually a good alternative source of energy.
We want to educate you by debunking the most common solar myths now and offer you relief with the following solar facts.
But first, check out how solar energy works below, so you can have a basic understanding of solar technology.
HOW SOLAR WORKS
Solar technology isn't as complicated as it seems
- Solar energy was used as early as 7th century B.C. when humans used to start fires with a magnifying glass.
- But, it wasn't until 1839 that the photo-voltaic effect was discovered by French physicist, A.E. Becquerel.
- In 1905, Albert Einstein published a paper about the photoelectric effect, and brought solar power into the world's spotlight.
- Since then, new technology has been developed to further improve solar energy's effectiveness.
Check out our diagram below for a simple explanation
of the modern science behind solar energy today.
Solar panels absorb energy from the sun in the form of photons. Which cause electrons to generate direct current (DC) electricity that flows into an inverter.
Inverters convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity, which then flows into an electrical panel.
AC power gets distributed to your home or business for use. Any excess energy will go through your utility meter and go to the utility grid.
Your net meter keeps track of how much energy you draw from the grid and how much you send to the grid every month.
Whenever you send more than you use, you get solar credits that will offset your utility grid usage costs, which means more FREE power for you!
is solar worth it?
Find out below while we debunk the most popular solar myths
"solar energy isn't Worth the Price."
DEBUNKED
- Solar is more efficient and cost-effective now than ever before.
- Solar panel efficiency ratings are over 20% and the cost to install solar has dropped more than 70% over the last decade.
- The average home will now save between $10k-30k over the lifetime of a solar panel system.
Decades ago, solar energy didn't make sense, the first useful silicon solar panel made in 1954 was only 6% efficient.
Today, the most efficient solar panels on the market, have efficiency ratings as high as 22.8% and new technology is underway for as much as 30% efficiency.
The cost to install solar has dropped by more than 70% over the last decade, leaving the average price per watt now from $2.57 to $3.35.
Though solar is a significant investment up front, it proves to be well worth it in the long run. Over 25 years, going solar costs less than half what you'd pay the utility to produce the same amount of energy.
To give you an example, the average home can save between $10,000 and $30,000 over the lifetime of a solar panel system.
"Solar energy doesn't work At night."
DEBUNKED
- Solar energy systems can be installed with an optional battery storage system
- A solar battery allows you to harness and store the sun’s energy for later use like during the nighttime or for an emergency like an outage
- Battery storage systems are growing so much in popularity that by 2023, 90% of residential solar systems will include battery storage.
- Yes you can use solar energy after the sun sets! Your Solar Grids® solar energy system comes with an optional battery storage system that will allow you to harness and store the sun’s abundant energy.
- Solar panels that are installed with battery storage maximize your energy capacity, giving you greater control over your energy needs, including being able to harness solar energy at night!
- How they work is that during the daytime, surplus electricity created by your Solar Grids® system will be stored in your solar battery, until you need it later, like for an emergency such as an outage, or to be used during the night time.
- Battery storage systems are growing so much in popularity that by 2023, 90% of residential solar systems will include battery storage.
"We should keep relying on the grid."
DEBUNKED
- Electric grids are extremely antique and highly vulnerable to terrorist hacking
- The national grid dates back to 1882 and to replace it would cost $5 trillion
- The grid is regularly prone to outages due to infrastructure issues that result from squirrels, fallen tree limbs, and bad weather.
Electric companies are fighting an unwinnable battle: their electric grid systems are ANTIQUE and vulnerable to TERRORIST HACKING.
The national grid is more than a hundred years old (dates back to 1882) and to replace it would cost almost $5 trillion.
Out of sight for most, the grid only comes to public attention when there are large-scale failures, such as the blackout that struck the Northeast in 2003.
The grid has severe infrastructure issues; it is regularly prone to outages and blackouts due to squirrels, fallen tree limbs, and bad weather.
"I can't control my solar energy costs."
DEBUNKED
- Over the past decade residential electricity has increased by around 15%.
- The only way to control your energy usage and costs is through having a Private Solar Grid®
- You can lock in your energy rates from Day One and keep track of usage and costs through the Solar Grids® mobile app.
Over the past decade, national electricity costs have increased at a rate of approximately 2.2% per year, and residential electricity has increased by around 15%.
The time is now to take power back into your hands and have control of your energy usage and costs.
Buying a Private Solar Grid® gives you energy freedom by having complete autonomy over your energy management system.
You can lock in your energy rates from Day One and keep track of your solar energy usage and costs through the simple Solar Grid® mobile app.
Never receive an unexpected energy bill again!
"solar panel installation is too complicated."
debunked
- Solar panels will be installed in under one day by a professional Solar Grids® team and will leave your home in the exact same condition it was found in.
- Solar panels will not ruin the aesthetic of your home (as they're strategically placed) or lower your property value.
- In fact, for every $1 in annual electricity bill savings that solar panels provide, home resale values go up an average of $20.
Solar panels will be installed in under one day by a professional Solar Grids® team and will leave your home in the exact same condition it was found in.
Solar panels will not ruin the aesthetic of your home (as they're strategically placed) or lower your property value.
In fact, the Appraisal Institute found that for every $1 in annual electricity bill savings that solar panels provide, home resale values go up an average of $20.
For example, installing 5kW of solar panels adds an average of $29,555 to the retail value of a medium-sized home (average increase in home value varies from state to state).
"Solar Energy Isn't enough to make a difference."
DEBUNKED
- Solar energy offsets fossil fuel production and reduces greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide (CO2).
- A typical solar energy system generates about 7,100 kWh of energy, which offsets about 5.3 metric tons of CO2 per year
- A vehicle emits about 4.7 metric tons of (CO2) every year, which means for every solar energy system installed, you are taking a car off the road!
Financial returns are a major incentive for going solar, but money isn’t the only thing that solar panels save...
As soon as you start producing energy with Solar Grids®, you are offsetting fossil fuel production and reducing greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide (CO2).
A typical 5 kW solar energy system will generate about 7,100 kWh of energy per year, which offsets about 5.3 metric tons of CO2 every year.
For context, a vehicle emits about 4.7 metric tons of (CO2) every year, so it can be said that for every solar energy system installed, you are taking a car off the road!
Producing solar energy not only helps you save money, but you will also do your part in saving the planet.
"Solar energy capacity isn't high enough."
debunked
- In April 2019, renewables totaled 21.56% of U.S generating capacity, which was a first in American history, as it finally totaled more than coal production. As for just solar energy, 25% of total new power plant capacity came from solar in 2017.
- When your site is being analyzed for Solar Grids® installation, our team will calculate how many solar panels you need to cover your total energy needs.
- On average, a U.S. household needs a 6.62 kW solar system to match the 9,000 kWh of average energy usage by U.S. households each year.
Solar energy and renewables are generating more electricity now than ever before.
In fact, as of April 2019, for the first time in U.S. history, renewable energy generated more electricity than coal did; renewables totaled 21.56% of U.S generating capacity, compared to coal's capacity of 21.55% of capacity.
As for just solar energy, solar accounted for 2.6% of U.S. electrical generation in 2019 and in 2018, around 66.6 billion kilowatt hours of solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) power were generated, and in 2017, 25% of total new power plant capacity came from solar.
Electricity generation from renewable energy sources will rise from a share of 17% last year to 20% in 2020
A common size solar panel array is usually around 5kW and produces an average of 350-850 kWh of energy per month.
When your site is being analyzed for Solar Grids® installation, our team will calculate how many solar panels you need to cover your total energy needs.
The average energy needs of a U.S. household is a 6.62 kW solar system to match the 9,000 kWh of average energy usage by U.S. households each year.
"investing in solar energy is expensive."
debunked
- With the Federal ITC (Investment Tax Credit) you can deduct 26% of your residential solar energy system cost from your taxes, if installed before January 1st, 2021.
- However, if you installed solar panels for your business, the Business Energy Tax Credit offers a 30% tax deduction, if your solar energy system is installed before December 31st, 2021.
- Depending on the state you install solar in, you can also benefit from local incentives like net metering, which allows you to offset your monthly electricity bills
Installing solar has a multitude of incentives; they can reduce your Solar Grids net costs anywhere from 26 to 50%!
The Federal ITC (Investment Tax Credit) credit is the biggest incentive you can take advantage of! You can deduct 26% of your residential solar energy system cost from your taxes, if installed before January 1st, 2021.
However, if you installed solar panels for your business, the Business Energy Tax Credit offers a 30% tax deduction, if your solar energy system is installed before December 31st, 2021.
Businesses can also take advantage of the Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS), a deprecation method that accelerated depreciation method in which the IRS allows businesses to depreciate the actual cost of a PV system
Depending on the state you install solar in, you can also benefit from local incentives like net metering
Net metering allows you to offset your electricity bills, depending on how much solar energy was produced for the month. Which basically means you save a lot of money each month!
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