Why Go Solar?

Go solar: top 10 benefits of solar energy~

There are many reasons why homeowners and business owners go solar,  but improving the environment and cutting energy costs are the most common. Many people are aware that solar is a great energy efficiency upgrade and are eager to reduce their carbon footprint while also  improving the property value.

Whether your motivations for going solar are economic, environmental,  or personal, this sizable list of solar power benefits will have  something for everyone.  

Here are 10 of the top reasons why solar energy is good for your home or business and more popular than ever before throughout the United States.

 The Good News~

Whether you’re a homeowner, business, or nonprofit, electricity costs  can make up a large portion of your monthly expenses. With a solar panel system,  you’ll generate free power for your system’s entire 25+ year life cycle. Even if you don’t produce 100 percent of the energy you  consume, solar will reduce your utility bills and you’ll still save a lot of money, again cost saving can save your day.

Solar panels aren’t an expense – they’re one of the best ways to  invest, with returns rivaling those of more traditional investments like stocks and bonds. Thanks to substantial electricity bill savings, the average American homeowner and business owners will pays off their solar panel system in seven to eight years and see a ROI of 20 percent or more. That's amazing!

One of the most clear cut benefits of solar panels is the ability to hedge utility prices. In the past ten years, residential electricity  prices have gone up by an average of three percent annually. 

By investing in a solar energy system now,  you can fix your electricity rate and protect against unpredictable increases in electricity costs.  If you’re a business or homeowner with fluctuating cash flow, going solar also helps you better forecast and manage your expenses.

Multiple studies have found that homes and business locations equipped with solar energy systems have higher property values and sell more quickly than non-solar homes and businesses. Appraisers are increasingly taking solar installations into consideration as they value homes and business properties at the time of a sale, and as buyers become more educated about solar, demand for properties  equipped with solar panel systems will continue to grow.

The sun is a near-infinite source of energy and a key component of achieving energy independence in the United States. By increasing our capacity to generate electricity from the sun, we can also insulate our country from price fluctuations in global energy markets.

According to The Solar Foundation, the solar industry adds jobs many  times faster than the overall U.S. economy. This growth is expected to continue. Because solar-related jobs tend to be higher paying and cannot  be outsourced, they are a significant contributor to the U.S. economy.

Solar is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Buildings are responsible for 38 percent of all carbon emissions in the U.S., and going solar can significantly decrease that number. 

A typical solar panel system will eliminate three to four tons of  carbon emissions each year—the equivalent of planting over 100 trees annually. 

Sustainability and corporate social responsibility are important  components of an organization’s culture and values. They also produce bottom line results. Increasingly, consumers and communities are recognizing and rewarding businesses that choose to operate responsibly.  Businesses are finding that “green” credentials are a powerful driver  of consumer purchasing decisions, creating goodwill and improving  business results.

Just like consumers, employees have a demonstrated appreciation for their employers’ commitment to operating responsibility. Employees share in the success and contributions of their organizations. Companies that care about their community and environment tend to have lower turnover rates, more engaged employees, and higher levels of morale.

Companies quickly are realizing the social and economic benefits of  adopting solar power. As early adopters pull ahead of the competition,  many companies are exploring solar power as a way to keep up.

Go Sustainable~

Now, The Bad News~

Our current energy system is unsustainable, unjust, and harming communities, workers, the environment and the climate. This is fundamentally an issue of power of corporate and elite power and interests outweighing the power of ordinary citizens and communities.

The destructive energy sources on which the world current relies on are driving climate change and many social and environmental problems and conflicts, including land grabbing, pollution, deforestation and the destruction of ecosystems, human rights abuses, health problems and premature deaths, and unsafe, insecure jobs and the rupture and collapse of local economies.