Due to the ever-increasing costs of electricity and gas, not to mention the toll their usage takes on the environment, an increasing number of Sacramento homeowners are making the switch to solar energy.
If you’d like to add solar panels to your Sacramento home to handle your electricity, water heating and/or pool heating, there’s never been a better time than right now to do so. But we understand if you have reservations. After all, adopting solar energy is a serious investment … but one that pays back enticing dividends.
In this article we’ll list five of the top reasons to add solar panels to your home based upon the most common questions prospective adopters ask.
Top 5 Reasons to Add Solar Panels to Your Home
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It’s not as expensive as you might think.
Although the long-term savings of switching to solar energy can be significant, there’s no question that the upfront costs can be, well, a bit pricey. Sure, a solar pool heating system can be installed relatively inexpensively, but photovoltaic systems (which use solar panels to generate your home’s electricity) can easily rise into the tens of thousands of dollars.
However, these upfront costs can be offset in a way through state rebates (such as California’s “Million Solar Roofs, Federal Investment Tax Credit and additional incentives. These all add up to make generating solar energy for your home a less expensive proposition than you might think.
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It’s great for your wallet.
Most people understand that switching to solar energy will save money in utility costs over time. The question isn’t a matter of if you’ll save money, but when. Answering that question depends on a host of factors such as system performance, energy usage and local fuel price, so exact figures are difficult to generate. But a comprehensive study conducted by National Renewable Energy Laboratory calculated that California residents who switch from an electric water heater to a solar alternative would save on average more than $250 dollars annually.
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It’s even better for the environment.
Solar panels will save you plenty of cash on utility bills in the long-term, no question. But for as great as solar energy is for your wallet, it’s even better for the environment. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that, depending on the type of conventional fuel used, switching to a solar heater from an electric water heater can offset the equivalent of anywhere from 40% to 100% of the carbon dioxide emissions of a typical commuter car.
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It’s a surefire way to increase your home’s value.
Worried solar panels will damage or devalue your home? Don’t be. It’s just the opposite, in fact. Installing solar panels on your home can dramatically raise its value. According to a recent article published in Living Green Magazine, homes in California that feature solar panels appreciate at a rate of 55% whereas those without appreciate at just 45%. On top of that, California homeowners who invest in solar panels sell their homes twice as quickly as those neighbors whose homes don’t feature solar panels. If you’re looking for a way to increase your home’s value and make it more salable in a soft housing market, installing solar panels is a surefire way to do that.
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It’s a long-term energy solution.
With proper care and maintenance, solar panels can last up to 40 years! That’s at the far end of the range, yes, but even the average of 25 years of service is very impressive. Oh, and in case you’re wondering what sort of exorbitant costs “proper care and maintenance” entails? You’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that most solar panels can get by with routine soapy water wipe downs. Solar panels are built to last and require very little maintenance, making them an ideal long-term energy solution.
The fact is solar panels are an attractive energy solution for cost-conscious, eco-friendly Sacramento homeowners. And for more than thirty years folks in Sacramento and the surrounding area have turned to Aztec Solar for their residential solar energy solutions.
Over the course of the last three decades, Aztec Solar has built a reputation for being California’s leader in solar panel systems for your home. Whether you’re looking to add solar panels to your home for electricity, water heating or pool heating, Aztec Solar has the solar energy solution that’s right for you.