Modern households rely heavily on electricity. From powering the dishwasher to heating and cooling the home, it’s clear that energy consumption isn’t being significantly reduced. In many cases, it’s increasing. That’s why so many home and business owners in and around Monterey Bay, California are considering solar power as an alternative to conventional sources of energy. Here are the top five reasons why solar power is likely better than the conventional source that you’re using now.
#1 Solar Energy Is Clean Energy
Homes and businesses throughout the country are powered using fossil fuel energy sources. Petroleum, coal, and natural gas are the main types of fossil fuels that are used. Fossil fuels are known to contribute to air pollution and respiratory illnesses when they are burned for energy. Over the years, California has been proactive about reducing its toxic emissions. It primarily uses natural gas, which is the cleanest burning fossil fuel.
Natural gas is far better for the environment than burning coal and oil for power. However, it still isn’t the best option for California’s growing energy requirements. Natural gas produces methane, which is a greenhouse gas. California has plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.
Solar energy is a clean source of power that doesn’t emit greenhouse gases when it’s collected or used. It’s an alternative energy power source that can keep Monterey’s air cleaner and help California to achieve its emissions reduction goals early.
#2 Solar Energy Is More Cost Effective
The oil and gas industry in the United States is worth over $180 billion. Much of this revenue comes from the rising prices of natural gas and oil for business and residential use. The price of California’s natural gas is impacted by the cost of the gas itself and the costs to transmit and distribute it. If the gas is extracted from a nearby source and there’s enough volume to meet the area’s needs, then the price will remain stable. When supplies run low, gas must be transported through long-distance pipelines and stored at off-site facilities. The resulting price of natural gas skyrockets.
Solar energy is free energy that anyone can collect and use as a residential or commercial power supply. Producers of solar power must pay for solar panels, storage systems, and power converters. However, the costs to produce usable solar energy are much lower than those paid to extract, transport, and process fossil fuels. Transmission and distribution costs are low for solar energy systems since no special pipelines are needed to transport the energy to and from homes and businesses.
Solar energy is free. It’s also abundant in Monterey. Installing photovoltaic systems in this region allows property owners to lower their monthly utility bills. Recent design and manufacturing improvements have resulted in more durable solar panels and storage systems. These low-maintenance features drive down the total cost of ownership for solar energy systems. As a result, these systems pay for themselves after some years of use.
In addition to saving money on your monthly electric bills, some solar energy systems allow you to make money. That’s right. Your solar panels can collect more power than your household needs. You can often sell the surplus energy back to the utility company. The process is called net metering.
#3 Solar Installation with Premo Solar Increases Property Value
If you’re like most Californians, you believe that owning a home is a dream come true. Your home is a significant, long-term investment and adding to its value with a solar installation is something worth considering. This is particularly important if you plan to put your home on the market in the future.
Home shoppers love homes that have pre-installed solar energy systems. These systems lower monthly electric bills without buyers having to cut back on energy consumption. They’ll envision unlimited air condition use, adequate power for the ultimate home office, and ample electricity to run all of their children’s electronic games and gadgets.
Getting a residential solar installation in the Monterey Bay area allows you to offer buyers the carefree lifestyle that they crave. When the real estate market is slow, you’ll be able to get your asking price in record time.
Installing solar panels on a commercial property has many benefits as well. Buyers consider photovoltaic systems to be valuable because of reduced monthly energy bills and the ability to attract desirable tenants. Contact Premo Solar, your local commercial solar company.
#4 Solar Power Decreases Reliance on Utility Companies
Solar energy systems reduce property owners’ reliance on fossil fuels and on utility companies overall. Utility companies are under pressure to make an adequate supply of energy available to millions of households and businesses. When they fail, power outages leave vulnerable people in uncomfortable and sometimes life-threatening situations.
You can choose a solar energy system that allows you to keep your home or business powered even during a catastrophic event. When your utility company temporarily shuts down the grid, you’ll want a solar panel setup that has islanding capability. Use solar energy that you collect to power just your home or business when the grid is down. This system basically isolates your property into its own microgrid that’s powered by the solar energy that you collect.
#5 Tax Credits and Incentives
Switching from conventional to renewable energy is incentivized by the government via tax credits and rebates. In California, single-family homeowners in disadvantaged communities get up front rebates when they install photovoltaic systems. The program is called Disadvantaged Communities Single-Family Solar Homes or DAC-SASH. Its $10 million of funding is expected to last until 2030.
Commercial property owners qualify for the federal government’s solar investment tax credit. The federal income tax credit covers 10% to 30% of the cost of a corporation’s solar energy system.
Want to know more about tax credits and incentives for solar power systems in Monterey, Santa Cruz, or Salinas? Call Premo Solar – knowledgeable solar installers.
Conclusion
Advances in technology continue to make life interesting for everyone. Society needs reliable energy sources to power everything from smart home theaters to sophisticated commercial security systems. In sun-drenched California, solar power fits the bill at this time.
