7 Facts About Solar Energy That Might Surprise You
You probably know a little about solar energy such as that it derives its energy from the sun and that solar panels most often are installed in an array on people’s roofs. These are only a few of the many facts about this amazing, fast-growing form of energy. Here are seven more solar facts, some of which might surprise you.
1. Solar power is forever abundant
No matter how many electrical power plants humans build, we’ll never come close to matching to awesome power or lifespan of the sun. If we could harness all the power from the sunlight that hits the earth in a single hour, we would have enough energy for all living people for a whole year. The sun will always be here, therefore so will solar energy.
2. Solar panel prices have seen huge drops in recent years
The cost per watt of a solar cell was $77 in 1977. Today, it’s .21 cents per watt. Many industry experts believe that the overall cost of a solar installation will never be less than it is now, simply because there’s little room for prices to go down much further.
3. The federal government will pay you if you go solar now
The solar Investment Tax Credit is a federal incentive that will let you deduct from your income taxes 30% of the cost of a new solar installation. But don’t wait too long – the percentage drops to 26 in 2020 and to 22 in 2021. After that, the credit is scheduled to expire.
4. Your solar installation will provide decades of service
While solar system warranties normally cover 20 to 25 years, most solar panel arrays last much longer. You should expect 40 or 50 or more years of service from a quality solar installation. That’s a lot of free energy for a long time.
5. Solar works just fine in cold weather
Solar panels absorb sunlight, not heat. As long as there’s sun, your solar panels will produce energy. And speaking of sunlight, contrary to popular misconceptions, most areas within the U.S. receive enough annual sunlight to make solar a viable source of energy for homes and businesses.
6. Solar is a super-clean energy
When you power your home or business with solar panels, you’re doing absolutely nothing negative to our environment. On the other hand, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, production of traditional electricity in generating plants in 2018 added 1,763 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to our atmosphere.
7. Solar panels are low-maintenance
Not only do solar panels perform for decades, they require very little maintenance during their lifespan. Periodic hosing off is about all the system owner needs to do, assuming rain and melting snow don’t remove any debris or dust that has accumulated.
Burlington Fireplace & Solar of Burlington, WI, can help you learn all about the numerous advantages of switching to solar energy. We’re Wisconsin’s solar experts, and we’re ready to help you start saving money by creating your own energy (with a little help from the sun!). Call us today at (262) 763-3522.