Understanding the Benefits of Residential Solar
Unlock three essential factors of transitioning to residential solar: cost savings, environmental impact, and increased home resale value. Learn why going solar is a win-win for homeowners and the planet.
Key Takeaways
Solar has an essential role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change.
The lifespan of solar panels are designed to last for decades.
Investing in rooftop solar can significantly enhance the value of your home.
Before transitioning to clean energy, it’s crucial to understand the numerous benefits of rooftop solar and how they affect you. While there are a number of advantages to adopting rooftop solar, we spotlight three key factors that benefit homeowners’ wallets and positively impact on our environment.
Environmental Benefit of Going Solar
Solar energy plays an essential role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, “An average U.S. household uses 830 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. On average, producing 1000 kWh of electricity with solar power reduces emissions by nearly 8 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 5 pounds of nitrogen oxides, and more than 1,400 pounds of carbon dioxide. During its projected 28 years of clean energy production, a rooftop system with 2-year payback and meeting half of a household’s electricity use would avoid conventional electrical plant emissions of more than half a ton of sulfur dioxide, one-third a ton of nitrogen oxides, and 100 tons of carbon dioxide.” In other words, producing 1000 kWh of electricity with solar power reduces emissions by approximately 70.65%.
Simply put, going solar is good for the environment.
Longevity of Solar Panels
The lifespan of solar panels is designed to last for decades.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), solar panels typically have a lifespan ranging from 20 to 30 years. To safeguard your investment, solar panels often include warranties ensuring their performance for 25 to 30 years.
This warranty assures that the panels will maintain a certain percentage (typically around 80-90%) of their original power output after the specified number of years. However, many solar panels continue to produce electricity well beyond their warranty period, extending the lifespan of solar production.
The durability of solar panels ensures reliable energy production and a significant return on investment over time.
Benefits to Home Resale Value
Investing in residential solar not only results in monthly utility bill savings but may also boost the value of your home.
A Department of Energy study found that installing solar panels can increase the resale value of a home by up to $15,000.
Forbes recently reported, “every dollar that a solar panel saves you on your electrical bills increases the value of your home by $20.”
The real estate marketplace Zillow shared that “homes with solar panels sell for 4.1% more than those without them.”
Investing in rooftop solar can enhance the value of your largest investment: your home.
It’s important to understand residential solar before transitioning to clean energy. Solar lowers emissions, lasts decades, and enhances the home value of your home. It's a sustainable investment, offering both economic and environmental advantages for homeowners.
Still deciding if rooftop solar is right for you? The articles below provide important insights that will help you make an informed choice:
Ready to make the switch? Contact your local solar installer to ask if they offer GoodLeap financing.
