Solar Panels: Pros, Cost, and Their Environmental Impact

29.03.2019 GREEN LIVING 0.0 0

solar power

Photo by American Public Power Association on Unsplash

Solar is a cost-effective alternative to fossil fuels. Not only does solar energy help save the environment, but it also comes with a wide range of economic benefits. By that calculation, solar energy is a win-win for both our planet and our budgets.

If you are considering installing a solar energy system on your home or commercial business, you may already have had your share of encounters with solar marketing. It’s not uncommon to see a few spam ads promising free solar panels or a salesman knocking on your door, ready to convince you to go solar.

However, before you make a decision, it is essential for you to learn about the real pros of solar energy.

What Do I Get for Going Solar?

Drastically reduce or entirely eliminate your electric bills

This benefit of going solar is pretty straightforward and a top reason why homeowners decide to go solar. When you install a solar power array on your rooftop, you reduce your dependency on electric utilities and cut down your electric bill. A solar panel typically works for 25-35 years, which means you can reap cost benefits for decades to come by going solar today. The cost of solar panel installation is continually dropping across our nation, including in Minnesota. Explore solar panel installers to learn about competitive rates.

Increase the value of your home

Some homeowners hold off on residential solar installation Minnesota because they are planning to sell their property and move to a new home. Even if that is the case, homeowners can earn their investment back by installing a solar array on their home. One of the top pros of solar panel system installation is that property value increases after solar is installed. So, even if you plan on moving in the future, you can see substantial returns because of your solar panel installation when selling your home.

Get paid in the form of incentives/rebates

Due to various incentive programs in the US, solar panels can earn money for you while you also earn returns from them. As per your state policies, you can get bill credits or even extra cash for producing energy for your consumption. In Minnesota, the top three solar incentives include sales tax exemption, net metering, and the Federal Investment Tax Credit. Homeowners can leverage these benefits and expect both immediate and long-term investments from their solar investment.

solar panels

The Cost of Solar Panel Installation

You might wonder how much it would cost you to install a solar panel system of an appropriate size on your house or commercial building.

As of March 2019, the average cost per watt in Minnesota is $4.03. A 6000-watt solar system would cost you $24,164 before claiming an incentive and $16,915 after claiming the federal solar tax credit.

For a system size of 4 kW, you would need a rooftop space of 267 sq/ft and you would shell out $11,921 after claiming the tax credit. The average national cost of solar panels is $3.93 per watt, and a 6kW system costs $16,727 after claiming the tax credit.

Factors that affect the cost of complete solar panel system installation in Minnesota and all over the US include:

The location of the home or business concerning the availability of sunlight.
The amount of electricity a home or building uses.
The type of solar panel you install might also change how much you pay for a complete system installation. This is because of a wide gap in the pricing of branded and less well-known brands that sell solar panels.
The difficulty or ease of solar panel installation on your premise.

Solar panel installation might look overwhelming at first glance, but with the right solar panel installation company, the process can be painless. Solar panels impact the environment positively and help you do your part for the planet by reducing your carbon emissions.

Go green and install solar to help create a cleaner future.

Guest post by Rob Appelhof

About the Author

Rob Appelhof is President and CEO at Cedar Creek Energy. Cedar Creek Energy is a solar company in Minnesota for turnkey Commercial and Residential solar solution, EPC services, LED-lighting and retrofitting operation and maintenance (O & M) of existing systems, and other renewable energy solutions.