As homeowners, we’re always looking for ideas or things that can improve the way our home looks and functions. For many of us, a key concern is how much energy we use each day. You’ve received your monthly utility bill, and it seems to get bigger and bigger. Modern society almost demands that we use a lot of electronic equipment, so how on earth can we solve this problem?
The solution is easier than expected; try solar energy. You can install solar panels on your home, harnessing the power of the sun. On the face of it, this is very advantageous and will benefit you greatly. Still, it’s important to view both sides of the argument before investing in solar panels for your home. I have thought about it long and hard researching and here is what I have found.
Pro: Save a lot of money
A big advantage of installing solar panels is that they will help you save money. Effectively, you are your own energy farm, storing energy from the sun and converting it to electricity for your home. This can supplement your current utility provider, or you may generate enough to be 100% solar powered. Either way, you get free energy, so you save lots of money every month.
Con: Expensive to install
Installing solar panels can be pretty expensive, though you should see these expenses as an investment. Nevertheless, if you have a tight budget, you might find it hard to afford the installation costs. Thus, you need to get a loan and end up in debt. It’s a lot of hassle and can put you in a tricky financial situation. Instead, you could consider things like community solar where you take advantage of the benefits of solar energy without needing to pay for panel installations on your house.
Pro: Green energy for your home
Again, an obvious pro is that you get green energy for your home. This reduces your carbon footprint and lets you feel good about doing your bit for the environment. You could argue that, if everyone used solar panels on their homes, we might not be dealing with global climate issues anymore! Seriously though, if you want your home to be more eco-friendly, solar panels are one of the best ways to do just that.
Con: Can be unsightly
The problem with solar panels is that they don’t always look great. Granted, you have cool things like the Tesla solar roof that do look really good. However, a lot of panels can stick out like a sore thumb and make your home look a lot worse. Especially if you’re in an area with quite old and traditional homes – the panels just look a bit ridiculous. In turn, this could actually drive the value of your home down as people are put off by how the solar panels look. So, from an aesthetic perspective, solar panels can be very hit and miss.
Overall, there are reasons to both install or avoid solar panels. The main thing to note is that, if you want to save money on energy bills and use green energy, putting these panels on your home isn’t the only option. You can find alternative ideas out there that still give the advantages of solar panels without meaning you sacrifice the way your home looks.
What are your thoughts on solar panels?
