Lately, renewable energy and sustainable lifestyles have been all the rage. What’s not to like about doing good for the environment and for your bank account at the same time? Solar panels are some increasingly common sources of renewable energy, but many people still have their misgivings, mainly due to a few common myths about residential solar energy. Below, we’ll debunk some of the most persistent of these myths.
Myth 1: Solar Panels Are Too Expensive
Many people believe solar panels are too expensive to be worth installing on their homes. This misconception comes mainly from the initial purchase price of the solar panels and the cost of their installation. It’s true that solar panels are investments, but they’ll literally pay off in the long run—solar panels save money on your electricity bill in many ways.
Myth 2: Solar Panels Don’t Work in Some Kinds of Weather
Solar panels operate by transforming energy from the sun’s rays into energy that will power your home. This often leaves buyers concerned that solar panels won’t work if they live in a cold, gloomy environment without much sun or if trees overshadow the roofs of their homes. These concerns are understandable, but solar panels still work in these conditions. Even if the sunlight isn’t direct, solar panels can still utilize it to power your home, and they work efficiently in both hot and cold weather.
Myth 3: Solar Panels Will Decrease the Value of Your Home
If you’re thinking about selling your home sometime in the future, you may be concerned that installing solar panels will decrease the value of your property. In reality, the opposite is true. Recent studies have found that people are willing to pay more money for homes with solar panels and that homes with solar panels tend to sell more quickly than those without.
Myth 4: Solar Panels Will Damage Your Roof
Solar panels are usually placed on the roofs of houses, and people are sometimes concerned that the solar panels will damage their roofs. Unless the installation process is carried out incorrectly, this is almost never the case. In fact, solar panels can actually add a layer of protection to your roof. A professional solar installer will know the proper installation technique for each kind of roof to avoid doing any damage.
Now that you better understand each of these myths about residential solar energy, you can see why solar energy is becoming so popular. If you’ve been looking for ways to live more sustainably while managing your money well, perhaps solar panels are the perfect investments for you.
