Saving money on your energy bills is one of the essentials of everyday life. You may have already started searching for ways to save, or you may be planning to start saving soon.
If you’re looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint and you’re wondering if you can use solar energy to power your home, then the answer is yes. But it requires some careful planning and consideration of how much energy you need, versus how much energy you produce. The following will discuss some of the things you need to know before you make the switch.
Is It Worth It?
If you’re starting a solar power project, the first thing you’ll need to consider is whether or not it’s worth it. It’s always best to perform a cost-benefit analysis and consider all the pros and cons before you commit to investing in a solar power system. One of the big cons with solar power is that while it’s free (at least in theory), the cost of installation can be quite high. Another con is that while you won’t need to pay for energy generated from the sun itself, you’ll need to consider paying for energy generated from solar panels, which will take away from your savings. It’s always best to look at all the numbers and consider all the information before you make a decision.
How Much Energy Do You Need?
Another thing you’ll need to consider is how much energy you need and versus how much energy you produce. This is particularly important if you’re looking to power your home with solar energy. If you’re not producing enough energy to power your home, then you may as well not bother trying to save money by using solar power. With that being said, if you’re interested in using solar power to generate some of your own electricity, then you’ll need to find out how much electricity you consume versus how much electricity you produce. You can use an energy monitor to check your energy consumption and production on a daily basis. Many people find it helpful to monitor their energy usage and pinpoint areas where they can improve.
How Much Will It Cost To Install?
If you decide that solar power is worth it and you commit to going ahead with the project, then you’ll need to consider how much it will cost to install. You can use this cost calculator to get an idea of how much it will cost to install solar power. Remember, this is not including the cost of the equipment, which can vary widely, so be sure to account for that in your total cost. If you have a rough idea of what you’ll need and you decide that the cost is within reason, then you may as well go for it, rather than wasting your time with a solar power system that will only consume money and never produce any energy.
How Much Money Can You Save?
If you decide that solar power is worth it and you commit to going ahead with the project, then you’ll need to consider how much money you’ll save. This is actually quite easy to calculate. You’ll need to find your average energy consumption and multiply it by the cost of electricity. For example, if your energy use is 500 kWh per month and the cost of electricity is $0.10/kWh, then you’ll save $50 per month or $600 per year. If you’re looking to save a considerable amount of money, then solar power may be a worthwhile investment, even if you don’t produce enough energy to power your home.
Can You Afford To Fail?
Another thing you’ll need to consider if you decide that solar power is worthwhile and you commit to going ahead with the project is whether or not you can afford to fail. It’s always handy to have a back-up plan, in case your initial calculations are a little off and you need to adjust. If you decide that, for your own personal finances, you cannot afford to fail, then you may as well not bother trying to save money by using solar power, as it’s not worth the risk of getting nowhere near your goal. If you do decide to go ahead with it, then be sure to brace yourself for bumps along the way. You may need to adjust your plan and go back to the drawing board, so to speak.
The Main Pro:
One of the big pluses of using solar power is that it has the potential to save you a great deal of money. As mentioned before, if you decide that it’s not worth it and you don’t commit to proceeding with the project, then it’s best to walk away. On the other hand, if you do decide to go ahead with it, then you’ll need to look into how much money you’ll save and how much effort you’ll need to put in to see the results. Just remember, this is not guaranted savings and you may need to make some adjustments along the way.
The Main Con:
One of the big con’s of using solar power is that it’s not for everybody. If you decide that solar power is worth it and you commit to going ahead with the project, then you’ll need to consider how much effort you’ll need to put in to use it correctly. You may need to train your staff on how to operate and maintain the equipment effectively. There’s also the issue of how much space you have for the equipment, or if you opt for a stand-alone system, then how much land you have available for the array. You may also need to add more equipment to generate more energy, as your system is probably not going to produce enough energy to power your home without additional assistance.
Overall:
If you want to use solar power to generate electricity for your home, then the overall score will be determined by weighing all the pros and con’s. If you decide that the pros outweigh the con’s, then you may as well go for it and start saving money on your energy bills today.
As you can see, the con’s outweigh the pros, but it’s still not a bad choice, as long as you understand the risks. If you’re interested in using solar power, then do your research and find the best option for your personal circumstances. It’s always best to do your research before you commit. That way, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into. If you decide that solar power is worthwhile, then go for it and start saving money on your energy bills today.