Five reasons to go solar now

Solar energy has been around for a long time, back to the mid-1800s in fact, when French physicist Alexandre Edmond Becquerellar discovered the photovoltaic process decades before Edison screwed in the first light bulb. But it’s taken a good century since then to make solar energy a feasible means by which to power homes. Today, going solar has never made more sense. Here are a few reasons why.

1. Save money on your electric bill
If you live in a warm climate like the Southwest, where a summer electric bill can rival the cost of round-trip airfare to Seattle, going solar is practically a no-brainer. In fact, depending on where you live and the size of your home, installing a home solar system can lower your electric bill by up to 50%.

2. The cost of solar panels is lower than ever
In 2008, the cost of solar panel installation was about $9 per watt. Today, that cost has plummeted to about $3 per watt, making binge-watching Netflix shows on 60-inch televisions a real bargain for solar households. By comparison, residential electricity prices have gone up by an average of three percent annually over the same time. Ouch!

3. Increase the value of your home
Numerous studies have shown that homes powered by solar energy boast higher property values and sell more quickly than homes that are not. In fact, a solar energy system can raise a home’s value by 3 to 4 percent. That’s about $24,000 for a typical 6-kilowatt system. Something to think about before plunking down that much to remodel a kitchen.

4. It’s good for the environment
No news here. Solar power has long been regarded as the most environmentally friendly source of energy available to us. It produces no greenhouse gasses, no pollution and the supply is practically inexhaustible. Here’s another way to look at it. The more we rely on solar energy, the less we need to rely on fossil fuel based energy sources like coal, which helps keep our skies, waterways and soil free and clear of harmful contaminants.

5. Attain energy independence
Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Well it should. It’s all about self-reliance and the power of choice. When you switch to solar, you gain freedom from your dependence on utility companies and protect yourself from costly rate hikes. In some states, when you produce more power than need, you can even sell it back to the grid. Or you can store it for later use. Now that’s power.