You are looking to make the step into solar powering your home? Beforehand, you must make sure to consider all pros and cons of this technology since, as you will find out, solar power is not the perfect fit for every home energy project.
Pro #1: Free and Unlimited
Solar power offers the advantage of being a free and renewable (thus unlimited) energy. One might say that there is a cost associated with the installation of solar power, but the energy of the sun itself is free. Therefore, in opposition to non renewable energies, the price of solar energy will never increase.
Pro #2: Low Maintenance
The solar panel system does not necessitate much maintenance. In fact, in typical areas, the only maintenance requirement consists in a one or two rinse per year in order to remove dust or debris that could reduce over time the efficiency of the panels.
Pro #3: No pollution
This is clearly one of the greatest advantages of solar energy that you will find. In a world where having eco-friendly behaviors is slowly but surely becoming the norm, adding solar power to your home could be a great way to do your part for the environment.
Con #1: Not Working at Night
Obviously when your power comes from the sun you cannot generate power when the sun has set. So if you are looking to use solar power at night, you will have to find a way to store energy during the day if you want to use solar power at night.
Con #2: Not Made for All Locations
It is quite understandable that typically the more sun your location gets the more power you will be able to generate with your solar panels. It is thus important to analyze the amount of power you can get in your area before installing solar power technology at your home.
Con #3: Cost
One of the biggest turnoffs regarding solar power is the cost. The cost of a solar power system can go up to tens of thousands of dollars. In order to lower the cost, make sure to check if tax credits or environmental incentives exist in your area. And if you do have a creative mind, there are ways to build your own home solar panel system from a fraction of the price. You must also take into account that the installation of a solar power system will greatly reduce or even eliminate in some cases your home utility bills. In that sense, a solar energy system must be seen as a long term investment.
So, What to Decide?
Before choosing a solar power system, you must absolutely consider closely all the pros and cons of this technology (there are many more than the 6 presented here). That way, you will be able to clearly see if solar power represents the right green technology for you.