Misconceptions about Solar Power Homes

With so much information available on solar power, the real facts are sometimes obscured by myths. One of our goals is to dispel those misconceptions so that you can make an educated decision about home solar. Here are five myths about solar power you shouldn’t believe:

Myth #1: Solar is only good in warm climates.

The average temperature in a climate region does not have an effect on solar panels. In fact, solar panels are actually slightly more efficient at producing electricity in cold temperatures. Solar isolation, the amount of sunlight that the cells receive, is the critical point. So even if you live in a colder climate that is further north, you still get enough sunlight that solar panels will work. (If you want to learn more about how solar panels work, you can click here.) Surprisingly, Germany, a northern country not generally known for sunny skies, is the world leader in solar photovoltaic energy with over 9,000 Megawatts.  That’s almost enough to cover the roofs of 2 million U.S. houses!  So next time you hear this myth feel free to point out that just because an area is cold or further north, that does not mean that solar panels won’t work well for you.

Myth #2: You still need a back up generator even after you install solar panels.

Solar panels for the home these days are almost always connected to the electric grid. The electricity generated by the solar panels powers your house and any extra electricity is fed back into the electric grid. This actually spins your electric meter backward!  Most importantly, because your solar home remains connected to the electrical grid, you can continue to rely on electricity from your local utility at night or on cloudy days when the solar panels are not generating maximum power. So as long as you install the very common grid-tie solar systems, you will not need another power generator as a backup.

Myth #3: Going solar means going without modern conveniences.

You don’t have to give up your modern conveniences to go solar. Your home will remain connected to the electrical grid and your solar panels will simply offset the amount of electricity you need from the grid. Thus, you have all the power you need night and day and can enjoy all your current conveniences without paying for high electric bills. So, you’ll have a more comfortable home AND realize savings.

Myth #4: Solar power is not ready for mass consumption because it is too expensive.

This has probably been one of the most harmful myths as it causes homeowners to wait to install solar. Decades of technological progress and billions of dollars of research have given us solar energy technology that is proven and reliable and has reduced the cost of solar. Moreover, government and utility-backed programs are available today to make solar adoption very affordable for just about any homeowner or business. A report by the National Renewable Energy Lab shows that solar pv panels actually payback the energy used to produce the panels in 1 to 4 years depending on the type of panel. If you live in a state with particularly good incentives, the payback period can be as short as two to four years. Just take a look at all the solar incentives and solar rebates available for homeowners from the government (both federal and state) and from your local electrical utility. Not only that, because solar panels last at least 30 years, a home solar systems can provide at up to 26 to 29 years of pollution-free electricity for your home!

Myth #5: Using solar panels causes more harm to the environment than it helps.

As we stated earlier, a report by the National Renewable Energy Lab showed that solar photovoltaic panels actually payback the energy used to produce the panels in 1 to 4 years depending on the type of panel and the amount of solar isolation available in your region. In addition, solar panels typically last 25-30 years so the net energy savings from other fossil fuel based energy sources is tremendous. Lastly, at the end of the useful life of the solar panels, your solar panel installer typically collects them and recycles their components.  If they don’t automatically recycle your panels, find out why and see if you can contract for your panels to be recycled as reusing the elements needed to make solar panels is one final step to make solar an even more environmentally friendly energy source.

**Interested in a $0 electrical bill? Click here to get a free solar assessment from pre-certified installers in your area!**