The Benefits of Solar Power for Your Electrical Systems

Reduce or Eliminate Your Electrical Bills With Solar Systems

Why lease power when you can own and produce it for less? One of the most significant benefits of installing a solar PV (photovoltaic) system on your home or business is a substantially reduced monthly energy bill. Your energy bills will drop because you will be meeting some of your energy needs with the electricity produced by your solar system. A roof or ground mount system can offset your energy bills by 80 to 110 percent.

How much you save on your bill will depend on the size of the solar system and your electricity or heat usage. For example, if you are a business using commercial solar panels, this switch can have huge benefits because the large system size can cover large amounts of your energy bills. But the benefits of solar panels to energy bills are not just for commercial and industrial businesses; residents can also benefit greatly.

Moreover, you will save on the electricity bill and potentially receive payments for the surplus energy you export back to the grid. So, by installing a solar PV system, you can save on operating costs by creating your own power. The higher energy prices go, the more money your system makes.

Protect your bottom line while protecting the environment by reducing our carbon footprint.

Protect against rising electricity rates

The Alberta Electric Systems Operator (AESO) estimates an approximately 6% increase per year over the next 15 years as old coal fired generation plants are replaced with new natural gas plants. Solar systems protect you from rising costs because you are not buying power from utility companies; you are producing and, in effect, owning and stabilizing your own electricity costs. As the price of power increases, the payback of your solar array will only go up.

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Increase your property value

Solar PV systems add value to your home or business by reducing your property’s monthly electricity bills. They also add monetary value. Buildings with solar PV systems can increase property value by up to 4%, and industry reports indicate that they spend less time on the market. So you’ll recoup your investment if you stay or decide to sell!

Solar panels are viewed as upgrades, like a renovated kitchen or a finished basement, so purchasing a solar energy system will likely increase your home’s value. Studies show that homeowners pay a premium for a solar home; one study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory showed that, on average, solar increased the value of a home by about $15,000. Although market factors like electricity rates and system size may impact the size of the premium, solar homes can sell for more than homes without PV.

Low Maintenance

Another advantage of solar energy is the low cost of maintenance. After the system is installed, it mostly runs itself. There is no noise and no moving parts. Some weather events may make it necessary to clean off the panels, but often they are installed so that even this is reduced to a manageable level. 

  • This is a great benefit for solar farms and residential systems. Solar systems generally won’t require much maintenance besides cleaning a couple of times per year. The inverter is usually the only part that needs to be changed after 10-15 years because it is continuously working to convert solar energy into electricity and heat.
  • Solar energy systems generally don’t require a lot of maintenance. As there are no moving parts, there is no wear and tear. So, after covering the initial cost of the solar system, you can expect very little spending on maintenance and repair work.
  • Most reliable solar panel manufacturers offer 25 years performance warranty.

Protect the environment

Solar power is 100% clean, renewable energy. Unlike natural gas, coal or propane, solar panels emit no greenhouse gasses during their power production lifecycle, which can last up to 40+ years! By choosing solar, you are making a positive contribution to the environment and showing leadership in reducing our collective carbon footprint. The health and economic advantages of going solar are huge. 

Solar energy produces 91% less CO2 than natural gas and 96% less CO2 than coal. Easily the most common argument for solar energy is environmental longevity. With a low cost to produce, a long life cycle (solar panels come with a 25-year performance guarantee), and the reduction of environmentally-harmful practices like fracking and deep-well drilling, solar energy will be vital in reducing the consumption of fossil fuels by humans across the globe. 

Furthermore, because the energy is renewable, there is no reduction in the availability of this energy resource, and it produces no pollution in operation. This means it will be available for everyone for a long time.

Take advantage of the Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit when you invest in solar energy.

Receive a refundable 30% tax credit on capital cost of investments.

This can equate to +30% of the system cost!
 

Here are some example numbers:

$100K 

Cost of Solar System

$30K

Income Tax Credit

$12-33K

Taxes Saved 
(depending on tax bracket)

37%

Lower Net Cost