How Does Solar Benefit Me?
Solar panels are a great method of saving costs on utility bills. They are also sustainable; which means they are good for the environment. Within these two categories, solar panels offer many complementary benefits to homeowners; the most valuable of which we discuss in the blog post below. The following blog also contains insights into post-purchase solar panel maintenance: in-line with the repair service we provide at Solar Proofing Sydney.
Financial Benefits of Solar Panels
The primary financial benefit of solar panels is the electricity savings it offers. Solar panels sit on the roof of a house and collect photovoltaic energy from the sun. This means a segment of a solar-equipped household’s energy bill is free. While electricity from the grid relies on electricity companies mining coal or oil, maintaining infrastructure and expensing huge staffing costs, solar panels use free sunlight. The flip-side to this is that solar panels are not as efficient yet as coal and oil-based electricity: they take longer to generate smaller amounts of power, so savings might seem small in the short-term.
At a numerical level, solar panels offer varying savings according to their size. According to one source, solar panels offer home-owners $400 annual savings per kW the system can handle. The average Australian solar panel size is 5kW, meaning there are potential savings of $2000 per annum.
Solar panels also increase the value of a house. With an off-the-shelf value of $4000-$6000 on average, a solar panel’s value holds for the long-term in addition to offering the savings mentioned above. Installation of solar panels may also add valuable appeal to environmentally-conscious buyers who are invested in solar for the reasons discussed below.
Environmental Benefits of Solar Panels
The principle of solar panels is that sunlight gets converted into electrical energy by photovoltaic cells. This principle does not run any environmental interference other than installation of the solar panels. Compared to burning coal and oil, which releases lethal carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the environment, solar panels are very clean: they simply sit there and collect sunlight to be used later to power the home. Solar panels clean the air we breathe simply by not burning toxic substances and exuding fumes.
I’ve Bought Solar Panels, How Do I Maintain Them?
Solar panels can have their average lifecycle of 25 years, but this time can be extended by complying with two simple instructions: keep the panels clean and keep them clear. By cleaning solar panels according to the level of dust and dirt building up on them you ensure they absorb as much sunlight as possible and produce as much electrical energy as possible. By keeping panels clear of detritus such as birds nests you also ensure their functioning operational status and minimise the risk of system breakages requiring repair work.
Contact Solar Proofing Sydney
If you have recently installed solar panels at your site and want to protect them for the long-term, call Solar Proofing Sydney to set up bird-repellent guards on the perimeter of your panels. We also perform solar panel cleaning duties which we recommend twice per year. Call us on 0468 433 829 to chat about how we can make sure your solar benefits you to the greatest extent possible.