Do you want to ditch your electric company?
Who wouldn’t?
Or, you might be ready to take that leap and live off the grid, which is what seems like an impossible dream to many people.
So…can it be done?
Let’s take a look.
Can a House Run on Solar Power Alone?
The question is—can you actually power your entire house using solar power?
Yes, you can, but, should you? While going 100 percent solar might seem like a good idea at first glance, there are several factors that should make you stop to give this idea more thought.
The Benefits of Going Solar
Considering the pros and cons of going solar will help you make an educated decision about whether or not this option is right for you and your particular situation.
Benefits:
- Solar power is free (after the initial investment), or it can at least reduce your electric bills for an indefinite amount of time.
- Solar power is free of pollution so it will reduce your carbon footprint.
- Solar power is low maintenance.
- Solar power will increase the value of your home.
- Investing in solar could qualify you for a variety of tax credits.
- Solar panels can be recycled.
Do All Solar Panels Look the Same?
No. In fact, solar shingles are a fairly new option on the market. Solar shingles are made with the same materials as traditional solar panels, but they look like regular shingles, just a little shinier. Additionally, solar shingles are able to work in low or intermittent sunshine conditions. This is probably the most exciting thing to ever happen as far as solar installations go.
Should I Convert My Entire House to Solar?
Well, there are systems out there that can convert, send, and store any extra energy produced to a battery. This will give you power at night and during inclement weather; however, there could ultimately be corresponding issues with this. For example, if your system is inadequate or was poorly designed, not to mention all the variables such as how big your house is, how many people live there, and how much overall consumption your household uses. And these are just a few of the total factors you have to take into consideration.
Then you have to calculate the overall electricity your household uses for a specific amount of time each day. Only then can you assemble a solar setup that is capable of meeting your demands. Additionally, it’s common for a household’s needs to change. Will you have the money needed to add to your system (if that’s even possible) so you can change with it? Or what if your energy usage goes down and you’ve already spent the money on a larger, more elaborate system? You can’t ever get that money back, unless you sell your house, and maybe not even then.
The Bottom Line
Is going solar on an entire house a good idea? Well, that depends. There’s really no right or wrong answer. This is because the answer will be different for everyone and will depend on each household’s specific situation. And, whether they can truly afford what they need now and how they anticipate their needs or situation changing going forward.
If you have further questions about installing solar panels on your home or business or how you can save money with solar, the best thing you can do is explore your solar power options with a qualified professional. Contact HomePro Solutions today. We have the technical know-how and customer service expertise necessary to ensure that every solar power project is a success.