Not everyone powers their homes with solar panels, but if you want to get off the grid, it’s the way to go. Check out the best way to live with solar panels.
Did you know that the average American family spends close to $1,500 a year on electricity?
This is not necessarily surprising, since we rely on electricity for many modern conveniences, ranging from lighting, to appliances, to our cell phones.
But what if you could save on your electricity costs without having to cut back on your electricity? By making the transition to live with solar panels, you may be able to do just that.
Interested? We have the details here on how you can go off the grid, save on utility bills, and help the environment by switching to solar.
Understand Your Electricity Usage
Before you can switch over to solar energy, it’s important to know how much electricity your home uses. This will help you evaluate how much energy you will need to be able to generate with solar panels.
You can easily determine how many kilowatt hours you use per month by looking at your electric bill. That said, if your current usage is high, you should look for ways to cut back before switching.
Easy ways to do this include updating old appliances, installing energy efficient bulbs, and cutting down on heating and cooling.
Assess Your Solar Potential
Unfortunately, not every home is a good candidate for solar energy. If you live in a shaded area, or your neighborhood doesn’t get much direct sunlight, you may not have the ability to power your home with solar alone.
If your home does not have high enough solar potential to power the whole home, you can consider partial options. For instance, using solar panels just for your hot water heater can be a good option.
Compare Solar Panel Options
Once you’ve determined that your home is ready for solar, it’s time to consider options for installing solar panels.
If you are using solar to power your entire home, installation can be expensive, ranging from $5-$10,000. Luckily, there are options for installation that are more affordable.
For instance, you can consider a solar lease. With these arrangements, a company installs solar panels on your roof and retains ownership of them. In return, any excess energy the panels generate goes back to the company.
Or, you can look for companies that offer a discount or wholesale solar panels. Online retailers like 4WD Supacentre offer high-quality equipment at an affordable price.
If you do decide to purchase solar panels, you may be eligible for a tax credit from the federal government. This benefit can make the cost more manageable.
Learn How to Live With Solar Panels
With these tips in hand, you will be ready to live with solar panels to get your electricity.
Have you switched to solar panels? What strategies have you used?
Let us know in the comments below!