Solar Power: Is It Worth It?

by J.R. Ferrara



This is a never-ending debate that will ultimately depend on your point of view. There are certain factors involved in answering the question such as:


* Where do you live * What is your current electric supply * How much does the solar power equipment cost * Do you define "worth" in monetary terms or in terms of its impact on the environment


Before you can consider these factors, Id like to point out certain long-held misconceptions about solar power that are untrue:


: Its too expensive : It wont provide enough power for large appliances : It wont work during the winter : It will only provide power when its sunny : It is very difficult to install and will only last 5 years : Its unreliable and useless at night : Its inefficient and not worth it.


A Look at the Facts


The amount of suns energy reaching the earth depends on where you live. If youre in a sunnier place, the solar power equipment will pay for itself faster. Less sunny places can still make use of solar power, however.


Installing solar power equipment may cost you, but the upkeep costs are negligible, compared to the cost of being connected to the grid and paying a monthly electric bill. The kind of equipment you need depends on how much electricity you need. If you need a lot of electricity, your initial cost of installation will be high, but of course, this will be offset by the high cost youre already paying for electricity off the grid.


Your solar power can be connected to the grid to pass on the extra electricity you are generating. This is known as net metering and adds to your credit. Connecting to the grid will cost you, depending on how far the grid lines are from your home.


Solar power becomes much more attractive when it combines with other solar technologies. A building with passive solar heating and water heating will require less electricity from your solar power source. Modern buildings, made with energy efficient materials will put less pressure on your solar power equipment. This in no way means that older buildings with poorer energy efficient materials cant use solar power. Solar power, once installed, will pay for itself within a reasonable time.


After considering the above, it all comes down to the worth of installing solar power. Is it only the monetary cost one should consider, or the total cost to the environment? It all comes down to how much you value the environment.


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