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Benefits of Installing Solar Energy Panels

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Raise your hand if you like paying your utilities bills. Granted, we all do it because we have to; but it’s hardly on anyone’s top ten list of most fun things to do. And you know what? You might not have to continue doing it forever.

Between 2008 and 2014, installation of solar panels in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings has increased by more than 50%. And it’s not just to save on energy.

In addition to reducing our carbon footprint, and not having to continue making monthly payments for electricity, property owners who install these panels also get tax credits from the IRS. You read that right. You get to pay less taxes.

So, what can you do to make sure you get the most bang for your buck?

Install them while building your home:

This is obviously not a possibility for everyone, since there are plenty of people who purchased their property years ago. But if you’re building from the ground up, the structure can be designed with the panels in mind. This will be invaluable when it comes to wiring and building materials.

Keep them clean

If birds like to fly over your home and treat it like a sewage treatment plant, they’re going to receive less sunlight. Hosing them down between 1 and 4 times a year should do the trick.

Make sure they can withstand weather changes:

We live in Florida. That means having a hurricane season every year. Make sure whomever installs the panels for you can guarantee that they can withstand the local weather. If panels in Colorado can endure hail, they can clearly be made with durable materials.

 Make money just by having them!

As an incentive for installation of panels, Florida offers rebates for people whose panels generate more energy than what is actually consumed in a 12-month period.

Yes, they tend to be on the pricier side, but when you consider all the benefits you reap from them, they are a sound investment. And isn’t that the main purpose for purchasing real estate?