Things to Consider When Purchasing Solar Panels

You are thinking of going solar-like other people in the neighborhood who are installing solar panels. You haven’t made up your mind just yet, but the following considerations will help you decide.

Understanding the Switch

Yes, a number of people are switching to solar power. If you pay attention to why many people are doing this, you may understand why you should as well. There are a lot of reasons this may be happening, like how many people want to reduce their carbon footprint.

Electricity is generated using things like coal or natural gas. Both end up releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. By sticking to regular electricity, you are contributing to this practice and helping to release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

People do not want to be a part of the problem anymore and don’t have to by simply making this switch. Sometimes, people make the switch because they pay attention to how much money they spend on electricity and see that the cost of installing the panels after using a solar calculator doesn’t outweigh the amount of money saved in the long run.

Size of Your System

Once you’ve figured out why people are willing to make this decision even if it is a costly one, then you can start making other decisions, like how big of a system you are going to need. The amount of panels you install should be determined by the amount of sunlight you get.

Use a solar map to help you figure out how much sunlight you get in your region. You should also figure out how much shade you have to deal with because that affects how much sunlight your panels are able to absorb. Those with many large trees surrounding their home may need to reconsider placement of the solar panels. They don’t have to be on your roof; some panels can be installed on the ground.

Of course, if you prefer, you could just simply have an arborist trim your trees enough to maximize the amount of sunlight your panels get, or you can have him or her remove the tree completely. You are going to need a larger system if you have to deal with a lot of shade or don’t get too many hours of sunlight.

Thinking About Your Budget

A larger system would definitely offset your need for a lot of sunlight but could also exceed your budget, which is something you should consider as well. It would be nice if everyone could just have unlimited resources in order to go green, but that is impossible. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t install a solar grid.

Install as many panels as your budget allows. Then, ensure the amount of energy you will get from the sun will be adequate. The only way you are going to do that effectively is if you start to save energy at home. You are going to have to learn to use less hot water each day, unplug appliances, and replace appliances with energy efficient options.

Those who are lucky enough to live near wind farms may want to consider purchasing their energy instead, which is considerably cheaper than regular electricity, and it is still a green option. You can consider doing unorthodox things to try to reduce your energy consumption, like purchasing items that you can hand crank instead of plug in to use.

There are hand crank food processors, blenders, and even juicers that you can use instead of always plunging in things to get some of these tasks done. Doing these little things should help you get by even if you couldn’t afford that bigger system. There is nothing wrong with reducing your energy consumption anyway. It could increase more movement in your life, and that can help your health in various ways.

Hopefully, these points make it easier for you to make your decision regarding your purchase of solar panels. It does feel like you are making a huge purchase and a huge lifestyle decision here because you are, but if you really want to save on electricity and protect the planet, this is one of your best options.

kanika
kanika
Kanika is a Serial Blogger, She is a technologist, bibliophile, speaker, educator and writer. Tornado Cash Follow her on twitter @LtsGetMotivated Spotify Promotion.

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