Last Updated on November 23, 2022 by
Did you know that the cost of solar panels has dropped by more than 80% since 2010? That’s all the more reason to consider investing in these energy-producing devices.
After all, by switching to solar, you can trim or even eliminate your monthly energy bill. You can also reduce your household or personal carbon footprint by going solar.
However, the benefits of installing solar panels go beyond reducing costs and carbon footprints. This guide lists some of the other great things solar has to offer, so be sure to read on.
Table of Contents
1. Keep the Lights On
During the first half of 2021 alone, the US already experienced over a hundred major outages. These incidents affected millions of consumers all over the country.
If your area is prone to such power outages, you should consider investing in solar panels. This way, you can store some of the energy they generate in backup solar batteries. You can then use the stored power to keep your home’s lights turned on during blackouts.
To convert the stored energy into electricity, you’d need a solar generator, though. It’s a device specifically designed to work with high-capacity solar batteries.
Don’t worry, though, as you only need to plug the generator into your solar panels. From there, it would harvest the sun’s energy and then keep it in the battery for later use. You then only have to run the generator when the power goes out.
Depending on how big the generator is, it can keep your lights, TV, and small electronics powered for hours. What’s more, many solar generators are portable, so you can take them with you when you go camping.
2. Keep Your Security System Powered During Outages
Speaking of outages, were you aware that crime rates usually go up during such events? It’s not just because blackouts plunge everything into darkness. It’s also because they disable security systems in properties.
Fortunately, solar panels can generate enough surplus energy for security systems. As with keeping your lights on, you need to plug them into a solar generator. So long it has a high-efficiency battery, it may be able to keep your security system enabled for hours.
To help boost your panels’ efficiency and power reliability, consider a roof installation. In this case, specialized solar mounting equipment will secure them in place. The hardware helps the panels get the most sun exposure while ensuring they don’t fall off the roof.
3. Lower Pollutant Emissions
Fossil fuel-based electricity doesn’t only emit carbon dioxide; it also generates air pollutants. These include carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2), to name a few. These pollutants get created through the fossil fuel combustion process itself.
Those pollutants, in turn, then contaminate air, land, and water. So, it’s no wonder that experts say fossil fuel pollution causes one in five deaths worldwide. In the US alone, studies link these contaminants to around 350,000 premature deaths.
Many of those lives lost are due to the respiratory effects of fossil fuel pollution. For instance, CO, NOx, and SO2 are toxic gases that can inhibit lung functions. Moreover, some fossil fuel pollutants are carcinogenic, which means they can cause cancer.
By contrast, one of the chief benefits of solar PV systems is that they don’t burn anything to produce energy. That’s why they don’t generate pollutants in the same way as fossil fuels do.
So, by going solar, you can reduce your impact on the environment. You can do your part in reducing pollution and protecting not only your loved ones but the planet itself.
4. Fewer Air Pollutants, Lower Risks for Acid Rain
Acid rain forms through the emission of SO2 and NOx into the atmosphere. From there, winds can transport the gases over distances encompassing hundreds of miles. Then, as the rain falls, its acidic content can pollute water and land formations.
One way that acid rain destroys the planet is by changing the pH level of water bodies. Its acid content can make the water so acidic it kills marine life. Changes in pH levels can also inhibit the growth of marine species and even kill fish eggs.
Acid rain can also contribute to algal blooms. These occur when too many harmful algae grow in a body of water. They’re dangerous because they can create toxins that are deadly to fish, birds, and humans.
Another way acid rain can endanger life is by killing plants and reducing crops. Give it enough time, and the plant damage it can cause can deprive wildlife species of food. In the same way, humans can also experience reductions in agricultural produce.
What’s more, acid rain can be so potent it can damage and dissolve structural materials. It’s in this way that acidic precipitations can cause your home to deteriorate, too.
Now, keep in mind that the generation of solar power doesn’t create SO2 and NOx. That’s why this source of clean energy has minimal contribution to acid rain. For the same reason, it’s a much better choice than fossil fuel-based electricity.
5. More Jobs
As the solar energy market continues to grow, so does the number of jobs it creates. For example, it opens up more employment opportunities in the US than in any other field. Solar-related jobs get added 17 times faster than the country’s overall economy.
So, the more people who choose to invest in solar, the higher the employment rate. In this way, being a solar panel owner can be a great way to help others find gainful employment.
Time to Reap All These Benefits of Solar Panels
Just in case you haven’t heard, the 26% solar tax incentive in the US is still ongoing and will be until 2022. It would then go down to 22% by 2023 and then expire for residential systems by 2024.
That should motivate you further to invest in these clean energy systems ASAP. The sooner you do, the sooner you can enjoy the many benefits of solar panels.
Interested in more guides on home improvement and finances? Then be sure to browse our blog’s other categories!
Read more: Solar Technology 101: Everything You Need To Know
