3 bright reasons to invest in solar
We in Alberta enjoy 333 of sunshine-filled days every year. It makes sense to harness this natural and freely-given resource to save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and did we mention save money?
According to Sky Fire Energy, Calgary’s leading residential solar energy provider, installing solar energy panels on your home and connecting it to the grid is not that difficult. There are only a few hundred homes out of the tens of thousands of homes in Calgary taking advantage of solar energy. But there are so many reasons, in addition to adding resale value to your home, why adding solar to your energy mix is a smart idea.
Reduce your Utility Bill
As solar technology advances, the cost of equipment comes down making solar a good economic choice. Solar equals savings. It’s renewable energy from an infinite resource and is cheaper to process and distribute than hydro or fossil fuel energy. If installed property, a large solar residential installation can be cheaper per watt than buying from the grid. You may pay as low as six cents a kilowatt. You may pay on average about 12 cents per kilowatt for power off the grid. Of course, no one has a crystal ball to know what energy prices will look like 25 years from now. But one thing is for certain; you can reduce your reliance on traditional utilities with solar power.
Helping the Environment
This was once the primary goal of solar power; to reduce greenhouse emissions and reliance on dirtier forms of energy such as coal and oil. The energy created on sunny days is stored in batteries for use later. Now, it would take a massive system on the roof of your home if you wanted 100% solar energy for your home. But a regular home system would go a long way to reduce other forms of energy, which is a start in the proper direction. A simple one kilowatt system, installed on your asphalt roof, would cost around $5,400 and installed in a day. Solar equipment doesn’t produce harmful byproducts and as a rule, material used to build the technology is recyclable.
Easy Install
People avoid technologies they’re not familiar with, which is one reason why people are slow to adopt solar energy in their homes. It’s not different that installing a hot tub and tying it into your electric system. An onsite assessment by a qualified expert will determine how best to tie solar into your electric panel. Solar systems are CSA approved and a permit from the City of Calgary will be required. Each solar panel weights approximately 18 kg. The optimal type of roof for solar is a south-facing roof, free of obstacles, with a 45 degree pitch. If you need to reroof, do it before you install solar so you don’t have to remove all the equipment in the next few years to re-shingle. Once everything is connected, you can sit back and count your money. The system is automatic and requires little maintenance. No need to remove the snow in the winter and risk falling off the roof just to save a few pennies as there is very little energy produced during the deep winter months.