Dispelling Myths About Solar
At Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical and Solar, we know that solar panels are a significant investment which is not to be made lightly. Doing the research is important so you always know what you can expect in the immediate future as well as down the road. Today, we will be addressing a few fairly common myths and misunderstandings about the realities of solar energy.
Fiction: Solar panels take more energy to build than they will produce
Fact: According to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, energy payback for solar panels takes about four years. This means that the investment of energy and resources it takes to manufacture your solar panels is equal to what it generates in the span of four years or so. Fortunately, most photovoltaic systems can provide clean, sustainable energy for 30 years or more, giving you a net gain of 26 years!
Fiction: Solar panels do not work well in cold weather
Fact: Actually, the amount of power that solar panels produce is not affected by the temperature. A chilly, sunny day is going to generate about the same amount of power as a much hotter sunny day. Though there are areas that will be impacted by excessive cloud cover, even these areas benefit from the use of solar energy. The real difference comes with how well the installation is thought out to optimize the solar energy to which you have access.
Fiction: Solar panels are high-maintenance
Fact: Because solar panels do not have any moving parts, they actually require very little in the way of maintenance. All they really need is cleaning every year or so to keep them efficient, but even that may not be necessary for those who live somewhere with a moderate amount of rain. If you notice large amounts of leaves or other debris on the panels it is a good idea to remove it, but otherwise very little will be required of you. Indeed, since most panels come equipped with an on-board monitoring system and you or our installer will likely know right away if there are any issues.
Fiction: Solar panels will raise my property taxes
Fact: While solar panels do increase your property value significantly, there is legislation in place that keeps solar components from increasing your property tax. Instead, you simply get to enjoy the benefits: the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that your homeandrsquo;s value increases as much as $20,000 for every $1,000 your solar panels save on annual utility costs.
Fiction: Solar panels are bad for my roof
Fact: Far from damaging the roof, solar panels can serve as one more line of defense from damage. These panels are mounted on a railing system, rather than directly to the roof itself and the weight is distributed evenly on the strongest parts of the roof. If your roof needs repair after the panels are installed, they are simple to remove and reattach when the work is complete.
Here at Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical and Solar, we are here to answer any questions you may have about your solar panels! Give us a call at (408) 868-5500 today to begin with an appointment.