Did you know that the average American household uses around 10,000 kWh of electricity per year? Many people could lower their energy usage by replacing old windows and appliances with newer, more energy-efficient models, and by updating their insulation. Just doing this could save the average homeowner hundreds of dollars a year. Another simple and relatively inexpensive option is to change your incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent ones. Other cost-saving measures include turning lights off when you leave a room and unplugging items that you’re not using. However, the only way to finally break your ties to the power grid is through residential solar energy. While costly at first, rest assured that the savings will quickly add up.
What Size Does Your Home Need
There are several types of residential solar power systems available to choose from. They range, for residential purposes, from 1,000 to 25,000 watt systems, rated for 50 to 1600 square feet homes. A 10,000-watt system will save the average homeowner approximately ,000 over 25 years while still supplying the 10,000 kWh needed. The savings scale with the size of the system and household energy consumption, so your own savings might be larger or smaller with residential solar power. One cost-effective alternative to installing a full residential solar power system, is to install a system that powers specific areas of the house, removing the more energy-draining items from the grid. Most homeowners do not have the ,000 required to install a system even with the promise of savings in the future.
Tax credits and Government incentives are available for those homeowners looking to upgrade their home that can be used to lower the initial set-up fees. That ,000 solar power system listed above could get nearly a ,000 tax credit, effectively lowering its cost to ,000. Tax credits are offered as a way to lower the costs associated with residential solar power, and to entice homeowners to spend money.
More Solar Energy Advantages:
As electric cars become more the norm, people will see a dramatic increase in the amount of power required from our power grid. It is important to start the change to residential solar power now so that we can ensure the integrity of our energy grid, save ourselves in home energy costs, and protect our natural resources.
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