A solar panel is a flat, rectangular device that is made of photovoltaic cells. They use semiconducting materials to convert sunlight into electricity. There are a lot of benefits that communities can gain from integrating this form of energy collection into their own grids. You can profit from many of these same benefits plus a few more when you install these devices on or around your own personal residence. Here are some examples of the good things that happen when you use the energy of sunlight. 

 

They Are Environmentally Friendly

Experts in the environmental field tend to blame the extreme fluctuating temperatures of climate change on the current human tendency to use fossil fuels for energy. These are sources that release climate change-causing greenhouse gasses (such as carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere when they are burned. The heat that results from this action is used to create what is needed to run a fully functional modern-day first-world society. Oil, gas, and coal are the main three examples of this type of material. They are mined from the ground and then processed in a power plant.  

Commercial solar panels, as well as other 'green' energy generators like wind turbines, don't generate these gasses. They can create electricity without causing any ecological harm. This is one of their biggest benefits to the human population as a whole and why many climate scientists are urging governments to switch from using oil, gas and coal to using wind, water, and sun power. While the impact that you, the individual homemaker, make by putting panels on your house may not be as impactful as entire governments or countries changing where they get their electricity, you can still make an impact, even if it's a small one. Your conscience can also be put at ease from knowing that you're doing something good. Of course, the latter two pros are probably only pros for you if you believe in climate change and/or are interested in the eco-friendly movement and how to decrease your carbon footprint. If this isn't the case for you, there are still many other qualities of solar that will make things better for you. 

 

They Save You Money On Energy Costs

Homeowners like you usually buy their energy from a production company that is closest to their residence. If you're in the United States, the average yearly cost for this can total more than 2,000 USD or around 167 a month. However, if you use panels to produce electricity for your house, this can reduce the amount of what you will require to power your residence. This will, in turn, save you money. Statistics say that it will save you an average of 90% on your monthly bills. This means that, when taking the average scenario above, you can end up paying only around 17.30 USD a month for electricity or only 207.60 USD a year. This is a large reduction in price. 

However, you have to also consider that the average price of an array is around 11,000 to 14,000 at the initial installation, so it may take a few years to make up the cost of the system. Years down the line, though, you'll be greater for the lower expense. You may be able to sell the excess power that your system generates back to the power grid. This will help you make back the money that you paid for your panels as well.  

 

They Make Excellent Roofing Materials 

You don't necessarily have to put solar panels on the top of your house but if you do, your roof and inner rooms will benefit in a big way. These devices can protect your roof from all kinds of damage in the form of weather-related phenomena such as hail, rain, snow, or anything that might fall onto the top of your house after being carried by the wind. Snow and rain can also be easily removed from your roof with solar panels, as their smooth surface allows for any material to easily slide off your roof. 

The reflective surface of solar panels can prevent heat from traveling through your roof and into the rooms of your home. In this way, they will stay cooler than usual during the warm seasons. There are two major benefits to this beyond merely being more comfortable in your bedroom, kitchen, living room, and so on. Saving energy can help you reduce your carbon footprint and it can also help you save more money. 

 

They Are Reliable, Easy To Install, and Low Maintenance 

When you put solar panels on your home, you can be sure that you will have a reliable source of power that will last a long time. You won't need to rely on the local grid in order to keep your lights, electronics and other appliances on. Thus, you won't be prone to losing your access to that electricity when there's a blackout in your area. Most companies also offer warranties on their products of up to 25 years, so you don't have to worry about losing all of the purchase and installation costs to a wayward tree branch. It's also unlikely that you will see any technicians on a frequent basis. The initial installation of your array will be quick and easy, especially if you decide to start with a smaller version. Solar panels are very durable as well, which means that much of the only maintenance that you will have to do will consist of you cleaning the dust, dirt, and other materials off your array about once a year or so. 

 

Along with all of these benefits, if you decide to move you can see an increase in the price that potential buyers are willing to pay for your house. With all the money that you save, home comforts that you gain, and the peace of mind that you'll have from putting these excellent devices on your house, though it will probably be difficult for you to make the decision to do so.