How To Bust Solar Power Myths
If you’ve always dreamed of being the masked crusader who creates tomorrow’s better world, the right role for you right now is that of the “Solar Power Myth Buster.”
Hang on, though. Before you grab that cape and head out, here are a few solar power facts to arm yourself with:
Myth #1: Solar power is too expensive. Before you allow anyone to cling tenaciously to that belief, ask them if you can schedule an appointment for a solar power installation appraisal for them. Tell them you would never try to dissuade them from believing what they choose, but if they’re willing to allow an open discussion, you’d like them to be assured that their belief is right before they share it with others…or worse yet…possibly keep them from having clean, free power because they attached too strongly to an old, rigid belief system. Tell them the appraiser will help them assess:
What is the cost of a traditional heating, air conditioning system and hot water heater today compared to a solar installation?
What is the current cost per watt for electricity in their area, or comparative cost per unit for other fossil fuel used?
Since 1970, coal, gas and oil utility costs have gone up, on average, 5.5 percent per year. At that rate, what will their per unit cost be in 5 years, 10 years, 15 and 20 years? On a solar off-the-grid system…it’s likely to be…free.
What is the guarantee on your conventional home power system equipment? Most of today’s standard furnace, air conditioning systems, and hot water heaters are guaranteed to last for 10 years. Solar components are guaranteed to last between 25 and 30 years.
Can you get tax credits, incentives and rebates when you install a fossil-fuel conventional system? You can if you have a solar installation.
Myth #2: I’ll have to have a conventional system in addition to a solar system because we don’t always have sunshine. Yes, this is a possibility. You may require a small back-up system. But…it’s not an absolute. Both Germany and Japan have very days of sunshine than most areas in the United States. And, they have a larger reliance on solar energy. It is possible, if you live along the northern tier of the United States that you might require more solar panels to produce the same amount of energy that would take fewer panels in the Southwest, but you could still get the same result. Plus, with a back-up battery system, you should be able to generate enough electricity to function for several days even when it’s very cloudy.
Of course, there are other options for a back-up also like a wood stove, or a wood insert in a passive solar stone fireplace design, or even better, a wind turbine…another renewable energy source.
Myth #3: I’ll have to reduce my energy consumption. Don’t totally dispel this myth, because it’s a good idea. We could all benefit from a little energy management, and learn to consume less. In fact, we could all start down that path by turning off lights and computers when they’re not in use, switching to CFL light bulbs, and other small energy reduction steps. But you don’t have to. The difference is how much money you want to spend up front. Yes, a bigger solar system will cost you more money. You’ll need more panels, more batteries, and more inverters. However, you know that big utility bill you have now because you’re a big electric consumer? You won’t have that, and it won’t go up 5.5% a year, year and year. Once you’re system’s paid for, your energy is free. And instead of getting bigger, your carbon footprint’s getting smaller. How good is that?
Myth #4: Ugly solar panels on my roof are going to reduce my home value and destroy the aesthetics. On the contrary, having solar electricity actually raises the value of your home…quite a bit. You can sell for more money…and faster…with solar. That’s not to say that a solar hot water tank on the top of your roof might not be unappealing for some people. And, with the new technology that’s available, you can have solar panels that are shaped like roof tiles making them very unnoticeable, while adding plenty of value.
Myth #5: What’s keeping solar popular now is government incentives. It won’t be around once the incentives aren’t. Simply not true. Solar power is staying. Its time is right, and its time is now. Global warming is creating the impetus for a strong citizen movement that won’t relent, and won’t give up, until future generations have an opportunity to see a bright, clean world.
All right, Solar Myth Buster. Go forth, and create a better world for the future, armed with facts that can bust apart even the strongest relics of the fossil fuel age.
Learn more solar energy facts. Stop by Timothy Peters’s site where you can find out all about home solar power and what it can do for you.
