SOLAR MYTHS AND FACTS
Expensive?
Solar is too expensive and only for wealthy people? Quite the opposite! Solar is absolutely for everyone. If you pay cash for the system, the upfront cost can be considerable, but it still shows a ROI of 7-8 year on average which is more than most investments you can make. Most people lease or buy the system which requires no money out of pocket if you qualify with a credit score of 650 or greater. You are simply acquiring energy from a different source for less!
Free?
Solar is free! While the programs that exist currently are quite attractive, solar is definitely not free. You do not have to spend any money out of pocket, so it does not cost you anything in that sense but there is still a cost associated with solar. Federal and some state incentives exist that aid in lowering the cost that make going solar a lot more feasible, and you will always save money by going solar if the project is created properly for you and you are in a utility that is charging more than solar for power.
Off the grid?
I am off the grid if I go solar. You are still connected to the grid while you are solar. You will still need to acquire power while the solar is unable to produce power from the sun’s rays such as at night. Furthermore, you want your utility to buy that overproduction back from you if you are lucky enough to be in one that does net metering so be happy to be attached to the grid!
Batteries?
If I have batteries, I can have my whole house powered when the power goes out. Batteries are still quite expensive and they will only power a small number of electronics for a very short amount of time even with having one or two. Battery technology is always increasing so hopefully one day there will exist a cost effective option to power an entire home.
Cloudy?
Solar is not producing any energy if it is cloudy. Even if it is cloudy outside, there is still some sunlight reaching the panels which is producing energy for your home. Think of how you get a sunburn on a cloudy day still!
No more utility bill?
If I have solar, I will no longer have a utility bill. It depends on the utility. Utilities that have great net metering programs will often owe you money most, if not all, of the months of the year. Other utilities, you will still have a utility bill along with a solar bill but your solar bill plus your utility bill with solar is still less than your current utility bill.
Selling Home?
I will not be able to sell my house, or it will be harder to do so, if I go solar. Solar, at its most basic explanation, is a utility that offers power at a certain rate. Solar rates can be cheaper than utility rates. Someone buying your home would like a cheaper rate for power wouldn’t they? Wouldn’t you if you were looking at a home and you could pay less for power? Exactly! It’s all about education and information.
Disliking Solar?
I know people with solar and they hate it because they still have a bill so solar doesn’t work and it’s not worth it. While there are unfortunately some representatives of solar that exist that do not provide proper education, fit home owners with the best programs for them, price their products properly, or disclose everything necessary to know about how solar works with your utility; they do not represent the entire industry and there are those, like Apollo Helios, out there that simply want to help educate homeowners and help them save money.
HOA?
My HOA will not allow solar panels on the homes in my neighborhood. Most states, Arizona is one of them, have laws that regulate solar installations so that HOAs cannot prevent you from going green and saving money. The HOAs generally want to be included in the process and be informed of design plans and the like but that is what companies like Apollo Helios is there for, to help take care of all of that so you don’t have to worry!
Solar panel Longevity
Solar panels won’t last and I don’t want to be locked into a long term agreement since they’ll just stop working. Solar panels are only estimated to degrade in production a fraction of a percent a year. Most panels have a 25 year warranty and a life expectancy of 30-40 years! They just sit there and produce energy without any moving parts so why not use your roof’s real estate to save you money?