A solar-powered house provides a variety of benefits for the occupant and the environment, including lower operating costs, zero emissions and less maintenance. Converting your home to solar power is not as simple as screwing collector panels to your roof, however, and a look at both the pluses and minuses of this energy system will help you make the right decision for you.
Large Initial Investment
Depending on where you live, what type of technology you choose, and what types of incentives and rebates you can receive from government agencies and power companies, the cost of converting a house to solar energy can be in the high five figures. The average payback time as of 2007 was 14 years, according to California Public Utilities Commission senior regulatory analyst, Polly N. Shaw, quoted in a “New York Times” article. This does not take into consideration that the day your house goes solar, you’ve increased its sale value.
Additional Maintenance
Because a solar energy system has fewer moving parts than traditional heating and cooling systems, there is less potential for frequent repair issues. However, due to the low number of companies that sell and service solar systems, maintenance calls may take longer to answer and prices may be more expensive. It’s a good idea to review typical maintenance issues, service times and repair costs before you buy from a particular supplier.
Additionally, if you need to replace shingles, roof tiles or otherwise repair your roof, you’ll need to remove the solar panels from the roof first, increasing chances of their being damaged, and temporarily putting them out of service. Pollution, hail, damage from nearby trees and other objects can degrade and decrease the effectiveness of solar panels and require repairs.
Reliance on Sunlight
Obviously, solar energy systems rely on sunlight. Darkness, snow, rain, cloud and pollution all affect the effectiveness of solar energy generation. Because of this, not all locales are good choices for a solar home.
Increased Insurance Costs
Because solar panels may significantly increase the value of your home, you may see increased homeowner’s insurance costs, according to the website InsuranceAgents.com.
Rapidly Emerging Technology
Like any new technology, solar home systems do not look like they did 10 years ago and will most probably use different and better technology 10 years from now. If you purchase solar technology for your home expecting to benefit from a higher sales price for your home in five or more years from now, you may be stuck with an outdated system.