The Dawning of a New Solar Age
Not too long ago, the idea of powering our homes entirely with the sun’s energy was considered nothing more than a pipe dream. But my friends, the future is here – and it’s bright, clean, and infinitely renewable.
You see, I’m a self-proclaimed solar energy nerd. Back in 2020, my spouse and I decided to take the plunge and install a solar panel array on our humble city rowhouse. And let me tell you, the numbers I’ve crunched since then have got me more excited than a kid on Christmas morning.
First off, let’s talk about that good ol’ reliable sun. Did you know that every single hour, the Earth is bombarded with 430 quintillion joules of energy from our nearest star? That’s enough to meet the entire world’s energy needs for a whole year! Source Yet, as of 2021, solar energy only accounts for a measly 2.8% of the total energy used in the US. Source That’s just criminal, in my opinion.
But the tides are turning, my friends. Solar power is no longer just a curiosity project – it’s a legitimate, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly solution that’s taking the world by storm. In fact, the global solar energy market is projected to skyrocket from a value of $525 billion in 2018 to a staggering $2.233 trillion by 2026. Source And my friends, that’s just the beginning.
The Solar-Powered Home of the Future is Here (and It’s Fantastic)
When my spouse and I decided to go solar, I have to admit – I was a bit of a skeptic at first. The upfront cost of installing those panels on our roof was no small potatoes. But after crunching the numbers, I can say with absolute certainty that it was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.
You see, our 23 solar panels are rated to produce a total of 828 kilowatts (kW) of power. Source And on a bright, cloudless day, we’ve seen those panels peak at an impressive 6.6 kW of output when the sun is highest in the sky. That’s enough juice to power our entire home and then some!
In fact, in our first full month with the panels installed, our solar energy production accounted for a whopping 75% of our total energy consumption. Source And over the course of the entire first year, our solar panels provided an impressive 38% of our total energy needs. Source
But the best part? That excess energy we produce during the day doesn’t go to waste. Thanks to the magic of net metering, it gets fed right back into the grid, earning us credits on our utility bill. And let me tell you, those credits add up fast – in our first year, we saw an estimated $1,058 in savings. Source
Of course, the initial investment in our solar setup wasn’t exactly pocket change. But with the 26% federal solar tax credit and the insane value of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) here in Washington, DC, we were able to recoup that cost in a little under 9 years. Source And after that, it’s nothing but pure, clean, and renewable energy powering our home for decades to come.
The Future is Bright (and Sustainable)
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “That’s all well and good, Josh, but what about the rest of us? Can the average homeowner really afford to go solar?” Well, my friends, the answer is a resounding “yes!”
You see, the cost of solar panel installation has plummeted in recent years, making it more accessible than ever before. In fact, according to Goldman Sachs, new financing structures and leasing options have allowed homeowners to go solar with little to no upfront cost. And the savings on their energy bills can often cover the lease payments, leaving them with money to spare.
But the benefits of solar power go far beyond just financial savings. By tapping into the sun’s endless supply of clean, renewable energy, homeowners are doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint and fight climate change. In 2015 alone, the 7 gigawatts of solar installed in the US avoided over 10 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions – the equivalent of the carbon sequestered by over 10 million acres of forests.
And the impact doesn’t stop there. The growth of the solar industry has also been a boon for job creation, with the US solar workforce growing by a whopping 25% in 2016 – that’s 15 times the job growth of the overall economy. Source
So, my friends, the writing is on the wall. The solar-powered home of the future is here, and it’s changing the game in ways we never could have imagined. Whether you’re looking to save money, reduce your carbon footprint, or simply be on the cutting edge of the renewable energy revolution, Solar A Systems Inc has the solutions you need to make it happen.
