Many people have a misunderstanding of what it means if they decide they’re “going solar”. They erroneously think that as the winter (and reduced daylight) approaches, they’ll never be able to save any money if they rely on the sun’s energy. Though they may want to have a back-up generator, that doesn’t mean that solar isn’t worth the investment. In fact, it can eventually pay for itself.
The important thing to understand is that solar panels, created using photovoltaic (PV) cells, are built so that they can collect and ultimately store the energy they reap. Thus, even if the sun isn’t shining, they remain effective. The energy they’ve harvested doesn’t simply dissipate; that’s why they can be a source of electricity, even if it’s a “dark and stormy night”.
With that being said, going solar doesn’t mean that installers will follow the same process, or use the same materials, for each structure. Factors including size of a property, the direction its roof faces, the area of the country in which it is located, etc., will determine how best to maximize solar power. As mentioned before, not all locations can be run solely on solar, but that doesn’t mean home or business owners can’t significantly cut their cooling and heating costs.
If you’ve been considering going solar, it’s a good idea to sit down with a specialist and figure out the best way to take advantage of the sun’s energy. That way, you can make the smartest decision when it comes to investing in solar power.