While most people already know that solar energy is green energy, and green energy is good for the environment, others are just now finding out that there's a lot of money to be saved by using green energy. If you were to switch to some solar methods, you could save thousands of dollars on energy costs over the long run.
If you have any type of outdoor lights or any waterworks in your yard, like a pool or pond filter, you don't have to run these fixtures off of electricity. You can find solar powered options that will run 100% on sunlight, thus saving you a lot of money.
Another great way to save some money on your electricity bill is to switch to a solar powered water heater. Most water heaters that run off of electricity create very large expenses over the course of their lives. It takes a lot of energy to heat water using electrical current. So switching to a solar heater is a wise choice.
If you wanted to become completely energy independent, you could always attach some solar cells to your roof. Of course, this is going to be a large investment up front, but you can easily make this money back over the course of a decade or so. Let's say that you're paying $200 every month for your electricity. Well, now you're paying $0, so that's a savings of $2,400 every year. The average solar cells cost over $20k (not including the rebates you'll get back), so in a few years the system will pay for itself.
So, how do you make money with solar cells? Well, first off, you won't have to pay anything on your electricity bill. But the best part is that you can actually sell the excess power back to your utility provider. They will pay you for the power you provide. You might not get the same rate that they'd charge you, but you will earn some money by selling power to the grid.
You should always be sure to check that your local ordinance allows for solar panels or other green energy methods you're looking into. Some neighborhoods might consider panels to be an eye sore, so check out your ordinance before installing anything.
You should also check to ensure that you don't need any type of government-specific permits to install your solar panels. Although you can receive grants and tax rebates, you might still need permits before you begin the installation process.
The types of tax credits you can receive by installing solar panels on your home all depends on where you live. You might be able to find both state and federal tax breaks, or you may only be dealing with federal incentives. Either way, you will definitely get something back for making the change to green solar energy.
Although it might be a rather large investment to pay all at once, there are many different incentives available to you for installing solar panels. Think about solar energy when you need to save money on your bills.