Pros and Cons of Solar Energy

Solar energy is a growing industry that an increasing number of homeowners welcome with open arms, in a manner of speaking. The pros and cons of solar energy have been making the rounds for many years now and discussions on the matter are set to continue with new advances in technology related to this eco-friendly method of power generation. In this article, these pros and cons are discussed in brief.

It must be noted that the personal experiences of a homeowner in relation to the pros and cons of solar power will be unique in one way or another. For example, a do-it-yourself enthusiast who chose to build, install and maintain his home’s solar energy system composed of solar panels, battery and inverter may enjoy a higher level of satisfaction from the final output while also enjoying greater monetary savings. In contrast, a homeowner who chose to have a professional install the system may enjoy the long-term benefits but must shoulder the initial costs of installation, which will definitely be higher.

So, when reading through the following pros and cons of solar energy, keep in mind that these are general statements made in light of an average consumer’s experience with the alternative energy source.

The benefits of solar energy can be divided into three distinct groups, namely, personal financial savings, environmental impact, and economic effect. As it will be soon observed, these benefits are interrelated on many points and are also related to the demerits seen with the alternative source of energy. Of course, it will be necessary to discuss the bulk of the pros and cons of solar energy before the second relationship comes to light.

Financial Savings

First, let’s discuss the personal financial savings of going the solar energy route. Many homeowners choose the DIY route because of the substantial savings on the labor fees of the building professionals and on the profit margins of the middleman in the purchase of the system components.

For example, if you choose to build the solar panels, just $100 is sufficient for the purpose with another hundred dollars for the other components of the system. In contrast, a small solar panel system built by professionals can cost as much as $2,750 with large systems going for $22,000 and above.

If we assume that you spent more than a few thousand dollars on a solar energy system, which is the only con in the pros and cons of solar energy discussion on the financial side, there are two good pieces of news that will surely brighten up your day. For one thing, the federal and most state governments offer incentives, discounts and rebates for homeowners undertaking solar installations with many more local governments also joining the act. This translates to substantial savings on the purchase costs of the materials used on the project.

For another thing, the initial investments on the solar energy system can be recouped in a short time. The household’s main grid electricity consumption is lessened in both kilowatt-hours and dollars, which will add up to a recoupment of the initial investment in as little as 6 months to one year for average installations.

And when the initial investment has been recouped, the electricity generated by the solar energy system is practically free. Add in the net metering and rebates programs of the utility company supplying the main grid electricity and homeowners have more reasons to go solar. Indeed, the pros and cons of solar energy are such that the pros will always outweigh the cons in the financial aspect.

Environmental Impact

Second, the environmental impact of solar energy is well known to be on the positive side. Keep in mind that solar energy is the most renewable source of energy since the sun will burn for another 5 billion years even at the tremendous rate of nuclear fusion going on within its core. The sun can be accessed almost anywhere on Earth with absolutely no need to dig holes through the Earth, mow down mountains and chop down trees.

Solar energy also does not contribute to the development of acid rain, smog and greenhouse gases, which means that it does not contribute to global warming. In fact, it may well be our best answer to stop such a disturbing event that has adversely impacted many populated regions of the world via natural disasters.

Solar panels and the like also do not contribute to the worsening pollution problem of most countries in the world. Carbon dioxides, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and other harmful gases are not released into the air while there is also no need for the storage of fuel and radioactive materials on the ground. The Fukushima nuclear plant crisis emphasized the need to look closely at the pros and cons of solar energy with more focus on the pros.

People will not even worry about noise pollution. Solar energy systems have no moving parts that grate on the ears for miles and miles.

The only notable demerit with solar energy in terms of the environment is the vast land requirements for solar power plants. But if each household can produce its own solar electricity and power, then the need for industrial plants can be lessened. Again, the pros and cons of solar energy show that the cons can always be bypassed with ingenious ways to take advantage of the pros.

Economic Effect

Many advocates of solar power and other alternative sources of energy like wind have pointed out the country’s dependence on foreign sources of fossil fuel like coal and petroleum. These powerful monopolies can choose to lessen or block their exports to the country, which will adversely affect virtually all industries. Natural disasters and other international events can also significantly affect the amount of fossil fuel coming into our shores.

With solar energy, the country can be less dependent on the uncertainty that surround oil and oil products from countries in the Middle East and other sources. As long as the sun is shining, our homes, schools and businesses have electricity to power up the economy and daily life.

The abovementioned discussion of the pros and cons of solar energy only underlined the imperative urgency to raise the awareness among more homeowners. Only then can we enjoy the democracy of living under one sun and living off its power in more ways than one.