With economic pressures, many people want to reduce their outgoings. Household bills are one way to reduce without sacrificing something you enjoy, such as your weekly food treat. With the rising energy prices, gas and home power are two of the main increases we can control.
While you can use your car less to save on gas, reducing your household energy costs can be a little more difficult. Especially if you have a large household, you may not be able to stop using a dryer or heating system as you may be able to if you live alone.
One of the main ways we see people try to reduce their household bills is by looking at alternative power sources. Using wind or solar power is an excellent way to continue using the appliances you want to while reducing your monthly outgoings.
Below, we will focus on solar panels and whether they are worth the time, cost, and perceived upheaval that having them installed will be.
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Time
The time it will take to install your solar panels from start to finish will vary depending on several factors. The time will be impacted by the waiting list of the company you choose, the size of your home, the number of panels you require, and the package you take for your power system.
Any company you choose to install solar panels will follow a similar process to deal with your initial inquiry. So, the first thing to do is find the company you are interested in, such as EverSolar Calgary, and contact them to begin the process.
The sooner you get in touch, the earlier the installation will take place, so it is best to inquire and begin the process, even if you change your mind later and cancel before paying for the work. Choose a company with a no-obligation inquiry and assessment process for more flexibility.
The process before the installation appointment may take a little time while the structural assessment of your roof is completed to ensure it is safe to install the panels. The installation process does not take very long, with standard installation possible in as little as two days.
During the planning stage, the company will advise you how long the process will take to complete from start to finish. With the amount of money that can be saved by installing solar panels, even if you do not live in an area that is sunny all year round, the time it takes to install solar panels is worth it.
Cost
The cost of solar panels is the most off-putting factor for most people considering investing in renewable energy for their homes. Investment is the right word, as solar panels are expensive.
However, the savings you can experience from using renewable energy will, over time, far outweigh the cost of installation. Solar panels will pay for themselves in the amount you save within seven to fifteen years.
Seven to fifteen years may seem like a long time, but you can decrease the time it takes to have them paid off by seeing what grants are available to you. Local governments and other companies offer grants to reduce the initial installation cost, helping you save more money quickly.
If no grants are available, solar panel companies will offer payment plans to pay for the panels as you use them. Paying monthly for the solar panels after installation is beneficial as you can use the money you save on your energy bills to meet the payments.
Another way to reduce the overall cost of solar panel installation is to utilize the option to sell energy back to your energy provider. The option to sell back energy to your energy supplier is not available to everyone with every energy company. So, it may be best to look at what is available in your area and switch suppliers to one that offers this.
Selling energy back to your supplier will be possible by installing a storage unit for energy generated by your solar panels. Although installing this will increase the initial installation cost, it will make the panels more cost-effective.
Although you may be dismayed by the cost of solar panels, you will begin to save money as soon as they are installed, and once paid off, all of the savings will be yours.
Upheaval
You may think installing solar panels means a huge amount of upheaval and the removal of furniture from every room directly under the roof. However, this is not the case, and the installation is less upheaval than most people expect.
Most of the installation will be on the outside of your property, meaning, as mentioned above, a structural check will be required before installation can begin. After this, the panels will be installed onto your roof, and then access to your home will be required to install the wiring and battery.
The internal installation will require access to the under-roof space for the wiring; if you have an attic, this will all need to be accessed. During the planning and assessment stages, the installers will tell you what they need access to and give you time to prepare your home for the installation.
Whether you are looking at solar panels specifically or renewable energy in general, the savings you can make, for most people, will be worth the time, cost, and upheaval of the installation. The short-term time and upheaval considerations are relatively minor and will not be too much of an inconvenience for you.
The cost of installing renewable energy can be significant, so we strongly recommend you investigate the available grants in your area to reduce this cost. Utilizing all available grants can halve the time it will take for renewable energy to pay for itself.
It is also beneficial to look into selling energy back to your supplier as a way to reduce your bills further. Under the right circumstances, you can be making a profit on your electricity bills with solar panels.
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