Should I Make the Switch to Solar in 2023?

Power - by Joe Weber - updated on 4/12/2023

Energy costs are on the rise, power outages are more common than ever and people are getting stranded in their homes with no power for days during severe weather. More and more people are switching to solar power for their homes. See why, over the last decade, solar has become a popular choice for homeowners.

Ten Reasons Why Switching to Solar Just Makes Sense

1. Switching to solar will save you thousands of dollars. On average, homeowners that switch to solar power could save around $100 a month on utility bills. Some may even have no electric bill.
2. Savings start immediately. As soon as your solar system is installed, watch your utility bills begin to reduce.
3. It is easy to switch to solar. Most states have incentive programs in place to make it easy, sometimes with no out-of-pocket costs, to install a new solar system to power your home. Installing solar panels in your home has dropped close to 70% since 2010. It's never been cheaper to switch.
4. Solar can increase the value of your home. According to a study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory  , homes that are sold with solar panels installed sell for roughly 17% - 20% more than homes without.
5. Sell your home faster. In an article by Forbes  , homes with solar systems installed sell approximately 20% faster than homes without solar panels.
6. No surprise price hikes. As many have learned over the years, especially recently, utility companies have been adding numerous surcharges and fees. If you live in a state like Oklahoma, Texas and many other states, you are paying a fee on your bill for the winter storm emergency in 2021. Surprise! Own your power, don't rent it from the utility company.
7. Protect the environment. The cost savings is easily the most popular reason people are switching to solar but it's important to note that there is a positive impact on the environment by switching to solar too. You will reduce your carbon footprint. It doesn't matter who you are, we all know the importance of leaving our planet in better shape for generations to come.
8. Solar can help during a power outage. Severe storm rolling through? You'll be the home with the lights on when everyone else loses power. When you pair your new solar panels with a whole home battery backup as we speak to in "How To Keep Solar Batteries Warm in Winter and Solar Batteries 101", you can store any extra energy that your solar panels capture from the sun for future use.
9. It's adaptable. You don't need a special roof or a certain amount of space. As long as you have direct sunlight, you are good to go.
10. Solar can lead to tax credits. While they may not last forever, there are currently some great federal tax credits available to homeowners who have solar power systems installed. Many states offer tax credits for installing solar panels. Not every state has tax credits available but make sure you check with your state to see what benefits there are for you.

How Does Solar Power Work?

Most of the time when we think about solar power, we picture solar panels. This type of technology that is used in home solar systems is also called Photovoltaics, or PV. A single PV device is called a cell. A solar panel consists of dozens, even hundreds of PV cells connected in a chain.

Solar energy can get very technical. Here is a basic, easy-to-understand guide to how solar energy works in your home.

1. Sunlight, or solar radiation, is absorbed into the PV cells in the solar panel.
2. The collected energy is sent through an inverter to convert the raw DC energy into AC energy to be used in the home.
3. Once the energy is converted into usable energy, it is sent via wires to an electrical panel to distribute the energy as needed in the home.
4. If you collect more energy than you use, the excess energy is sent back into the utility grid for others to use. Unless…
5. Installing a whole home battery backup in conjunction with your solar panels will allow you to store that excess energy for your personal use if the power goes out, there's a lack of sunlight for long periods or other reasons.

It is important to note that if your home uses gas or oil to power any appliances, you will still receive your usual bill for that service.

Where Can I Get More Information On Solar Power?

If you want to dig into what solar energy is and how it works, the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy has a division dedicated to solar power, the Solar Energy Technologies Office  .

Through this site you can really dig deep and learn all there is to know about solar energy from the commonly seen Photovoltaics technology to the less common Concentrating Solar-thermal Power (CSP) that uses the sun to generate heat using mirrors.

There's so much to learn about this fascinating energy source. Solar energy isn't going away, in fact, it's getting more popular by the day, so learn all you can today to be better prepared for tomorrow.

Does Batteries Plus Offer Any Solar Solutions?

Batteries Plus offers a great selection of Goal Zero power stations and accessories to power your home appliances and your outdoor adventures. Pair the Goal Zero Yeti 500X with a Boulder 100 Briefcase Solar Panel to have a fantastic power supply for your camping trips or a backup power source for power outages.

If you are looking for an environmentally friendly solution to power your whole home in a blackout, pair the Goal Zero Home Integration Kit (professional installation required) with the larger Yeti 1500X or 3000X to easily switch to Yeti power to keep essential appliances running when the power is out.

See our entire Goal Zero lineup by visiting our Goal Zero brand shop or your local store today.

Deciding which solar power station or accessory to purchase can be daunting, learn more about what Batteries Plus has to offer by reading "Find Your Solar Power Solution at Batteries Plus".