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Solar Energy Allows You to Harness the Power of the Sun and Reduce Household Energy Costs
Solar energy is an infinitely renewable resource that uses the sun’s rays to generate electricity for use in your home. By going solar, you can reduce your energy costs and also lower your dependence on fossil fuels, thereby making your own contribution to a cleaner environment.
A residential solar-energy system uses solar modules (panels), made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells, to harvest the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that can be used to power your lights, appliances, your air conditioner and/or heat pump, and other electrical devices in the home.
BENEFITS:
- It’s free. Solar-energy systems allow you to capture free sunlight and convert it into usable power in your home.
- It’s clean. Solar energy can be used to heat and cool your home, but it has almost no impact on the global climate. By comparison, electricity generated by power plants produces carbon dioxide emissions that scientists say pose serious threats to the environment.
- It reduces your utility costs. Having a system that creates solar energy means you use less electricity from your utility company, and that can contribute to lower heating and cooling costs. This is significant, especially when you consider 56% of energy use in a typical U.S. home comes from heating and cooling*. The Lennox website has a solar calculator, that shows you how much you can save by harnessing energy from the sun.
- It increases your energy self-reliance. The more sunlight harnessed by the system, the less electricity you need from your utility supplier.
- It’s infinitely renewable. While nonrenewable energy sources like oil, gas and coal are becoming increasingly scarce, the sun’s energy is limitless. Wherever sunlight shines, electricity can be generated.
- It’s extremely reliable. The sun has been around for billions of years and is likely to burn on for billions more to come.
- It can also increase your home’s value. An investment in a solar-energy system may improve the value of your home, thanks to its ability to lower the cost of heating and cooling. Surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have shown that home values rise an average of $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills.
- Federal tax incentives available. The U.S. federal government is offering solar tax credits for renewable-energy systems through 2016. Homeowners are eligible for:
- Photovoltaic Energy Installation Tax Credit (25D): 30% of the cost with no upper limit on solar panel installation.
- Additional Solar Tax (25D): 9% of the total retail cost of the outdoor unit when applying solar panels.
- State incentives. Depending on where you live, you may also be eligible for incentives through your utility company. To find out what incentives are available in your area, visit dsireusa.org.
- Lennox Solar Rebates. Lennox is currently offering up to $300 off when you purchase four solar modules.**
*U.S. Department of Energy statistics
**Must purchase qualifying system and install 4 solar panels. Only one bonus per installation/household.
Sources: www.nrel.gov