Residential Solar Power Statistically Speaking

Did you know that the average American household uses around 10,000 kWh of electricity per year? This amount would be lessened if people would invest in more energy efficient windows and appliances, and replace their insulation. These cost saving improvements alone would save hundreds of dollars a year. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent ones is another cost saving opportunity that many people are using (and it is a fairly cheap upgrade now as well). Other cost-saving measures include turning lights off when you leave a room and unplugging items that you’re not using. However, the only way to finally break your ties to the power grid is through residential solar power. The initial not-so-inexpensive costs of having the system installed will pay off once you can power your own house.

What Size Does Your Home Need

There are a variety of residential solar power systems available for use. System capacities range from 1,000 watts to cover 50 square feet, to 25,000 watts, to cover 1600 square feet. A 10,000-watt system will save the average homeowner approximately $50,000 over 25 years while still supplying the 10,000 kWh needed. Because of the different sizes of homes and the amount of power each household uses, homeowners’ savings from using a residential solar power system may vary. Many people choose to supplement rather than replace their reliance on the power grid with residential solar power as solar power systems powerful enough to supply enough electricity for the average home are still a little expensive. For many homeowners, the $75,000 cost associated with the installation of this kind of system is not possible, even for the promised thousands of dollars of savings.

Tax credits and Government incentives are available for those homeowners looking to upgrade their home that can be used to lower the initial set-up fees. For example, if your $75,000 solar power system is eligible for a tax credit of $35,000, that means you will only have to pay $40,000 out of pocket. Tax credits greatly decrease the cost of residential solar power, spurring the market with monetary incentives.

More Solar Energy Advantages:

As our cars make the transition from gasoline engines to electric motors, our power grid will be taxed even further. Switching to residential solar power will ensure that our power grid is available for our grandchildren, decrease our household expenses in a time when costs are going up, and preserve our environment.