Solar panels require a tracking system to follow the angle of the sun
Fact: Though tracking mechanisms can provide efficiency gains for your solar panel system, they typically do not increase efficiency enough to justify the additional expense and maintenance of moving parts in residential situations.
Solar will look ugly on my roof.
Fact: In the last 10 years, there’s been a growing awareness of how smart renewable energy is from both environmental and economic perspective. So solar panels are finally coming into their own and being regarded as an enhancement instead of an eyesore.
When the power goes out, my home is still powered
Fact: When the power goes out, grid-tied systems go out too. That’s because it’s not safe to be pushing electricity back out onto the wires while workers may be trying to fix the problem.
Solar is still so expensive that it will never be able to pay for itself
Fact: Many customers notice excellent savings when they go solar. Furthermore, they enjoy the price predictability throughout their lease. Modern financing options have all but eliminated the barrier to entry for solar, so many households are now able to go solar for little to no money down.
Solar panels will cause my roof to leak, deteriorate, or collapse
Fact: Solar panels actually protect and preserve the portion of the roof they cover Plus, most solar panels are not attached directly to the roof itself, but rather to a mounted railing system.
Solar panels require maintenance
Fact: Solar panels have no moving parts and do not require regular maintenance. Typically, we recommend hosing them off once a year or so, but many panel owners actually never clean the panels and instead rely on the rain to do the job for them.
I will have an excess of energy that will go unused and will be wasted
Fact: Nearly all modern solar panel systems are connected to the conventional electricity grid. When this happens, your meter spins backwards and your utility company credits you for that power.
Solar doesn’t work in cool, cloudy, or foggy climates.
Fact: Solar panels work great in ambient light and will produce significant energy in the fog or on overcast days. In fact, solar panels are almost equally as efficient at cooler temperatures than hot ones.
Solar will get more efficient, so I should wait
Fact: We’re still using the same solar technology we did back in the 1960’s. Since then, solar has become only moderately more efficient (unlike computers or cellphones which experience dramatic improvements in short periods of time). When panels become more efficient, it simply means you wouldn’t need as many, because they’re better at converting.
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