Many homeowners and businesses in Arkansas are powering their lives with the sun’s energy by adding solar panels to their property. You’ve likely heard of renewable energy by now, but still might not be convinced that solar power is right for you. Every home and business is unique, and their solar arrays are too.
Learning everything you need to know about solar panels in Arkansas is a great first step, so we compiled this guide to help you understand. Included:
- How solar power works
- Cost considerations
- Categories of solar arrays
- Benefits
- And more!
Why Solar Power?
When your home or business runs on solar power, you can still operate anything standard electricity does. The big difference is you don’t have to use dirty and harmful emissions to do so. It’s a much cleaner way to power your property, and while the upfront investment may seem high, you’ll make up for it in the long run.
Understanding How Solar Power Works
If you’ve ever looked at solar panels in Arkansas, you’ve likely noticed they are composed of several small squares. Those small squares are generally referred to as photovoltaic cells, or sometimes called PV cells or solar cells. The photovoltaic cells have both a negative layer and a positive layer. When the sun shines on the negative layer, the electrons within the layer shift to the positive layer, which creates solar energy. It’s a rather basic concept, but the impacts of solar energy on our daily lives are monumental!
How Solar Panels In Arkansas Can Work For Your Home
One thing you need to know about solar panels is they produce Direct Current (DC) electricity. However, most homes and businesses use Alternating Current (AC) electricity. This is a simple adjustment when you have a certified professional install your panels in Arkansas. Our team will install a solar inverter to convert the DC electricity into AC electricity. With the conversion to AC electricity, you can use your solar power to turn the lights on, watch television, cook food, run your company’s computers and machinery and anything else you use electricity for.
What Is Involved In The Process Of Installing Solar Panels?
Installing solar panels should always be done by an experienced professional. Several factors should be considered when determining whether solar panels are right for your home or business. Some of those factors include:
- Whether your roof is shaded by trees
- The age of your roof
- Which way your roof is facing (south-facing roofs are ideal)
- The slope of your roof (15- to 40-degree slopes are ideal)
When you work with a certified professional to install your solar panels in Arkansas, you can have peace of mind knowing they will work correctly and efficiently. The first step is to call a professional solar installer to determine how you can benefit from solar power.
How Affordable Is Solar Power In Arkansas?
The cost of installing solar panels in Arkansas has decreased significantly in the last decade. Solar panels are now more affordable than ever before, and most Arkansas residents can expect to pay roughly $18,000-$20,000 to have their solar array installed. This upfront cost might create some sticker shock, but when you think about the tax credits, incentives, and cost savings over time, the cost is much easier to justify. We will cover those savings and credits a bit later.
Long-Term Savings To Consider With Solar Panels
One of the biggest factors to consider when switching to solar power is the savings you can enjoy over time. Energy consumption is different among all households, but according to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average homeowner in Louisiana will save roughly $287 every year by switching to solar power. This number could be higher or lower based on multiple factors, but regardless of your array size, you’ll slowly begin recovering your upfront installation cost.
Is Financing Available?
Consumers have plenty of financing options to choose from if they want to install solar panels in Arkansas. If you purchase your solar array, you can apply for a solar loan to offset the upfront cost in favor of smaller monthly payments. Think of these loans as a home improvement loan, but sometimes if it’s designated as a “solar energy loan,” then the interest rates will be lower than the traditional home improvement loan. And if you’re a new homeowner, you may be able to make your solar array part of your mortgage.
What About Tax Breaks Or State Incentives For Going Solar?
Anyone who installs solar panels in Arkansas in 2022 can take advantage of the 26% Investment Tax Credit. This is a huge incentive for anyone thinking about switching to solar power. The tax credit is decreasing to 22% in 2023 and will not be available after that, so you can maximize your investment by installing your solar array now.
You Could Recover Solar Costs When Selling Your Home
Whether you’re planning to live in your home for the rest of your life or if you might sell it in the near or distant future, solar panels are still a good choice. Homes with solar panels are comparable to common upgrades or renovations to the kitchen, bathroom, or other areas of a home. By going solar, you increase the chances of your home selling quickly, and buyers could also be motivated to pay a premium for it.
Solar Power Array Categories
We talked about photovoltaic solar arrays previously and now want to dive into the different categories they fall in:
- Grid-Tied Solar Arrays
- Hybrid Solar Arrays
- Off-Grid Solar Arrays
Grid-Tied Solar Arrays
Grid-tied solar arrays are the most common type you’ll see in Arkansas. Grid-tied solar arrays simply mean your home will be powered by your solar panels, but if your panels produce excess electricity, the excess is pushed onto the grid. On the flip side, if your panels don’t produce enough electricity at times, then electricity from the grid will help you power your home.
Hybrid Solar Arrays
Hybrid solar arrays are connected to an on-site battery storage array as well as the grid. The difference between a hybrid array compared to a grid-tied array is any excess energy your solar array produces is stored in the battery rather than being pushed back onto the grid. On days when you need extra electricity, you’ll use the stored electricity from the battery and won’t have to rely on the utility company.
Off-Grid Solar Arrays
Off-grid solar arrays mean you won’t be tied into the grid at all. This can drive up the cost of your solar array since you’ll need more panels and significant battery storage. Not all solar firms can design and install off-grid arrays, so choose carefully and check references.
Benefits Of Using Solar Power For Your Home
Now that we’ve discussed a lot of the important details and factors to consider with solar energy, let’s talk about the benefits of installing solar panels in Arkansas. Whether you’re looking for cost-saving benefits, pursuing renewable energy sources, or having the freedom to choose where your electricity comes from, you’ve got plenty of benefits to consider when going solar.
Lower Monthly Energy Costs
Homeowners can expect to save several hundred dollars on energy bills annually when they switch to solar energy. Depending on how you use electricity, this number could be in the thousands of dollars. If you’ve dreaded receiving electricity bills during the peak summer or winter months, you won’t have to worry anymore when you use solar energy. The bills will be much lower and more consistent thanks to your solar array. When you calculate your monthly or annual savings, you can see how solar arrays pay for themselves over time.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Switching to solar can reduce your carbon footprint since it is a renewable energy source. Unlike fossil fuels, solar panels don’t release pollutants or carbon emissions in the air when generating electricity. According to a study by Mashail S. Arif of the University of California, Berkeley, a residential solar array “has the capability of providing for the electricity needs of an entire home with about 80% lower carbon emissions than fossil fuels.” This is an eye-popping statistic when you think about how many carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere every day.
Choose The Solar Array You Want
You have the choice to install different types of solar panels in Arkansas. With the help of a solar panel expert, you can install a customized array designed to meet your specific needs. Having this freedom and flexibility can give you peace of mind knowing you don’t have to rely as much on things outside of your control, like utility companies increasing rates each year. You can be well on your way to having control of your money when you install a solar array.
Solar Arrays Are More Accessible Than Ever Before
The future of renewable energy is promising. As more people have installed solar arrays on their homes across the country, the cost has fallen, making solar panels more accessible than they’ve ever been. When you combine the accessibility with the tax breaks and other incentives available to you, there’s no better time than now to install solar panels in Arkansas.
Rely On Experts For Solar Panel Installation
The last point to always consider is to only rely on experts for your solar panel installation. No matter how handy you might be, there’s no comparison to having an experienced and certified solar panel installer handle the design and installation for your home. Not only will you have peace of mind knowing the panels were installed correctly, but any of the manufacturer warranties will still be in place and local technicians are a phone call away if you have any problems with your array.
Seal Solar installs solar panels in Arkansas to help homeowners and business owners take control of their energy needs, while reducing energy costs at the same time. Consumers are at the mercy of their energy companies, which usually means high utility bills and increasing rates. When you work with Seal Solar, you’ll be on your way to becoming energy independent, having more money in your pocket every month, and taking control of your future with the help of solar power.
If this aligns with your vision for the present and future, contact us today to get a quick free solar array estimate for your home or business.
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