Pros and Cons of Home Solar Panel Arrays

As Americans grow more conscious of their impact on the global environment and simultaneously seek to save money on their monthly bills due to the current struggles of our complacent economy the idea of home solar panel arrays is becoming increasingly attractive and popular to a wider base of homeowners. Before you decide whether or not is is a proper fit for you and your household there are some important pros and cons that you should take into account regarding solar panels.

Home Solar Panel Array Pros

Perhaps the most obvious here is that you are doing the environmentally responsible thing. Solar panel arrays harness the power of the sun and allow you to produce electricity in a renewable way that also does not put out harmful byproducts which affect our environment. If you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint this is one of the best ways to do so.

If you elect to go with home solar panels and do it on a large enough scale not only will you be able to save money by eliminating your electric bill but local utilities are required to purchase back excess electricity you produce at a premium rate; this means you will make money instead of paying it and help provide those in your community with clean energy as opposed to that created by a coal burning power plant.

The Federal Government, at least for the time being, is also now allowing you to either write off the expense of initial construction and installation or receive up to a $1,500 tax rebate, depending on your particular position.

Cons of Household Solar Panel Arrays

While all of this may sound great there are also some detracting factors to a home solar panel array; the largest of which is the initial start up. In order to have enough panels to make a large dent you will have to invest thousands and usually the tax breaks help to cover only a very small portion of this. Although you will recoup the savings eventually it should be considered a long term investment that will take years to see your savings.

Not all locales are well suited for solar panels. Obviously, if the sun is not there on a regular basis you will not be producing electricity on a regular basis. Further more areas such as coastal Florida which are prone to hurricanes have been known to result in the loss of entire solar panel arrays during a storm which could quite possibly put you out thousands before you even get the chance to recoup your initial investment.

Finally you need to consider upkeep of a solar panel array. They require at the least seasonal cleaning and often become cracked and need replacement under extreme elements, this is compounded in an environment with harsh winters.