Presently, in New York, there is a lot of potential for the growth of solar energy. There has already been almost 100,000 solar installations and many new ones are in the process. But there is much more progress to be made. Through community solar, incentive programs, and tax rebates the solar industry and the state government have joined forces to boost our solar levels and create a cleaner more sustainable city.
Can You Go Solar?
Unfortunately, installing solar panels isn’t available to everyone. 57 percent of homes aren’t able to go solar due to their location or weak roofing. To determine if a home is a good fit for solar, solar installers first inspect the roof. Just because you can’t get solar panels on your home doesn’t mean you can’t have a piece of the renewable energy cake. Community Solar is your solution. Community solar is when a local solar facility is shared by many different members of the community. For all those who can’t get solar on their roofs, they can lease a number of panels from the collective community solar facility, and the electricity generated from their rented panels will be directed towards their home. There is a lot to learn about community solar for all homeowners who aren’t eligible for their own solar installation.
Should I Go Solar?
There are a few reasons why some people decide NOT to go solar:
Aesthetics
- Some homeowners may not like how the panels look on their roof.
Roof Leaks
- Occasionally, a roof will leak after installation due to the racking that was inserted to situate the panels.
Animals Eating Wiring
- The wiring connecting the panels to the inverter may sometimes be chewed by squirrels or other animals.
Snow melts off fast
- No matter the season, the sun still shines. During snow season, the snow that falls on the panels would melt off immediately and may fall to unwanted places.
Doesn’t produce the desired amount of electricity
- Before Installations, the homeowners and the installers work out how much solar energy they want to generate and through that they decide how many panels will be needed. But not always does the clean energy output meet the intended numbers.
All these disadvantages can happen to homeowners who are focused on installing solar for the cheapest price, but it’s the quality that matters. A top quality installer, like YSG Solar, is imperative in the solar installation process to ensure you get the best out of your solar experience. YSG Solar uses panels from Panasonic, one of the top three manufacturers in the country, and has a 25-year system warranty as part of their solar package.
On the other hand, there are considerable benefits in going solar that should also be part of one's decision to go solar:
REV – Reforming the Energy Vision is New York’s energy strategy to have 50% of the state’s energy powered by solar by 2030. To achieve this goal, the state government has invested over 3,810 million dollars in NY-Sun Initiative.
The initiative provides:
- Incentive programs
- Including tax rebates and reductions to make it more affordable.
- Education
- Providing the solar information people need to make an informed decision.
- Government Resources
- Training and tools to help local governments identify and take advantage of opportunities to expand and create solar programs.
- Community Solar
- Increasing the access to community solar to make it easy to participate.
New York State Energy Research & Development (NYSERDA) is at the forefront of this initiative and they, along with Governor Cuomo, are working to make it as easy as possible for homeowners and businesses to go solar.
Economic Benefit
Going solar is also economically beneficial. Electrical rates can get extremely high. New York uses a lot of electricity for a number of necessities, and this high usage can drive up your bill to astronomical prices. When you install solar, Most of your electrical usage is being powered by the sun and your bill will decrease drastically. There are many cases where a homeowner’s bill goes down from 250 dollars to 36 dollars.
Environmental Benefit
Environmentally, the electricity coming from the fossil- fuel-based grid is replaced with clean solar energy derived from the sun. With solar, you are reducing the carbon footprint which comes from the use of fossil fuels and you are helping New York fight climate change. Plus, you benefit economically. It’s a Win-Win!
Going Solar is a hard decision, and there is a lot to consider, but making an informed decision is the most important. With all the pros and cons in this article, we hope you make the correct decision to help the environment and make New York a safe, clean state.
For More Information on How You Can Help the Environment Contact Us or Call at 516.855.7283
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