National Solar Appreciation Day!

March 10th is National Solar Appreciation Day, and this year we have all sorts of reasons to celebrate! Solar appreciation day is an international and national day to celebrate energy independence and sustainability. This day was founded in 2009, and every year since then its anniversary celebration has become more important in the lives of people around the world. 

1. Solar Appreciation and the Environment

Through solar, energy independence is possible in a world where the cost of electricity is on the rise. There are three main reasons why this is so important. The first is that of environmental friendliness and conservation. Currently, big oil companies are getting away with making huge profits off your dime. And let’s be honest, oil combustion produces carbon emissions that drive the global warming crisis. And when you combine that will fossil fuel and coal combustion, transportation services, and deforestation, it’s easy to see why clean, renewable energy production is such a major topic. For example, the average residential solar system that Belmont Solar provides for our customers is about the equivalent of 6,200 trees planted, 50 vehicles off the road, and about 560 barrels of oil not consumed over a 30 year period.

2. Solar Appreciation and Your Wallet

But solar isn’t just an environmental saver in its green energy; rather, the green also extends to your wallet. The energy savings of solar power can pay your loan payments, and/or pay you back your investment. It is one type of home improvement that will pay for itself, and protect you from the rising cost of energy at the same time. For example, if you normally use 1,200 kWh of electricity at $0.13 per kWh, your savings are $156 per month. That’s the money you would spend on electricity per month without solar. This $156 is the extra money that you are now pocketing and will continue to pocket, and even more, as electricity rates rise over the years.

If when planning your solar panel system you end up choosing grid-tied solar you will also be able to earn money in addition to what you are saving on electricity every month. Your earnings will come from Solar Renewable Energy Credits that are calculated based on the total amount of solar power your system produces throughout the year. SRECs are an excellent way to turn your grid-tied solar system into a profitable investment for your future.

3. Solar Appreciation and Your Home’s Value

Lastly, solar energy systems present certain incentives for a homeowner. For example, the investment tax credit (ITC) allows homeowners to deduct 26 percent of the cost of installing a solar energy system from their federal taxes. This applies to both residential and commercial systems. In addition to that, solar also raises the value of a house. The real estate industry is now seeing the added value of solar systems and is currently working to create better, more accurate methods of determining the market value for homes with solar. If an individual needs to sell their solarized house at some point, they should have no trouble getting a good return on their investment.

I’m sure you would agree those are 3 amazing reasons why we should remember and celebrate National Solar Appreciation Day. And what better way to celebrate than to join the solar energy revolution? If you live in PA or MD, our team at Belmont Solar is ready to help you get started. We can work with you to make a custom solar energy plan that fits your unique needs and goals. Getting a quote is free and easy, and financing is available. Isn’t it time to discover what the sun can do for you?