Solar Benefits
There are many great reasons to go solar. Here are a few we at Kootenay Solar believe are important:
1. Reduce or eliminate your electric bills
One of the biggest benefits to installing a solar PV system on your home or business is a significant reduction in your monthly energy bills. A roof or ground mount system can offset your energy bills from 20 to 100 percent. In addition, British Columbia offers a net metering program. This allows any excess power that you produce to flow back into the grid, which is added to your utility bill as a credit.
2. Earn a great return on your investment
Solar arrays provide an average 4-7% annual ROI, which is a great addition to your investment portfolio.
Why not pay yourself instead?
3. Protect against rising electricity rates
Electricity continues to become more expensive. In BC, for example, over the last 20 years, energy rates have risen by an average of four per cent per year. Projections ensure that it will continue to rise, which means your electricity bills will keep going up. As well, the Clean BC Act is mandating that all vehicles and home heating and cooling systems must be electrified. Solar systems protect you from rising costs because instead of buying power from the utility companies, you are producing and in effect owning and stabilizing your own electricity costs. As the price of power increases, the payback of your solar array will only get better as well.
4. Increase your property value
Solar PV systems add value to your home by reducing your property’s monthly electricity bills. They also add monetary value. Buildings with solar PV systems can increase property value by up to four per cent and industry reports indicate that they spend less time on the market. So you’ll recoup your investment if you stay or if you decide to sell!
5. Protect the environment
Solar power is 100 percent clean, renewable energy. Unlike natural gas, coal or propane, solar panels emit no greenhouse gasses during their power production lifecycle, which can last up to 40+ years! By choosing solar, you are making a positive contribution to the environment and showing leadership in reducing our collective carbon footprint.