If you’ve ever paid any attention, you probably noticed that whenever some kind of technological advancement emerges, there’s always a considerable amount of misinformation about it… Some people like to call it “fake news.” Nonetheless, people have access to tons of information right their fingertips, and because of the ease of access to information, it gives way to the spreading of those myths, causing many to become skeptics.
This spreading of misinformation is especially true in reference to solar energy. There are several misconceptions about it that prevent people from making the switch, but the silver lining in it would be the fact that people are at least talking about it.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, solar installations are expected to double by 2023! So it looks as though more and more people are getting educated about solar energy, and that’s great progress, but there is still lots of work to do about getting the right information spread.
Solar energy is a cleaner energy source that harvests energy from the sun and converts it into electricity to fully power homes and businesses. Utilizing solar energy is not only a great way to reduce your household’s energy use but it also helps to protect the environment and adds more value to your property as well.
Even with all the great benefits associated with solar energy, the misconceptions still seem to outweigh the positive benefits of it. But education is key to putting an end to the falsehoods associated with solar energy. Take a look at some of the biggest misconceptions about solar energy, and you’ll see why you need to make the switch today.
Biggest Misconceptions About Solar Energy
Solar Panels Only Work in Warm Weather
People tend to think that solar energy is not only generated from sunlight but also from warm temperatures as well… That’s not the case at all. People who live in regions where the temperature is cooler typically don’t invest in solar energy for that very reason.
You have to remember that with solar energy, it’s all about collecting light from the sun, not heat. So living in areas with warmer climates doesn’t necessarily mean that solar panels will work better there. The main thing to consider is how much sunlight your property receives… That’s what’s going to determine if your property is compatible with solar energy.
Solar Energy Can Only Be Used By Homeowners
One of the biggest misconceptions about solar energy is that it can only be used by homeowners who have solar panels installed on the roofs of their homes. Well, to be fair, that was the case for a while but not anymore.
Today, homeowners and renters alike can utilize solar energy as much as they want, and companies like Community Solar have made it very possible. Community Solar has many developments that allow communities to utilize and share electricity generated by solar energy from groups of solar panels being installed in a central location near various communities (solar farms or solar gardens).
These developments make solar energy use possible for any household type.
The Sun Has to Be Out For Solar Panels to Work
True enough, solar panels work best when there is optimum sunlight, but just because your area experiences a few cloudy days, that doesn’t mean that the amount of energy your solar panels generate will be heavily impacted.
What a lot of people don’t realize is that, yes, solar panels work by collecting visible sunlight but clouds also reflect sunlight, making it easy for your solar panels to collect sunlight, even on the cloudiest of days. Just because the sun is hidden by the clouds, that doesn’t mean your home will completely stop working.
Solar Panels Will Damage Your Roof
There are people who are interested in solar panels but are hesitant to have them installed because they fear they’ll have to deconstruct their entire roof to accommodate the solar panels. On top of that, they fear that once the panels are installed, it will do significant damage to their roof as well.
To be fair, it’s perfectly understandable to have those concerns but solar panel design and installation have drastically improved over the years and the installation of them on your roof actually does the complete opposite. Instead of damaging your roof, it actually protects it.
If you’re interested in having solar panels installed, just talk to solar panel installation companies to have their installation processes explained. You’ll see that it’s perfectly safe for your roof. You just have to make sure you talk to trusted professionals in the industry.
