home

Commercial Solar Myths: What You Shouldn’t Believe About Switching to Renewable Energy

November 18, 2020

Renewable energy and energy efficiency aren’t new concepts, but they’ve certainly gained a lot of traction during the last few years. In fact, the U.S. installed 3.5 gigawatts of solar PV capacity during Q1 of 2020 alone — bringing the total capacity to 81.4 GW, which is enough to power 15.7 million American homes!

But despite the fact that solar panel installation has become more popular among individual homeowners, there are still many American business owners who believe widespread solar energy isn’t feasible. Often, this skepticism stems from misconceptions surrounding the affordability and accessibility of solar. In today’s post, we’re sharing some guidance from commercial solar contractors in order to reveal the truth behind those myths.

MYTH: I Can’t Afford to Install Commercial Solar Systems

A lot of people assume that solar is too expensive to install. But as commercial solar contractors will tell you, the costs of solar panels have decreased substantially in recent years. The Department of Energy actually has reported that the costs of solar power equipment have been reduced by at least 80% since 2008 due to lowered manufacturing costs and other cost-saving measures. Those savings are then passed onto the consumer, which means commercial solar panel installation companies will charge far less for installation than they used to. And since solar panels will pay for themselves in as little as five to 10 years or so, the costs of installation will often be well worth it for business owners. Even if you sell your business before that time, the fact your building will be powered by solar can be a huge incentive for buyers.

MYTH: I Don’t Have Enough Space or Can’t Handle the Upkeep

Although you might believe that you need a lot of roof space or will have to devote lots of time to maintenance when you install commercial solar panels, neither of these misconceptions is true. Solar panels are designed to be durable and to require very little upkeep. Other than scheduling an annual inspection and removing debris as needed, you really won’t need to do much to take care of your solar panels. Moreover, you may not need a huge roof or a large empty space for solar panel installation. Commercial solar contractors will be your best resource when determining whether you’re able to install this technology at your place of business — and most of the time, there’ll be a system that will work perfectly for your specifications.

MYTH: It’s Better to Wait Until Technology Improves

Technology is always evolving, which may prompt some people to wait it out before purchasing solar panels. But keep in mind that technology will never be perfected; there will always be a new model that comes onto the scene, so waiting to switch to solar won’t necessarily pay off in that respect. Keep in mind that any solar system that’s installed today will work beautifully for decades. Many models will last for 25 years or more. And because the technology for solar energy is already so good, the benefits you’ll get by installing it now will be far greater than what you might obtain by putting it off. Since you’ll be able to reduce your carbon footprint and cut costs by installing a solar system, it makes sense to take full advantage of those opportunities as soon as possible.

Now that you know the truth behind some of the most popular solar energy myths, you can feel confident talking to our commercial solar contractors about making the switch. To get started, please contact Stone Creek Solar today.