Many people think of solar power as the province of southern, arid states – New Mexico, for example. Not as a power option that’s viable in the Pacific Northwest. But even up north in Seattle, a city infamous for its clouds, solar energy works. And the world leader in the solar market is Germany, a region which gets even less sun than Seattle!
And with the national conversation focused on green and renewable sources of energy, a solar powered system often won’t cost you its sticker price. Aggressive state and federal tax credits and other incentives are designed encourage homeowners to transition to solar power.
The size and type of your solar powered system determines whether you’ll be able to move entirely off the grid. Even if you aren’t, you can drastically cut down your reliance on municipal power. Some homeowners use solar power to run their HVAC systems – systems which account for about 50% of their home energy use. This arrangement makes additional sense during the summer, when hot, sunlight-abundant days also increase the load on air conditioning systems. And if your solar power collection exceeds your home power use – if you take a summer vacation, for example – you have the option of giving the excess power to the grid and earning a credit.
Solar energy systems make a lot of sense for homeowners planning to remain in their current homes for several years, who have sun-abundant locations (such as rooftops) in good condition, and who care about making a positive impact on the environment.
To learn more about installing a solar powered system, visit us at Roth Heating & Cooling. We can help you green Portland and save money on your energy budget by harnessing the power of the sun.
