Solar incentives in Delaware to research before going solar

Let's clear up some of the common wrong ideas about solar panels. Knowing the real facts will help you decide if solar power is a good choice for your house.

1. Myth: Solar panels only work when the sun is super bright all the time

That's not quite right. Solar panels do work best when the sun is shining strongly. But they don't need the sun to be super strong all day long. They make electricity from daylight, not just direct sunshine. So, even when it's cloudy, they can still make some power. Plus, the newest solar panels can even work a little better when it's cool outside. So, no matter if you live where it's sunny all the time or where it's often cloudy, solar power can still be helpful.

2. Myth: Putting in solar panels costs way too much money

It can seem like a lot of money to put in solar panels at first. But you need to think about how much money you'll save over many years. The price of solar panels has come down a lot lately, so they cost less now. Also, there are ways to get help paying for them. The government might give you money back or let you pay less in taxes. And, solar panels can make your electric bill much smaller, or even go away completely. Over the many years that solar panels last, usually 25 years or more, the money you save can be much more than what you paid to put them in. Also, if your system is connected to the power lines, you can sometimes sell extra power back to the electric company and save even more money.

3. Myth: You have to fix solar panels all the time

Solar panels don't need a lot of fixing. They don't have parts that move, so they don't break down very often. Usually, all you need to do is clean them now and then to get rid of dirt or dust that might block the sunlight. Often, the rain will clean them for you. And, the newest solar panels are made to handle bad weather, like hail, snow, and strong winds, so you don't have to worry about them breaking easily.

4. Myth: Solar panels will mess up my roof

If someone who knows how to do it puts the solar panels on your roof correctly, they won't damage it. Good workers use special ways to put the panels on safely and make sure no water can get in. Sometimes, solar panels can even help protect your roof from the weather.

5. Myth: Solar panels don't make enough power to be worth it

Solar panels are much better at making electricity now than they used to be. It's true they can't turn all the sunlight into electricity, but they can turn a lot of it. And scientists are always working to make them even better. This means solar power is becoming more and more useful for homes.

6. Myth: If I get solar panels, I won't need the electric company anymore

For most people, putting in solar panels means connecting them to the regular power lines. This lets you use electricity from the power company when your solar panels aren't making enough, like at night or when it's cloudy. And when your solar panels make extra power, you can often sell it back to the electric company. You would need very big and expensive batteries to store enough power to completely go off the regular power lines.

7. Myth: Putting in solar panels takes forever and is super hard

Putting in solar panels is usually not too hard, especially if you have people who know what they're doing to help you. From getting the papers you need to putting the panels on your roof and hooking them up to your house's electricity, it usually only takes a few days. Professional workers take care of all the complicated stuff.

8. Myth: Solar panels look ugly

Older solar panels might have looked big and not very nice, but the newest ones look much better. Many companies make solar panels that blend in well with different kinds of houses. You can also put solar panels on the ground if you don't want them on your roof.

9. Myth: If you rent your house, you can't use solar power

While people who rent usually can't put solar panels on their own roofs, they can still use solar power through programs where lots of people share a big solar farm. These programs let you pay to use some of the power from the big farm, and you get money off your own electric bill.

10. Myth: It's hard to sell your house if you have solar panels

Studies have shown that houses with solar panels often sell for more money and faster than houses without them. Solar panels are seen as a good thing to have, and they can make your house more attractive to people who want to buy it.