Residential electricity rates have increased nationally by about 15% over the last decade, according to the Energy Information Administration. This may not sound like much, but these numbers add up over time. Solar systems last 25 years and even longer! Over that period, instead of paying for your electricity with rising rates, you’re creating your own electricity by using one of the Earth’s most abundant and essential resources, the sun. Instead of paying every month for your electricity, oil, or natural gas consumption, your solar system is a one time cost and will continue to produce free power for the life of your system.

An average solar power system can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000 for residential use. By utilizing federal tax credits, PPA’s and other financial tools, you can lower the cost and barrier of entry to start utilizing solar. That sounds like a lot, but when you break down your current energy usage, system efficiency, and types of systems, it's clear to see that solar can work for everyone.

While most forms of electricity come from the burning of fossil fuels and are then delivered to homes by the energy grid, solar offers a better alternative. By switching to solar you’re able to significantly reduce your carbon footprint, pollutants, and water usage resulting in a healthier environment for everyone.

Fast fact: An average residential solar system will actually eliminate between three and four tons of carbon emissions each year.

In one solar energy report, the US Department of Energy lays out its goals and the impact of deploying solar energy across the United States by 2050, which they call “SunShot-level solar deployment targets”. They estimate that the US could reduce CO2 emissions to mitigate the impact of climate change, fight childhood asthma and other respiratory issues, and even hydrate 1.3 million households due to the usage of water for traditional power generation such as nuclear and hydro. Solar panels help us do all of this. By using solar, you can create clean energy that won’t contribute to smog or air pollution. With solar energy, you are able to remove your air pollution from the equation and help everyone breathe just a little bit easier!

According to The Solar Foundation, American solar jobs have increased 167% over the past decade, adding 156,000 jobs. In the five-year period between 2014 and 2019, solar employment increased by 44%, five times faster than job growth in the overall U.S. economy.

And this growth is only expected to continue. Solar jobs contribute significantly to the US economy, pay well, and can’t physically be outsourced. That means that by choosing solar, you’re choosing to work with businesses and people right in your local community. While using the sun to achieve energy independence in the United States, solar helps the economy grow stronger. In addition, as we increase our capacity to generate electricity from the sun, we are able to more effectively isolate the impact of price fluctuations and global energy markets.