The Benefits of Using Latest News About Solar Energy

Financial benefits, such as saving on utility payments and avoiding electricity rate hikes, are a key driver of U.S. adults’ willingness to consider installing rooftop solar panels or subscribing to community solar power, a new study suggests. 

New Energy Era supply professional and honest service.

Researchers at The Ohio State University conducted a national survey to gauge consumer perceptions about adopting solar power. Though previous work has examined views about rooftop solar, this study is the first assessment of public opinion about accessing community solar energy for household use. 

The findings led researchers to recommend that policymakers and industry leaders increase marketing campaign references to the practical reasons for embracing solar power – including saving money and improving property values without taking big risks – to encourage broader residential use. 

“Emphasizing the practical benefits of adopting solar, whether it’s rooftop or community, might be the most effective avenue to achieve increased adoption in the real world,” said first author Naseem Dillman-Hasso, a doctoral candidate in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at Ohio State. 

The study also revealed that most participants didn’t understand what community solar is and few had looked into it, suggesting more public awareness is needed to expand consumer access to this more equitably distributed renewable energy source, said senior author Nicole Sintov, associate professor of behavior, decision making and sustainability at Ohio State. 

“Community solar is a great option for people who are unable to access rooftop solar,” she said. “We show that there are still some significant barriers to entry, and we’ve got to start with letting people know what it is.” 

The research was published recently in the journal Energy Research & Social Science. 

As of , 8% of U.S homeowners had installed rooftop solar panels at an average cost of between $17,000 and $23,000 after applying a federal tax credit, according to the Pew Research Center. Under community solar programs, energy generated at an off-site solar array is supplied to multiple customers within a defined geographical area who receive credit on their electricity bills for energy produced by their share of the project.

With residential solar use still relatively low, Sintov and Dillman-Hasso sought to understand what could motivate households to consider solar as an energy option. 

They based the study on a consumer behavior theory suggesting that three common factors, or attributes, contribute to adoption of sustainable innovations – practical purposes (instrumental attributes), conveying one’s social consciousness to others (symbolic) and protecting the planet (environmental). 

A sample of 1,433 adults living in the United States was recruited for the online survey. Participants were asked about their willingness to adopt rooftop or community solar and whether they had taken action toward adoption, such as researching the options, talking with friends or family, or contacting an industry expert. 

They also were asked to agree or disagree with a series of statements representing the instrumental, symbolic and environmental attributes related to adopting solar. For example, the statements said purchasing or leasing solar “means that I’m a good community member,” “would save me money” and “would be a good way to reduce my environmental impact.” 

Statistical analysis showed that positive feelings about all three attributes increased the likelihood respondents would be willing to pursue rooftop or community solar as a household power source. But the factors linked to practical benefits (including finances) were “by far the strongest predictor above and beyond anything else,” Dillman-Hasso said. 

The magnitude of the effect of practical factors was a surprise, but it wasn’t the only surprising finding in the study. 

Participants were less willing to consider subscribing to community solar than to take on rooftop solar installation – even though rooftop solar generally isn’t available to people who don’t own their home or can’t afford the installation. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Latest News About Solar Energy. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

“You don’t want to adopt something that you don’t know about,” Dillman-Hasso said. “Given the realities of community solar having much lower barriers to adoption – you don’t need financing and you don’t have to physically put panels on your roof – it was interesting to see that the willingness to adopt community solar was lower than rooftop. 

“That potentially points to a lack of knowledge or more apprehension around a newer distribution method of electricity.” 

As a behavioral scientist, Sintov said she doesn’t typically issue a generic call for “raising awareness,” given humans’ complexity – but in the context of community solar, the phrase applies.

“In this case, lack of awareness is a barrier, and I think both policymakers and entities that are trying to sell community solar plans could be working toward raising awareness,” she said. 

This study focused on willingness to adopt rather than actually installing panels or subscribing to community solar power. In separate projects, Sintov and Dillman-Hasso are studying different groups of solar power customers to look for factors that lead to signing up for and sticking with solar.

This work was supported by Interstate Gas Supply – Energy, an independent supplier of energy, including solar.

Solar energy for residences is a hot topic, and rightfully so. The amount of solar connected to the electric grid has grown exponentially in the past several years, and there are now nearly 4 million American households that are already generating their own power with solar energy.

This clean energy source is making the electric grid more dependable while helping solar homeowners save money and improve the value of their homes. With all of this interest and so much information available, Energy Saver wants to take a moment to highlight five benefits of residential solar:

Benefit 1: Solar panels are increasingly affordable

Residential solar is more affordable than ever, especially with the extension of the federal residential solar tax credit. Taxpayers can claim a 30% tax credit on the cost of solar systems on their income taxes. But be sure to install before January 1, , when the tax credit is set to decrease to 26%.

There are also a number of different financing options to make purchasing solar systems easier and with less money upfront.  The monthly amount owed on a solar loan is typically less than an average utility bill.

Benefit 2: You can save money by going solar

Solar offers great potential to save money on your monthly utility bill, and with utility bills trending upward, solar is likely to remain a good money-saving option for years to come. The amount you save depends upon how much electricity you consume, the size of your solar energy system, and how much power it is able to generate. You may also opt for a leased, third-party owned system that allows a homeowner to host a solar energy system on their rooftop and purchase back the electricity generated at a discounted rate, which is not only is often less than utilities charge customers, but also allows electricity rates to be locked in for years.

Benefit 3: You can keep the lights on when the grid goes down

Generating your own solar power can give you the freedom to keep the lights on if there’s a disruption in power. Residential solar energy systems paired with battery storage—generally called solar-plus-storage systems—provide power regardless of the weather or the time of day without having to rely on backup power from the grid. As battery technology improves and financial incentives for energy storage go into effect, deciding to invest in battery storage makes sense for more households across the nation. 

Benefit 4: Solar will often increase the value of your home

Buying a solar energy system will likely increase your home’s value. A Berkeley National Laboratory study found that solar photovoltaic panels are viewed as upgrades, just like a renovated kitchen or a finished basement, and home buyers across the country have been willing to pay a premium for a home with an average-sized solar array. As for third-party owned systems, it appears that the impact is largely neutral but can occasionally add value, especially for prepaid leases. 

Benefit 5: Solar systems work in a variety of climates

Solar panels only need one thing to generate electricity -- sunshine! Even in the winter when there are fewer hours of daylight, there is still a sufficient amount to power the average American home. That makes solar viable even in Alaska with longer, colder winters. The U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is dedicated to ensuring solar panels can withstand the elements no matter your location.  SETO funds five Regional Test Centers across the country -- each in a different climate -- to make sure panels perform as best they can, regardless of climate or weather.

You do not need to own a house to go solar

Do you rent your house? Or do you live in a high-rise condo building? Not a problem. Community solar programs allow multiple people to benefit from a single, shared solar array. These arrays can be installed on your building or offsite in a different location. Purchasing costs and the installation of the solar energy system are then divided among all of the participants. All are then able to buy into the shared system at a level that best fits their budget. The portion you share can even be negotiated into the sale of your place should you move! 

Are you interested in learning more about Latest Steel News? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!