There are many solar panel myths online, which can sometimes make homeowners hesitant to change to renewable energy. In this article, the team from Affordable Solar, the premier Albuquerque solar company, puts those myths to rest. 

1. Solar Will Only Work in Sunny, Warm Conditions

Utility companies often use this myth to dissuade residents from switching over. However, that’s an oversimplification of how solar power works. Yes, the panels work best in full sunshine, but even when it’s overcast, there is UV radiation. 

Keep in mind that the panels collect light rather than heat. Higher temperatures may interfere with their efficiency, so solar installations tend to work better in cooler weather. 

2. Solar Panels Are Inefficient

Statistics floating around online suggest that solar panels top out at around 22% efficiency. That figure sounds low until you understand the nature of the product and sunlight.

The sun’s rays consist of several light spectrums, and we cannot convert all of these to energy. In addition, the process converts some of the rays into heat, something that most solar panel myths gloss over.  

Infrared light is one example of an area of the spectrum that is useless. 22% is pretty impressive when you consider that the global record for efficiency for solar panels is 39% under ideal conditions. Considering the cost of those record-breaking units, anything over 20% is impressive.  

It’s also worth remembering that sunshine contains large amounts of energy. The sun puts out more power in an hour and a half than we use globally per year. 

As long as you deal with a reputable company and choose a decent quality product, you can easily and efficiently power your home. You may even have energy left over to sell back to the grid. 

Moreover, solar technology today is vastly superior to what it was initially. While we’re still making advancements, we are at the point where waiting any longer means losing money. With several tax credits including a 30% federal investment tax credit and a New Mexico state tax credit of 10% to make the switch to solar, now is a great time to invest. 

3. Solar Energy Costs too Much to Install

This is one of those enduring solar panel myths that seem to make sense initially. However, when you run the numbers, you can see that it’s a worthwhile investment. The average installation cost is around $35,000 and for a residential system the typical timeframe to pay off is between 8-9 years.

However, you can also take advantage of low-interest financing or use the equity in your mortgage to make things easier. When you factor in the incentives and tax credits, it becomes even more affordable. 

That said, only one calculation counts here: the ongoing savings. Once the units are in place, they require very little maintenance.

Now, factor in not having a high monthly energy bill to pay, and with these savings, the system pays for itself rather quickly. Remember that you’ll never have to worry about energy price increases again, and as energy prices increase your return on investment will soar. 

4. It’s Not Worth it Because I am a Tenant

This is another of the solar panel myths that we can understand. After all, even if your landlord allows you to make such a significant change to the roof, there’s no way they’ll let you remove the units when you leave. 

In this case, it’s worth considering a community installation project instead. Here, everyone gets together to build a system that meets the need of all the members. Those who contribute receive credits when the system goes live, entitling them to electricity according to their investment. 

Alternatively, the community can run the installation as a business, selling clean, affordable energy. The initial backers can then receive a return on their investment that way. 

5. Solar Panels Will Damage the Roof

For flat roofs here in New Mexico, we use a specialist mounting system so that the panels sit on top of the roof rather than directly attaching to it.

Additionally, we use strong metal flashing and sealant to close any gaps between the roofing material and the panel racking so that the wind cannot rip the panels away. The units protect the underlying section from exposure to the elements and excessive wear and tear. 

Find Out the Facts Today!

Is it time to consider switching over to solar power? Are there other solar panel myths you’d like us to address? Contact Affordable Solar at 505-944-4220 today to discuss your concerns and learn how affordable this investment can be.