Chesapeake Home

I don’t know about you, but I am definitely feeling the pressure to go green. I often travel on the weekends with my family, and I have noticed random stationary solar panels dotting the landscape. It seems like such an incredible idea to have a small non-obtrusive panel that does so much good for the environment and allows us to be more independent.

So what are those panels, exactly? Solar electric power, known as photovoltaic (PV) technology, makes use of the abundant energy from the sun. It can be used in a wide range of products, from small consumer items to large commercial solar electric systems.

Few power-generation technologies have as little impact on the environment as solar power. It quietly generates electricity from light and produces no air pollution or hazardous waste. It doesn’t require liquid or gaseous fuels to be transported or combusted. And because its energy source—sunlight—is free and abundant, it can guarantee access to electric power.

So I am always wondering why doesn’t everyone have at least one solar panel in their backyard? Well, I suspect the answer is price. Depending on the size of your house, you have to purchase a system that can convert the sun’s energy using these solar panels and the price ranges from $10,000 to $60,000. I guess in comparison to our monthly electric bills, those amounts seem a little steep.

For me, I think there are two very good reasons to consider the possibility: one, it protects the environment and two, it makes me less dependent on the electric company and their fluctuating costs. I think if I ever do build that dream house with my husband that we’ve been talking about for over 12 years, I would definitely consider rolling that high price tag of solar energy into my new mortgage.