Myth 1: Solar panels do not work in cold snowy weather or when it is cloudy 

Fact: Solar panels work in sunny, cold, and even cloudy environments. The technologies of solar panels allow them to work effectively and efficiently. They even work more effective in cooler temperatures than warmer ones. In addition, cloudy weather does not inhibit the efficiency of solar panels. They can be a viable source of electricity as they can still produce enough power. Even cold, sunny winter days generate comparable electricity to what you would get from hot summer days.

Keep in mind that solar panels collect light, not heat.

On top of that, battery storage can be connected to your solar panels and provide energy at night. This is your clean-energy backup, as opposed to conventional backup generators—if the power goes out in your neighborhood, your power will stay on.

The bottom line is, unless you’re among the tiny fraction of Americans who live more than about a mile from a power line, a home with rooftop solar panels is still connected to the electric grid. This means that if your solar energy system doesn’t supply enough electricity, the grid will supply the rest.

Myth 2: Solar energy is too costly and is not economically viable

Fact: If we look at figures from 2009 to 2015, investments in solar panels have generally been on the rise as they are becoming more affordable. Their average costs have fallen by about 30% percent. Globally, it is actually cheaper to produce electricity from solar energy than it is from coal. The world’s best solar power schemes now offer the “cheapest…electricity in history” with the technology cheaper than coal and gas in most major countries. That is according to the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2020.

Myth 3: Solar Panels Will Not Pay For Themselves

Fact: If you ask anyone who has solar panels installed, chances are they will have noticed a large reduction in their electricity bill. Not surprisingly, those who do notice big savings are also generally more aware of how much energy they use and when they use it. These energy conscious individuals will often be a little clever and use energy intensive appliances during the day. Things like dishwashers, washing machines, pool pumps and hot water systems can be setup on timers to maximise the ‘self-use’ of your solar energy. Pre-heating or cooling your home can also be an effective way of increasing self-use rather the feeding excess solar back into the grid for very little return.

The payback period for solar on most homes is 4-6 years. For businesses which operate during the day the payback can be as fast as 3 years. Not bad, when the life of a solar panel is generally 20+ years and most manufacturers offer a 12 – 25 year warranty.

Myth 4: Solar decreases the value of my home 

Fact: Installing solar panels is one of the safest and wisest investments you can make. And that’s why solar increases solar increase’s the value of your home in Florida.

• You enjoy electricity bill savings over the 25 – 30 years of your solar PV system’s lifetime. As utility rates increase, those electricity bill savings grow increasingly large with time. Even if you never sell your home, your installation fully pays for itself many times over.
• If you do decide to sell, you fetch a higher premium, which again, more than covers the upfront cost of installing solar panels.

In other words, with the right-sized installation, solar energy is an investment that potentially pays a 200%+ return – far an excess of most any other financial vehicle you can imagine.

And unlike most investments on the market, you actually begin enjoying those returns on Day 1.

Myth 5: Solar Panels will damage my roof 

Fact: Other than the obvious purpose of harnessing the sun’s energy to create renewable electricity. Solar panels also serve to protect your roof. Solar panels form a protective barrier between your roof and the outside elements. Having solar panels on your roof can help protect it from mother nature’s wrath. Outdoor elements such as wind, rain, snow, and the occasional falling tree are prevented from directly hitting your roof and causing damage.

Solar panels also absorb direct sunlight that would otherwise fall directly on your roof. The gap between the panels and your roof forms an air pocket that also has a cooling effect on your roof. One study shows that installing solar panels can decrease a home’s internal temperature by up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. According to a team of researchers led by Jan Kleissl, a professor of environmental engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.

Given this information, solar panels can actually protect your roof from a number of potential damages. Additionally, homes located in an area known for harsh weather conditions will weather any storm thrown their way.

Myth 6: Solar panels are bad for the environment after their lifetime is used up

Fact: Solar panels are built to reach a maximum lifetime use of 25 years, after which they can be recycled. This all depends on the manufacturer you use to install your solar panels. Knowing whether they will be recycled is a bit tricky as most solar panels are still working optimally. Additionally, some manufacturers will even recycle them for you free of charge.