Even More Reasons to Go Solar
Besides tax incentives, TVA’s premium payments and rising electricity costs, there are other financial benefits of solar that are often left out of the ROI and payback calculations. Here is a list of added solar benefits that can help businesses and homeowners save or generate money:
- Roof/Building Cooling: According to a UC San Diego study, solar panels on rooftops keep buildings an average of 5°F cooler during the day. The cooling effect of rooftop solar panels means that a building will consume less energy from air conditioning.
- Roof Protection: Solar panels protect roofs from UV rays, rain, and hail. Remember the big hailstorms in Nashville in 2012 that damaged roofs and dented cars? We received no reports of damaged solar panels, but a few of our customers had roof damage around their solar panels.
- Positive Public Relations & Marketing Opportunities: Solar helps companies show their commitment to the environment! This increases brand value, can generate press coverage, demonstrate industry leadership, and improve community relations. In fact, there are several studies (UC Davis study and Nielsen study to name a couple) that show when companies make green improvements and tell consumers or shareholders about it, sales and/or stock values rise.
- Additional LEED points: Solar helps building owners rack up points for LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Certification. Some of our LEED-certified building customers have cut their energy and water use so much that solar was the only way to get to the Platinum LEED level. Solar parking canopies offer even more points for shade and rainwater collecting. LEED certification is a way for companies and individuals to be recognized for their efforts in saving money and resources which goes back to #3.
Of course, there is more to solar than it being a wise financial decision or a way to get in the press. As you know solar is a way towards cleaner air, water and better health – no carbon, no waste, no particulates, no mercury, no sulfur dioxides, no nitrogen oxides, and the list goes on.
Let us know if you think we have left off other good reasons to go solar and we’ll add them to the list!
500 solar installations and counting…
LWS
