Solar Power Myth No. 84
SOLAR TILES ARE JUST AS GOOD AS PANELS – BUSTED!
Solar tiles are typically made from amorphous silicon, while solar panels are made from mono- or polycrystalline silicon. The latter are much more efficient at converting the sun’s light into electricity and cost much less to manufacture. This results in solar tiles that cost more and produce less than traditional solar panels.
Source: Solar Energy Facts
http://solarenergyfactsblog.com/solar-shingles/
Solar Power Myth No. 83
I’LL HAVE TO CUT DOWN ALL MY TREES TO GO SOLAR – BUSTED!
Unless a tree produces substantial shade over your solar panels, it won’t need more than a trim. Your solar provider will use specialized tools to measure any shade prior to designing your system to ensure that maximum production will be achieved without having to cut down any trees. Additionally, there are many tools on the market today that help minimize the effects of shade on your solar panels.
Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
http://www.nrel.gov/learning/pdfs/43844.pdf
Solar Power Myth No. 82
MY NEIGHBORS WILL HATE LOOKING AT “UGLY” PANELS – BUSTED!
Many solar panels are not even visible from the street level. Those that are visible sit relatively flush with the roof; they are not angled up much from the roof’s surface. They are designed to fit together snugly to create clean, straight lines, and many panels are black on black, so the cell borders (the grid pattern visible on some models) are not visible.
Source: One Block Off the Grid
http://howsolarworks.1bog.org/solar-myths/
Solar Power Myth No. 81
NO BANKS IN MY AREA OFFER SOLAR FINANCING – BUSTED!
Many banks offer “green financing” products that allow homeowners to go solar at affordable rates. In fact, some counties even provide solar financing. Regardless of whether these options exist in your area, your solar provider will offer many financing options and will look to develop the most economically viable solution for your family.
Source: Mother Nature Network
http://www.mnn.com/money/green-workplace/stories/how-does-solar-leasing-work
Solar Power Myth No. 80
RE-ROOFING IS A GOOD TIME TO GO SOLAR – CONFIRMED!
If you are considering solar and do need a new roof, doing both is optimal. Some savings can be realized by way of reducing labor costs at the time of installation. More importantly, there can be added costs to replacing a roof with solar panels compared to a roof without them. Your solar panels will continue to produce electricity for decades, so you’ll want your roof to have as much life left in it as possible when you have them installed.
Source: One Block Off the Grid
http://howsolarworks.1bog.org/solar-roofing/
Solar Power Myth No. 79
HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS DON’T ALLOW SOLAR – BUSTED!
HOAs may have some requirements (such as approval from an Architectural Review Committee) for residences going solar, but most are willing to negotiate with the homeowners on this. Many states also have solar rights laws that supercede HOA rules.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/erprebate/documents/solar_rights.pdf
