During the summer months, your cooling bills can be outrageously high as you attempt to beat back the heat. A solar air conditioner can offer a few benefits over the standard cooling systems. Prior to making the decision to purchase your new air-conditioning system, it is important that you take the time to do a little bit of research about the pros and cons of a solar system.
Understanding The Sun-Powered System
There are several types of sun-powered technologies currently operating in homes and office buildings throughout the world. The way that they work may vary somewhat, but the end result is the same; they convert the heat from the sun and transform it into energy that is used to operate a chiller device that will then produce the desired cooler air.
The systems that are available can vary in size and output; from a modest-sized window unit to a larger option that will effectively, and efficiently, cool down a sizeable office building. When you select the unit for your cooling needs, it is important that you pick out one that will not be underpowered for the size area it will be used in. At the same time, an overpowered unit is a waste of money and of energy.
A Few Incentive Programs
The cost of installing any type of new central heating or cooling package can take a big toll on anyone's budget. However, when it comes to solar-powered and other green renewable sources of energy, there are very often incentive programs that can help to offset the cost of installation.
There are both Federal and State programs that can help to provide a bit of a tax break for those who invest in energy-efficient technologies for their home. These can vary greatly, depending on where you live and what your plans entail however; be sure that you do extensive research into each available option prior to making a purchasing decision.
Pros, Cons, And Making A Choice
As with any big purchase, it is wise to quickly review a list of pros and cons so that you can be a well-informed consumer.
The Pros
- As with all forms of renewable energy, the most important benefit in the pros-column is going to be the incredible energy savings that can be seen. Consumers are able to save hundreds of dollars, every year, simply by converting to a sun-powered system
- With the trend towards going green, solar AC units are a great option because they are a much more environmentally-friendly method of chilling the air in your home. This can be a great selling point should you sell your home in the immediate future
- While traditional home air-conditioning units are not overly challenging to use, the user-friendly interface offered by solar units can be a great benefit for someone struggling with the idea of something new
The Potential Drawbacks
- There is a somewhat high initial setup cost for solar air conditioner systems; while energy incentive programs can help to offset some of the costs, homeowners are still looking at a significant amount of money out of pocket initially
- Being a system that is reliant on the sun for its source of energy, you might find that some days are less than cooperative in terms of producing energy for your home. This results in the need for energy storage systems so that you can have uninterrupted power at night and on days where the weather is less than ideal
- Panels have come a long way by way of design; however, they can still lean towards being fragile and readily broken. Broken solar panels can be costly to replace and irritating if there is an interruption in energy to your home
Overall, the incredible savings seen on your long-term utility bills cannot be disputed. Within a few very shorts years, these types of green systems will pay for themselves, while also making you feel better about reducing your overall energy footprint.
Continue the trend of being an informed and educated consumer; do extensive research into the type of products you are interested in installing, and be certain that your installers are licensed, insured, and have a proven reputation for excellence.
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