Your Guide to Solar Energy

Yikes, there’s a hurricane coming! If you have solar panels on your roof, chances are you are in better shape than your neighbor who doesn’t. Hurricanes have already raged through areas where solar panels have been installed, and the results show that solar panels can take the hit. Take a peek at the photo of Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, FL, which was hit by Hurricane Michael in October of 2018. This hurricane was a Category 5 hurricane and the only roofs to survive were covered with solar panels! Why is that? Solar panels are anchored directly to the structural members of the roof and once a solar system is installed, it’s meant to stay put for decades to come. The solar panels and their support equipment are subjected to heat, rain, wind, hail, and everything in between and the materials involved can withstand the test of time. In addition to structural stability, a roof with solar has “preventative” protection for a roof with asphalt shingles. The solar panels are made to absorb sunlight which would otherwise be absorbed by the shingles on your roof. UV radiation will fade and deteriorate the shingles over time. With panels, your roof is protected from the sun’s harmful rays and the part of your roof that is covered will last longer!

The most common estimate of the average payback period for solar panels is six to ten years. This is a pretty wide range because there are many factors that will influence 1) the number of years it can take to pay off your panels, and 2) the monthly savings you can expect. This estimate assumes that your electricity rates don't go up at all. Well, we all know from experience that electricity rates go up all the time! Historically, rates have always gone up over the years, since the beginning of electricity. So, when the rates go up, your savings increase and sometimes, by quite a lot. For example, Duke Energy had a 20% rate hike in April, 2023. Homeowners with solar systems saw bigger savings after that rate hike while their non-solar neighbors paid 20% more on their monthly electric bills. Solar energy users realized much shorter payback periods as a result. So, it’s understandable why these estimates are not easy to predict and have wide ranges!

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Eeeek! There’s a hurricane coming! If you have solar panels on your roof, chances are you are in better shape than your neighbor who...

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