Installing solar panels has a lot of benefits, from electric bill savings to a smaller carbon footprint. But there’s one benefit of solar panels that’s often overlooked—energy independence.
Keep reading to learn more about what it means to be energy independent and the benefits of becoming an energy independent household.
We often talk about energy independence as it relates to nations. When a nation produces more energy than it consumes, it’s considered to be energy independent because it doesn’t have to rely on outside resources to meet its energy needs.
Individual households can also be energy independent. By installing residential solar panels and battery storage, you can produce and store your own electricity instead of relying fully on outside sources—like your utility company—for electricity. The more you produce and store on your own, the closer you are to being energy independent.
You don’t have to produce 100% of the electricity you use yourself to enjoy the benefits of energy independence. Installing any size solar panel system will give you some independence from your utility company and you’ll benefit from the freedom whether you produce some, most, or all of your own power.
Living in an energy independent (or partially energy independent) home has many benefits.
Utility companies generate electricity primarily by burning fossil fuels. Massachusetts (and many other states) have made huge strides toward a cleaner electric grid, but most of our electricity still comes from fossil fuels. By installing rooftop solar panels and generating your own electricity, you can significantly reduce your fossil fuel consumption, leading to lower carbon emissions and a healthier planet.
The more electricity you produce for yourself with solar panels, the less you have to buy from the grid. Not only does this save you money on your monthly electric bills, but it also protects you against rising costs. Utility rates fluctuate with fuel costs and are impacted by inflation. With solar panels, you rely less on outside fuel sources for electricity, so your costs stay consistent.
When you get all of your electricity from the grid, your power access can be disrupted at any time. Bad weather, damaged equipment, and even scheduled maintenance can all result in grid outages that leave you without power for hours or days at a time. When you become energy independent with solar panels and battery storage, you can keep your power on during a grid outage.
Our electricity needs are greater than ever as more and more homes install electric heating and water heating systems, EV chargers, smart electrical panels, and all the other conveniences that we’ve come to rely on. This added load strains the grid, which can reduce reliability and cause blackouts. Installing solar panels now will reduce or even eliminate your reliance on the grid so you don’t have to worry.
Boston Solar is the leading local solar installer in Massachusetts and New Hampshire with over 5,000 solar installations under our belt. We can help you gain energy independence with a custom solar power system tailored to your needs. We install top-tier solar panels and products, and back our installations with a 25-year warranty.
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