Homeowners today have many questions about solar energy.

• Why go solar in the first place?
• What are the benefits of switching to solar power?
• How many solar panels do I need?

The truth is that solar power has become more affordable, practical and beneficial than ever.  Just read below to see some of the top benefits of solar energy for the average homeowner.

While it used to be that solar power was just for the wealthy environmentalists who wanted to save the environment, nowadays more and more people are investing in solar power for the significant financial benefits. Homeowners who take advantage of solar benefits enjoy a dramatic decrease in their electric bills. In fact, solar systems have grown in size over the past few years and installations are designed to completely cover a home’s energy needs, or significantly offset their energy bills.

If you’re wondering “why go solar, why not invest my money elsewhere”, you’re in for a surprise. Solar has a great return on investment. Depending on what financing option you choose, your savings will vary, but solar has become a sound financial choice for the majority of homeowners. Additionally, you should be aware of the government incentives and rebates that are available for homeowners with solar power—these vary by state and city, but the solar economic benefits can be substantial. Another plus is that you can sell any excess energy that your panels produce back to the power company.

There has been an explosive interest in solar power and growth in the market. As a result, solar panels are more widely available than ever before. This has driven the price of solar panels down. There are more solar companies producing and installing panels and the price to install solar has drastically decreased.

In addition to solar economic benefits, there are also boundless solar environmental benefits. Most scientists agree that the Earth is in a fragile environmental state. Solar is a clean source of energy that will be available for many millions of years. Carbon emissions emitted as a result of burning fossil fuels are believed to be driving climate change, but with solar power, you can greatly cut down on your home’s yearly carbon emissions.

Solar can have an amazing impact on the local and global economy. Solar power creates jobs and local installers help the surrounding economy. The solar job market has steadily increased – from 2012 to 2014 alone there was a 20% increase in the amount of solar jobs held by Americans. These new jobs are secure sources of employment – they can’t be outsourced and as a result are helping the U.S. economy. Solar economic benefits go beyond saving homeowners money on their energy bills to supporting our country.

Installing solar power on homes allows people to declare independence from traditional fossil fuel sources. With the increase in demand for solar, this is contributing to the United States’ increased independence from foreign oil sources. By investing in clean energy at home, we can support our economy and stop sending money overseas to oil producing countries.