When most people think of Texas, they think of our rich history of cowboys and Indians, huge herds of cattle, and the oil fields. Since those early days, Texas has changed dramatically. We’ve grown to be one of the biggest and populous states. But, we also use a lot of resources. Unfortunately, we have largely ignored a fantastic natural resource – the sun. And we haven’t forced our state legislature to promote the use of renewable energy sources. We haven’t implemented tax credits, statewide rebates or net metering to encourage the use of renewable resources. We do have some utility rebates, but eventually there won’t be many incentives left. But, we do have the EPA and federal incentive. So, there are some resources to encourage us to use more energy from renewable resources.
The EPA has many Green Power Incentives – Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency®, The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and many others. All of these offices, agencies, and programs, etc. encourage more efficient use of more diverse energy sources.
The sun is free, but unfortunately turning it into usable energy requires some equipment. But you can still save a lot of money on electricity bills. If your home is set up for net metering, the excess electricity generated by your system can be transmitted to the grid and sold to the utility in the form of a credit. Solar generated electricity doesn’t produce harmful emissions like coal or natural gas. Solar energy does need the expensive drilling process to get to it either. Generating your own solar power means you are not as dependent on the utility company and the electric power grid to provide your electricity. You may even have enough stored power to live comfortably for a while if the lines break in a storm.
However, trees and clouds may block the sunlight on your roof for a time during the day. And the sun only shines during the day. Excessively high outdoor temperatures can also reduce efficiency of the system. Installation and maintenance costs depend on the home, its location, size of the system, and the amount of work needed to prepare the house for the new system. If the system is built on to an existing home, it may be necessary to reconfigure the electrical system or make other improvements like reinforcing the roof in order to have the system safely installed.
These costs can seem expensive. You have options though. Solar panel leases have become an increasingly available as a way to avoid paying most of the installation costs. Leasing companies will usually pay for repairs and maintenance. Since you may be entitled to tax advantages and other incentives, owning your system might save you more money annually. Having a permanent solar energy system may increase the value of your home because the new owner will be able to save energy without the necessity of installation. Lower interest rates are also making it easier for homeowners to get a loan. But, make sure that your loan payment is less than your average electricity bill to ensure that you will still save money.
More and more people are taking the initiative and installing solar panels because of the future benefits. You may install a system for your entire house. Or you may start small with one or two major systems, like the HVAC, security or sprinkler systems using solar power. As few as one or two solar panels can be used to convert solar energy into electrical power for your home. And you can add to the system when you’re ready.
New technologies developed by reliable companies like Lennox allow your HVAC system to be powered by solar electricity. 
By installing ENERGY STAR® qualified HVAC components that use solar energy, you can reduce your heating and cooling bills by up to 50%. The Lennox systems can use your broadband Internet connection to send you performance information for each solar module so you can monitor your system from anywhere. You have access to the system status, energy production, and environmental benefits, including carbon offsets. Free monitoring service is provided for the life of the HVAC system.
You can call Berkeys Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical 24/7. Berkeys is located at 2875 Market Loop, Southlake, TX, 76092. Phone: (817) 481-5869 or visit berkeys.com for questions and scheduling information or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Berkeys.
Berkeys Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical services the greater DFW area including, but not limited to: Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, Keller, Arlington, Grapevine, Flower Mound, McKinney, Irving and more. Check out Berkeys Plumbing AC and Electrical reviews or see Berkeys A+ BBB Rating to confirm Berkeys is a company you can trust.