Solar Energy for Every Household

Homes with solar power were scarce about a decade ago. Today with local tax incentives, the green movement and innovative companies improving solar products, solar energy is becoming common for every household.

The main reason for households investing in solar energy is because it is free. The main reason everyone should make use of solar energy is to lessen the carbon footprint on the earth.

Source: Saitec, Flickr

Thanks to Canada’s large area, there are many solar resources. Unfortunately, due to its high latitude and cloud cover, Canada has a low level of solar irradiance. Despite the challenges that certain areas might have with solar power, the future for solar is still bright, as new and better solar technology makes the market regularly.

The effectiveness of solar

One interesting thing about solar energy is that the amount of sun hitting the earth every hour is enough to provide the entire human race with energy for a whole year. Keeping this in mind, the possibility for every household to benefit from solar energy is not far-fetched. With more countries setting up solar plants, there is no reason why we all can not benefit from the power of the sun soon.

When making your home solar powered, the job is best done by a professional as solar panels need additional wiring and panel placement. Solar power systems for a house can come in many forms and varieties of types. The Grid Intertied residential solar power system is connected to the house and traditional electric utility or to a battery backup system that will generate power to your home when the sun is not in sight. An off-grid solar power system is completely disconnected from your homes electrical system.

How do I know what should I choose?

A wide range of solar panels or tiles is available on the market. The size of the system that is needed for one household depends on the insulation and how much energy is required. Some panels needed will depend on the output per panel, insulation and how many hours per day peak sunlight will reach the panels.

You can choose to either buy or lease solar power. When purchasing solar you have tax incentives, and the amount will differ in each area. You should always make sure you get a system with a strong warranty, for at least ten years and panels that will cover at least 20 to 25 years. Installing permanent solar power can also increase the value of your home.

Another option is to lease solar power installations, and if anything goes wrong, then the companies are usually the ones who pay for the repairs and maintenance.

For the system to work efficiently, your roof needs direct sun when the sun is at its strongest. Many solar professionals like The Cool Roofing Company, Atlanta, Ga roofers offer free assessments which will help you make the right choice.

With the development of invisible solar cells, the possibilities of solar power will become endless as invisible solar cells will allow the generating of energy on all kinds of surfaces, making a window of skyscrapers the greatest area. Seeing these kinds of inventions in progress makes us realize that solar power has high hopes for the future and can be seen to fit every household. We should take into account that conventional techniques such as gas and coal did not grow overnight, they took a decade to grow and the same goes for solar power before that too will become a maximum part of the market share.

Semi-suburb Real Estate Trend: Case Millennials

The millennials were born in a fast-paced technological and digital era that is constantly developing and moving. But they have also grown up in a time of financial instability, economic crisis, and job insecurity. These factors may be a part of the reason why they are hesitant or financially incapable of purchasing a house, or why they prefer to rent an apartment.

If they do decide on buying a home, recent trends have shown that the vast majority opt for the suburbs or the so-called semi-suburbs. This may come as a surprise because millennials are usually associated with an urban, fast lifestyle, living surrounded by all the amenities and places a city center has to offer. However, that is not the case. Millennials are increasingly interested in the suburbs due to several different reasons.

Source: Brent and Amanda I, Flickr

So, what are semi-suburbs?

Semi-suburbs are, in reality, suburbs located just outside the big city centers. They are high-density areas that have developed a little beyond the typical suburbs. They offer many amenities that appeal to millennials’ lifestyle, they are full of contents and allow the millennials to live a vibrant and active life in a quieter and, what is more important, less expensive area.

Even deciding to buy a property is a big decision and a process for the millennials. Many of them first consider and choose to rent instead of buying. For them, it is the only affordable and acceptable solution. Their greatest financial obstacle is usually college debt. Most of them which have gone to college are very familiar with this concept, and it presents a debilitating circumstance for them. They are expected to start their independent lives, find jobs and live on their own, but are buried in debt. There are no stepping stones for them but mostly obstacles to overcome.

What to choose

Many millennials consider renting to be an affordable and acceptable solution. In that case, a significant portion of their income is probably going to be spent on their housing. What is interesting is that they would probably spend the same amount of money on their monthly mortgage payments if they purchased a house. So why not buy instead? The main reason is the down payment. It is very high, and usually, more than the millennials can afford or have in their savings. That is the real obstacle to buying a house.

When that major obstacle is overcome, they are ready and willing to buy a home. The surprising part now is where they buy, as was mentioned earlier. Since the price is a major factor, millennials have become more interested in the suburbs, where property prices are lower. But where the millennials are, there is change and development as well. As millennials adapt to the suburbs, the suburbs adapts to them. It is transforming and developing according to their needs, adding many new amenities, creating a good living environment and becoming even more attractive.

Millennials want suburban areas but with an “urban feel.” They want to be close to parks and nature, for recreation purposes, they want yoga classes and health food stores, restaurants and shops. Another important and attractive factor is walkability. They want to be close to everything so that they could walk everywhere. All in all, in the semi-suburbs they have nearly all of the amenities of a city, and they are still close to the city center itself, and they get a better deal on their property in the sense that they get more space for less money.

Much of the world they are born into, millennials are a fast developing generation, according to The Cool Roofing Company, a roofing contractor from Atlanta, GA. They live with, and in what they have, they adapt to the circumstances and are no strangers to change. The percentage of millennials purchasing a house is on a rising streak, and they are slowly but surely taking over the market.

What’s the purpose of Energy Efficient roofing materials?

When summer heat strikes, It is almost impossible to find any solution to cool the temperature down without spending thousands of bucks on air conditioning, especially if you have dark roofing on your house. But there is always a solution! Explore the world, look for some Energy Efficient roofing materials and all your summer problems will be miles away.

Nowadays, we can’t stress enough how important is to use environment-friendly materials that aren’t aggressive. By using Energy Efficient roofing materials, you will not only improve the quality of your living, but you will also do something good for your environment by reducing the power plant emission. Also, you will save a lot of money by turning off the air-conditioner and extending the life of your roof by decreasing its temperature. There are also plenty more benefits of using the energy-efficient roofing materials.

How does it work?

The regular roofing materials are dark and designed to absorb more heat, which can reduce the life-cycle of your roofing and cause unbearable heat during the summer months.  Energy Efficient roofing materials work by the principle of light refraction. They are designed in bright, light-reflecting colors that absorb less heat. Therefore, you can enjoy spending time in your house during the summer months.

What kind of material is Energy Efficient?

If done by experienced professionals, any material can be transformed into energy saver.

1. Paint it bright

You can save some money by repainting your roof with liquid (or spray) roof coating. But you need to be aware that it won’t be as durable as if you replace the old one with the Energy Efficient one. Liquid roof coating needs to be applied carefully and the roof must be clean and in good condition. If the surface isn’t in good condition, you can’t expect miraculous results. But it will certainly be better than before and you can significantly reduce your energy costs.

2, Don’t be afraid of Clay and Slate

Although they are a bit more expensive, they are certainly worth the cost. These two materials can split your energy costs in half. Since Clay is lighter than the Slate, It’s usually used in warmer climates. On the other hand, Slate is ideal for the windy climate. They are both extraordinarily durable and you shouldn’t be afraid of them.

3. Metal is always a good solution

Metal is an excellent Energy Efficient roofing material. Different types of metal, such as Aluminium, Copper, and Steel, are certainly the ones that you should pay attention to. Since they are pretty bad at absorbing the heat (which is great for energy saving), they are ideal for a warmer climate. High-quality Metal is durable and it can save you lots of money in a long term.

The importance of Energy Efficiency is enormous and it’s important to do it with great experts. If you want to find out what’s the best solution for your house, consult with one of the best commercial roofers in the Atlanta metro area and find out everything you need. Save the money, while taking care of the environment.