If you’re a business owner, going solar can be one of the best ways to lower your operating costs and save money. It can be a great financial decision for many businesses, but it’s not for everyone. Deciding whether you should go solar can affect your bottom line. But to understand how solar power can help your business, you must have unbiased and accurate information. Whether you’re looking to build a sustainable brand image, get a stronger financial return, or improve your employee retention, commercial solar can give your business a number of benefits. But it’s important to make an informed decision.
The Advantages of Commercial Solar Power
Here are some of the advantages of installing solar panels in your business location:
- It will reduce your overhead — Every business wants to boost efficiency and improve its bottom line, and solar power is an easy way to achieve this goal. It will allow you to produce your own electricity, which will significantly reduce an unavoidable monthly expense.
- It can come with great tax incentives — Solar panels are great for the environment, which the government likes. They want more businesses to invest in solar energy, so they’re making it more affordable with tax-saving incentives.
- It can protect you from rising electricity rates — Electricity rates can vary from year to year, but it will almost certainly get more expensive over the long term. With solar panels, you can future-proof your business against these rising rates.
- It comes with low maintenance requirements — Business owners have enough to worry about, which is why many of them are reluctant to install anything that requires a great deal of maintenance and upkeep. But you may be surprised by how little maintenance a commercial solar system needs. You can have your solar panels cleaned if you want to. But in most cases, regular rainstorms will be enough.
- It’s a low-risk investment — Compared to other investments, solar panels are pretty low-risk (especially if you think about the potential returns it can give your business). It’s a reliable technology with decades of proven success, and you’re giving your business a hedge against rising energy costs.
Be sure to speak to a professional for more information
The Disadvantages of a Commercial Solar System
Despite the advantages, installing commercial solar panels has its drawbacks. Some of them include the following:
- It requires an upfront investment — One of the biggest barriers to entry when it comes to a solar panel installation is the upfront cost. While the cost has decreased significantly over the years, it’s still a significant investment.
- It requires a great deal of space — Many businesses decide to install their solar panels on their roofs, because it can turn an underused space into a money-making machine. It will also be out of the way from their normal business operations, but not all roofs are good for solar. If your roof doesn’t get enough sunlight or can’t support the extra weight, you may want to find another solution.
- You can’t generate energy without sunlight — A commercial solar system needs sunlight to produce energy. The more they’re exposed to, the more money you’ll save. Yet, not every location is suitable for solar energy (whether it’s because of regional weather patterns or because of the presence of trees and buildings).
- It can affect your building’s curb appeal — The look of your building can be an important first impression for a lot of businesses, which is why many of them take steps to improve their building’s curb appeal. While the potential return on your investment may be enough to convince you, solar panels may not fit into the aesthetic of every company.
- It may not give you the best return if you plan to move soon — Because it can take a few years for them to generate enough energy to pay for themselves, commercial solar panels are thought of as a long-term investment. So if you’re planning to move your business to a different location in the next few years, you may want to wait until you have settled into your new location.
- You won’t have backup power without batteries — If your power goes out, your grid-tied solar system will stop generating power for your business. If it’s sunny, your panels will still be able to generate electricity. But for safety reasons, your solar system is required to shut down until the grid power has been restored. You won’t have access to electricity unless you invest in solar batteries.
If you’re looking for one of the best commercial solar contractors in Corpus Christi, be sure to reach out to Solar Power Integrator.