With rising costs affecting nearly every aspect of our lives, many people are turning to other ways to tighten their belts. While it takes a bit of initial investment, installing solar panels on your roof is a great way to help the environment and save money.
Many people are hesitant about solar panel usage, in the prairie provinces especially, but solar is actually increasing in popularity and are a great choice for the area!
Do Solar Panels Make Sense Here?
Before we talk about the environmental advantages of installing solar panels, let’s dispel the myth that they’re not a good investment in Canada’s western provinces. Prairie provinces actually benefit from more sunny days per year than most places in the world. Coupled with the longer daylight hours in the summer, provinces like Alberta are better situated for people to benefit from rooftop solar panels than some other provinces in Canada.
The Ecological Benefit of Solar Panels on Your Roof
It’s no secret that much of Alberta’s power comes from the oil industry, and while cleaner forms of that sector are coming up all the time, residential solar is simply better for the environment. Coal, for example, produces 25 times more carbon dioxide than solar panels for the same amount of energy; and that takes into account everything from manufacturing the panels to the operation process.
Depending on your power needs, you may actually be able to generate all of your power, if not most of it, for your home. You may need to offset in the dead of winter, but cleaning off the snow from your solar panels can increase your energy production. This means you will be getting most of the power you need in a way that’s better for the environment.
Incentives Can Offset the Initial Costs
There are also a number of programs available to help you with the initial investment. The federal Greener Homes Grant will give you money for certain upgrades that are environmentally friendly. Similarly, municipal grants and programs are available as well, all of which can help you get into solar for less.
This story was made possible by our Community Partners Program. Thank you A. Clark Roofing for helping to expand local news coverage in Alberta. Learn more.
