Everyone sees it. Costs are going up. The cost of electricity is no exception. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, across the United States, the cost of electricity jumped from an average of 15.96 cents per kilowatt hour between February 2022 and February 2023.
That may not seem like much, but for the average residential customer in America who uses about 10,600 kWh per year, those pennies can add up to over $200!
You’ve probably heard of a lot of solutions. Energy-efficient lightbulbs, new windows, pellet stoves, updated appliances, cutting back on the Air Conditioning, and getting a roommate. Of course, if you’ve got cash, solar panels are an option.
Don’t get us wrong. We love solar energy. We also understand that there are sometimes high up-front costs and potential headaches that go along with any of the upgrades listed above.
That’s the beauty of Community Solar. Shaving a decent chunk off your electric bill has never been simpler. Subscribing to a Community Solar program has no up-front costs. Plus, over the course of a year, the savings often adds up to about a month of typical electricity costs. No panels to install. No big investment. Nothing but money in your pocket to put toward the things that matter most to you. Gas in the tank, food on the table, making memories with your family and friends. Almost everything has a price. Signing up for Community Solar doesn’t.
How much are Non-renewables costing the planet?
Not choosing solar is arguably costing your neighbor, the country, and the planet more too. Studies show that greenhouse gas emissions and sea levels are going up. The cost of each natural disaster is counted in billions of dollars, destroyed communities, and closed businesses. Those costs are rising as well. See a pattern?
Like anything else, we can measure the impact of nonrenewable energy in numbers, so let’s start there.
Over 60% of the country’s electricity is generated using fossil fuels, which ultimately makes them the top contributor to global warming emissions.
If you’re questioning if global warming is a real thing, just ask your favorite search engine. You may come across an article from NASA, which simply states that human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, has increased the planet’s surface temperature since the 1950s.
What does that mean exactly? Well, it could equate to worse and more frequent natural disasters, acidic oceans, higher levels of air pollution, and accelerated extinction levels to name a few. All of these have a real impact on your health, the health of our planet, and, to circle back, your wallet.
Some Positive Changes
With everything on the rise, you can find a bit of relief knowing that the benefits of renewable energy are available to you at no charge, and no big panels in your yard.
Here is one thing we can look forward to going up: The number of solar farms. Yes, not everyone likes to see solar farms, but what do those solar farms mean for you?
More Community Solar farms means savings are more readily available to a more people. More homes and businesses save money…including renters and properties that have too much shade or don’t qualify for solar. More solar farms mean more local jobs to maintain them. More independence from the price fluctuations of oil. And locally produced solar energy means communities are less affected by power outages during natural disasters.
Cutting down on traditional sources of electricity can keep money in your pocket and put less greenhouse gas in the air.
The question is, which do you care about most? Saving money? Or saving the planet? Hopefully both equally, but no matter what your answer is, learn how we can work together to help here.
