Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, one of the biggest bills you battle is your rent/mortgage and your electric bill. Your rent/mortgage is something that is the same every month, meaning there’s no way to lower it. But your electric bill… there are certainly ways to lower it.

How?

By way of solar power.

Solar power is one of those things that people “know about” but don’t actually “know about.” Unfortunately, the factual things they do know are oftentimes mixed with many misconceptions, which then cause those falsehoods to appear as factual.

Well, this article is here to set the record straight. If you’re trying to lower your electric bill and are considering solar power but are slightly apprehensive about it, don’t stress any further. Here are some of the biggest misconceptions about solar that you don’t need to believe.

Biggest Misconceptions About Solar Power and the Truth Behind Them

Solar Power Won’t Work in Colder Temperatures

This misconception is saying that when it’s cold or cool outside that your home won’t “work.” So basically, if you live in a region that experiences harsh winters, that your home won’t generate electricity… That couldn’t be further from the truth. Solar power is harnessed by the sun’s energy, not its temperature.

Solar Power is Too Expensive

To declare something as “expensive” is something people say based on their own personal income, expenses, and what they can afford, but saying that solar power is expensive is not something that any person can just say about solar power in general.

For some people, having solar panels installed on their homes might be expensive. But then again, having solar panels installed on a home isn’t the only way to utilize solar energy, either. If you want to generate electricity through solar power, there are alternative options outside of solar panel installation.

For example, did you know that you can compare electric suppliers of renewable energy resources instead of being “stuck” with your current traditional electricity provider? Many people don’t know that but now you do. By comparing electric suppliers you can find a plan that’s not only right for you but you can also customize your plan to have it be a fixed rate every month, meaning there’s no fluctuation month to month like traditional electricity.

Solar Panels are Aesthetic Eyesores

This particular misconception is simply a matter of preference. Some people don’t like the look of solar panels on the roofs of their homes and others could care less about what it looks like, just as long as it makes their home more efficient.

It Will Decrease the Value of Your Home

Energy efficiency ruining the resale value of a home sounds like one of those jokes that nobody “gets.” To completely shatter this misconception, solar-powered homes actually increase the resale value of homes. Adding solar panels on a home makes it stand out, it adds property value without adding property tax, and no electricity bill is a huge plus to potential home buyers too! Who wouldn’t want that?!

The millennial generation, in particular, is very interested in tech-savvy and environmentally friendly homes. In fact, according to nielsen.com, millennials are the generation that makes sustainability a requirement in the items and products they shop for. So it wouldn’t be unusual to walk into the home of a millennial and find custom furniture pieces made from wood that they created themselves, whether they’re a master craftsman or not.

Solar Panels Damage Your Roof

To generate electricity in your home through solar panel installation, the last thing it’s going to do is damage your roof… If anything, it’s going to protect your roof. As you probably know, elements like rain, hail, snow, and extreme sun are great deterrents of roofs and can age a home rather quickly.

The only thing damaging about having solar panels installed on your roof is hiring a solar panel installation company that doesn’t know what they’re doing. Any damages incurred to your home or roof certainly won’t come from the panels themselves but more so from the installer either not knowing what he/she is doing or from pure carelessness.