By Vanessa Cervantes, Poulin Solar Pro
For as long as we have known, people in history have been observing the sun. From worshiping the sun to building structures that track the summer and winter solstices like in Chaco Canyon, the sun is a central part of human life. It seems that as we continue life in the modern era, the sun remains just as important, especially that there is now technology to “plug into the sun.”

You can now power your lifestyle using the ancient source of sunshine. Below we will explore the growth of energy usage, how it affects our homes and how to start harnessing the power of the sun for your lifestyle.

Growth of Energy Usage

Since the discovery and commercialization of electricity in the 20th century, the world has quickly been electrified and enjoying the many new benefits of this technology. With electricity came new inventions including the radio, television, computer, cell phone, appliances, and so much more - if you can plug it in, you’re living in a space where electricity has touched your life.

To see just how quickly energy usage has grown in the US, check out the graph below.

As you can see, the US is thriving with the growth of electricity.

Electricity in your home

So how does electricity affect you personally? Well in almost every way. From your cell phone, to working remotely, to having light, entertainment, and even food in your fridge – electricity plays an important role. As you know, nothing is free, including the cost for electricity. Let’s look at some of the biggest contributors to your energy bill.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Association, your a/c and heating units, water heater, lighting, appliances, TVs, and dryers consume the most energy in your home. A few ways to reduce your energy usage are to switch to LED light bulbs and use Energy Star certified appliances. Your new LED light bulbs will consume 75% less energy than incandescent lightbulbs and your new refrigerator will be about 9% more energy efficient than non-certified refrigerators. Plus, most utility companies will give you a rebate for purchasing energy efficient appliances.

Once you have made these savvy changes, the next step is to try eliminating your power bill – by converting to solar energy to power your lifestyle.

Solar Can Power Your Lifestyle

Since there is now widely available technology to “plug into the sun”, you have the choice to convert to solar energy. Not only is solar a clean and renewable source of energy, it can often contain an end date for your bill. Once you pay off your solar loan, you own your solar system. Now you can “bank” on the sunshine to power your lifestyle and worry less about a surprising energy bill!

The cost to go solar is going down, and the industry warranties are some of the best they’ve ever been. To see incentives that may be available in your state, click here. The federal government recently increased the duration of the 26% solar tax credit to expire at the end of 2022 instead of 2020, giving you extra time to save money when you convert to solar energy.

Conclusion

The demand for energy is growing along with its cost. But you can reduce your energy consumption at home by switching to Energy Star certified appliances. Once you’ve optimized your energy consumption, you can now switch to solar energy to help eliminate your power bill. The technology is widely available and can power your lifestyle by harnessing the ancient power of the sun for your modern life. Not only will it help your pocketbook, but it will have a positive impact on the environment.

As always, if you’re ready to take the next step, you can schedule a free consultation with one of our preferred partners.