As of 2024, there has been an increase of solar panel installations on suburban homes for energy conservation. According to an article from Solar Ensure, around 4.2 million single family homes have solar panels installed. This displays a growing movement of the nation’s sustainability and energy independence among American homeowners, as well as raising awareness to going green and less use of limited energy sources like fossil fuels.
What are The Benefits of Going Solar?
The increase in availability and affordable solar technology provide the nation with economic and environmental benefits. Going solar allows for less greenhouse gas emission and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. The major allure of solar panels is the amount of money that will not be spent on paying electric and gas bills. The amount of money that is saved will depend on how much energy is consumed using the solar panels.
Solar panels are especially useful for people who live in regions with harsh weather climates. Due to having energy from the sun stored and saved, power outages and electrical issues are not something that will occur. Another reason is increasing the value of a home by 4%. Although a home may be small or outdated or unfinished, the electrical advancement causes an attraction.
What are The Cons of Going Solar?
Although the benefits of solar are convincing, there are disadvantages that come along with it. This environmentally friendly way of gathering energy seems to lack reliability.
According to The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors in the article Disadvantages of Solar Energy, “solar systems rely on the steady absorption of sunlight — particularly, subatomic particles called photons — which can be easily deterred.” Factors such as clouds, latitude and the night time sky prevent solar panels from working to their full potential. Another drawback includes the possibility of cadmium and lead leakage, which is harmful for the environment. When cadmium is leached into soil and water it lets out toxins that are then absorbed by plants and kills them.
The process of creating these panels involves the use of electric energy and is estimated to be between 40 and 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt each hour. This is another reason why solar panels are not completely eco-friendly.
How is Trump’s Presidency going to affect Energy Conservation advancement?
Based on an article from NPR, called “People are rushing to install solar panels before Trump becomes president,” the possible increase in tariffs is threatening to both the potential purchasing customer, the installers and the manufacturers.
Since President Donald J. Trump has been re-elected, economists and solar panel owners are concerned on how he will influence the reduction, or possibly the elimination of government incentives that have driven much of the green energy growth over the past four years.
There are no statements in any of the orders that concern the disapproval of solar panels. Potential buyers are concerned that they will possibly have to deal with a 30% federal tax credit increase which is not influential to the advancement of energy efficiency efforts.
On the other hand, President Trump is not specifically focusing on imposing tariffs for solar panels, they are general tariffs over consumer and commercial goods.
As stated in an article called “Unleashing American Energy” on WhiteHouse.gov, President Trump ordered, “to eliminate the ‘electric vehicle (EV) mandate’ and promote true consumer choice, which is essential for economic growth and innovation, by removing regulatory barriers to motor vehicle access; by ensuring a level regulatory playing field for consumer choice in vehicles; by terminating, where appropriate, state emissions waivers that function to limit sales of gasoline-powered automobiles.”
What is really expected to take place is the call for termination of the “Green New Deal.” This deal targets electric vehicles, including eliminating the “EV mandate,” even though there is no EV mandate in existence.
President Trump initiated a 90-day review of aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This order is targeting disbursements of certain funds, including grants and loans, until a review of the legislation to ensure alignment with the new administration’s energy policy. This review is simply set in place to manage spending of goods that are possibly disrupting the flow of consistency in inflation. More information is yet to be convened.