Powering Your Home Using Solar Energy: What is Community Solar?
Community solar offers an excellent alternative to residential solar power systems by allowing anyone to affordably and easily access solar power. Understand the process and advantages of community solar to learn whether enrolling is the perfect option for powering your home.
What is Community Solar?
Community solar refers to a group of people sharing electricity generated using solar energy. Other terms for community solar include shared solar, roofless solar, and solar farms or gardens.
Community solar projects are funded and operated by third parties, generally utility companies, government organizations, or private businesses, who elect to install arrays of solar panels in a certain area. Energy produced at the solar farm is delivered to the power grid and distributed by the utility company to homes and businesses. Members of the community are offered the opportunity to lease solar energy by simply subscribing to the service.
Instantly power your home using solar energy by researching New York State community solar opportunities near you.
The Billing Process
Community solar uses a billing process known as virtual net metering. Virtual net metering credits community solar subscribers for energy generated by their share of solar panels. Essentially, excess energy is delivered to the power grid, and the utility company pays you for the supplied energy by adding solar credits to your monthly electric bill. Credits earned are subtracted from your total, effectively reducing your energy expenses.
Advantages of Community Solar
Community solar offers numerous advantages for members.
Financial Savings
Access amazing financial savings by joining community solar. Community solar offers a guaranteed discount of 10% on energy expenses using the billing process, which saves you money every month.
Additionally, community solar allows you to access solar power while bypassing expensive installation costs and maintenance fees. An average homeowner spends anywhere between $10,000 and $40,000 on a solar power system; however, community solar is funded by a third party, meaning you skip the investment but not the rewards.
Environmental Impact
Improve your environmental impact by powering your home using solar energy. Traditional forms of electricity, specifically fossil fuels, emit carbon dioxide and other harmful gases during production, increasing pollution and leading to global warming. Solar power provides a clean, renewable alternative to avoid releasing harmful gases and successfully combat global warming.
Community solar allows you to participate in the fight against climate change on a larger scale. Create an environmentally-friendly and sustainable home to make a meaningful difference.
Accessible Opportunities
Another advantage of community solar is the accessible opportunities, including:
- Bypassing Strict Requirements: Residential solar power systems require ample funding, specific roof conditions, and owning your house, which isn’t necessary for community solar.
- Increased Projects: Community solar projects continue to grow with at least one project in 40 states.
- Easy Enrollment: Locate a project near you and click a few buttons to easily become a community solar member.
Power your home using solar energy by understanding the process and advantages of community solar.