There is no better concrete example for sustainable living than solar panels supplying energy to your establishment. Due to the technology’s increasing availability, many commercial buildings are now opting to go green as a supplement to the traditional energy source. They do this primarily to cut costs and increase their savings.

Solar energy is a copious, dependable, and renewable energy source and the purest sort of energy known to man. Moreover, it is pollution-free and helps a country reduce its carbon emissions.

 

Commercial Buildings and Solar Power

There weren’t many solar power applications in the past, and some lost hope that the technology would ever be developed enough to replace traditional power sources. However, now it is seen as a valuable and indispensable source of green energy. As a result, a lot of businesses take advantage of its many benefits.

Prices for solar photovoltaic panels have dropped dramatically in the last two years as production and technology have improved. In addition, increased competition among a rising number of suppliers has also contributed to cost reduction. As a result, the outlook for this technology is excellent, with lower prices predicted in the years to come.

Solar panels and solar thermal panels have various purposes in offices and businesses, including pre-heating ventilation air, water heating, solar cooling, lighting, and power. In addition, solar panels can be installed on commercial buildings for lighting, air conditioning, and other purposes, allowing the company to shift away from only on-grid electricity, reducing electricity expenses.

Here is a list of benefits that come from shifting towards solar energy:

  • It aids the organization in achieving its objectives in sustainability.
  • Prices are reasonable enough to be financially beneficial.
  • The company’s electrical bills will be more predictable as a result.
  • There may be no required upfront funds.
  • The company can have a lock on lower power expenses.
  • Many utilities must meet RPS (renewable portfolio standard) targets while also lowering “peak time” generating costs in some circumstances.

Commercial buildings rely on electricity for most of their energy consumption needs. However, power consumption in a building during the day is much higher.  This makes them quite adequate for installing solar panels. For those interested in using solar energy in commercial buildings, dozens of state and federal tax rebates and credit opportunities are available for rooftop-solar systems.

 

Advantages of Using Solar Energy for Commercial Buildings

Installing rooftop solar panels to provide solar energy for the business space is a terrific way to demonstrate to your shareholders and clients that your company cares about the environment and improves it. In addition, you can inform potential customers about your company’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.

You can also reduce your dependency on governmentally supplied power and lessen your carbon footprint by installing solar panels. Installing solar panels can help you achieve the standards for LEED certification or Energy Star certification for your building. Installing solar panels can help you raise your score if you’re looking for a means to do so.

It is also highly recommended to install ceiling and attic access doors and panels to make it convenient for the maintenance personnel if there are plans for installing. By doing the installation, you can also increase your establishment’s LEED score or rating, which will boost your business’s reputation.

Solar panels for commercial use are essentially maintenance-free and silent, and the design of some commercial buildings is in such a way that they are conveniently accessible. The making of solar cells is of tempered glass and non-corrosive aluminum frames. Their structure allows them to withstand the elements and survive rain, hail, wind, and snow – pretty much any weather-related threat.

The photovoltaic cells which make up the panels break down relatively seldom in general. Even if they do, the solar panels come with a 25-year warranty, ensuring that when you install the panels on your commercial building, you will be able to generate your clean electricity for at least 25 years or more. It’s a system that is just as functional and likely more reliable than the utility company’s version.

 

Why Some Buildings Need It

When your building is entirely reliant on the electricity grid’s electricity, it is also fully vulnerable to its power outages. The building loses power when the power goes out due to a storm, a system malfunction, or scheduled power grid maintenance. You will not lose control during a power outage if you have a solar panel installation with a battery system for power storage and use.

As long as the sun is shining and your battery backups are working correctly, your panels will continue to provide electricity to your building’s electrical system. However, even if you don’t have a battery system attached to your solar panels, you’ll lose electricity because they deliver power to the utility company through the energy grid rather than using it for your own needs.

You’ll save money on your energy costs by having solar panels with or without a battery backup system. When the solar panel system links to your meter and utility lines, it generates electricity transmitted to the utility provider. As a result, it limits the quantity of governmental power sent to your building. Also, your meter may even go backward during low power demand and high solar power generation periods.

 

Other Advantages

If you plan to sell your commercial, industrial, or multi-unit residential property in the future, solar panels can raise the value of your property and help it sell faster. It is because energy efficiency is popular. The panels produce some or all of the energy required by the facility. As a result, your building’s short and long-term operating costs are lower than comparable buildings that do not have solar panels on the roof.

In the United States, there is a tax code that incentivizes solar panel installations. This incentive known as Section 179 allows businesses to deduct 100 percent of the expenditures of specific business equipment and building modifications. This might also include solar panel installation. A solar panel tax credit is also available from the IRS.

 

Final Thoughts

Solar panels are now becoming common due to the need for a sustainable and affordable energy source. The benefits from such technology will continue to develop. Also, many more changes regarding regulations and use will pop up as it progresses. Talk with a professional if you have plans for any solar installations before deciding.

 

Author’s Bio

Chris Jackson is an experienced Business Development Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the construction industry. He is currently working with Best Access Doors, an access door supplier in the US and Canada. He has been working for the company for more than 12 years now. His area of expertise is on Negotiation, Roofers, Sales, Project Estimation, and Facility Management (FM)