When most people think about solar power, they tend to associate it with the warm, sunny days of spring and summer—so much so that it’s easy to forget that solar panels work well no matter what the temperature is outside. After all, solar panels respond to the light that comes from the sun, rather than the heat. In fact, if you’re considering going solar in your home or business this year, winter may be the ideal time to make the switch. In this article, you’ll learn about the relationship between solar power and winter—and why living in Arizona makes an important difference for solar systems.
How Winter Affects Your Solar Panels’ Performance
If you’ve never used solar panels before, you may be wondering how their performance changes from season to season. While you can expect some changes as the weather fluctuates, those changes are minimal enough that they will not noticeably affect your panels. If you’re thinking of installing a brand new solar panel system in your home or business, here are some things you should know about wintertime solar system performance:
- Cold temperatures can lead to better performance. As you might already know, you can expect your electronic devices to run more efficiently when the temperature is low compared to when it is high—and this goes for your solar system as much as any other electronic system in your home or office. This means that your solar panels may actually end up generating more energy for you on an hourly basis for a given sun intensity when it’s cold outside, which helps compensate for the shorter daytime hours of winter.
- Solar panels hold up well to ice and snow. While snow isn’t a problem that most Arizona homeowners and business owners have to worry about, you might be wondering if frost and ice can damage your panels. Solar panels are designed to hold a great deal of weight, so you don’t have to worry about them being damaged by an unexpected snowfall or heavy ice. While you should keep an eye on your solar panels when the weather is cold, this isn’t something you need to be seriously concerned about.
- Solar panels are easy to keep clear of ice. Ice is a common problem for homeowners during the coldest parts of the winter, but it’s not an issue that should affect your solar system. In the event that your solar panels are covered in ice after an overnight freeze, you can count on them to melt the ice away as the day warms up.
How You Can Save Money by Going Solar in the Winter
While solar power is often associated with warm-weather states such as Arizona or Florida, solar power’s popularity is actually growing across the United States, no matter what the climate is like. The reasons behind this near universal popularity have to do with the price of electricity. In general, the regions with the highest electricity rates—such as New York—are seeing the highest number of solar installations throughout the year. This winter has been one of the busiest in Tucson ever, as the upcoming rate change has led to increased sales to lock in rates before they go up.
If you are looking for the best value on your solar installation, winter tends to be the season when the prices are the lowest. That’s why winter is the perfect time to contact a solar system installer and ask any questions you may have about solar energy. If you’re still uncertain about whether or not going solar is right for you, an experienced professional can clear up any misconceptions you may have and provide you with the information you need to make the right decision for your home or business.
If you’re interested in learning how installing state-of-the-art solar panels can help you keep your home or business warm this winter, it’s time to talk to Custom Solar and Leisure. We are Tucson’s trusted solar experts, and we work to provide all of our customers with terrific alternative energy solutions at the best prices possible. We have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, have been certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, and co-founded the Southern Arizona Solar Standards Board. If the world of solar energy is new to you, you can begin your journey by contacting us today at (520) 314-3768.
