Two of the most important things you can save are money and energy. For the last several years, our nation has battled an ongoing energy shortage, and the government has been making great strides in helping alleviate the situation. In fact, the State of California is in the midst of an ambitious energy-saving plan which entails installing 3,000 megawatts of solar electric power on roofs throughout the state by the end of 2016. This plan is called the Million Solar Roofs Initiative and is just one result of the increased awareness about the benefits of solar panels. Now it seems that every few months a new announcement about a plan to facilitate solar panel installation is being made.

Many government programs are offering financial incentives to those installing solar panels. These incentives are based on the expected performance of the solar installation, which takes into account a variety of factors include the size of the solar array, the angle and location of the system, and a history of past performance.

For those who don't know, solar panels are devices that take light from the sun and convert it into energy that can be used in buildings. Solar panels are usually placed on the roof of a building, and once installed, they take care of most, if not all, of your heating and electrical needs.

Many falsely assume that solar panels are only used for corporate buildings or large warehouse-type buildings that require large amounts of energy; however, this is not always the case. Solar panels can be installed in residential, commercial, and government institutions. And they can be incorporated into the construction of a new building or can be installed into old ones. Hence, solar panel installation is a viable option for any type of building.

By installing solar panels, our Naional power needs will be substantially reduced, especially during hot afternoons. And solar energy does not produce any pollution. The energy supplied by the sun in one minute has the power to meet the earth's power needs for an entire year. While, no one has yet figured out a way to harness all of that energy, needless to say, a massive amount of free, powerful energy is at our disposal to help reduce dependency on other types of energy. The solar costs are far outweighed by the money saved in the long run. Solar panels are a great long-term asset to the environment, because as residents become less dependent on other sources of energy to provide heat and electricity, there will be adequate energy resources to meet all the present and future needs of the state.

One other major benefit of installing solar panels is solar costs. Solar panels are estimated to save the state and consumers billions of dollars. The cost of solar energy is free. After all, who's going to charge you to use the sun? Additionally, after people install their solar panels, they never have to pay another electric or heating bill again, which has the potential of adding up to at least hundreds of dollars in savings a year. Of course, there is a somewhat substantial cost to install solar panels, but as long as you own the building for at least five years, you should have no problem realizing substantial savings.

And solar panelinstallation doesn't have to break the bank either. Because solar panels benefit everyone--the consumer, the government, and the environment--the California state government provides many financial incentives to make solar panel installation affordable for more people. Incentives may vary between counties, and they include fee waivers, a state and local loan programs, rebate programs, credits, property tax exclusions, state grant programs, utility grant and loan programs, and a long list of utility rebate programs. In some areas, you can even sell your unused energy to your local electric company, thereby earning you even more money. With all of these financial incentive programs, it is possible to save up to half or more of the original cost of solar installation.

And there are a host of other benefits provided by solar panels, including not having to worry about power outages. Further, the use of solar panels provides less dependency on domestic and foreign energy sources. In times of international turmoil, it is not wise to be tangled up in international power sources because you have no control over whether or not you can get and use that energy. Even domestically, you cannot be positive that the city energy suppliers will be able to provide for all of your energy needs during a time of emergency or crisis. However, you can always count on the sun to rise and provide valuable power and energy.

Solar panel installation can benefit everyone. Solar panels are wise financially (because of the low solar costs) as well as environmentally. The only reason why solar panels would not be a viable option is if you do not plan to live in or use the building for at least a five-year period. For time periods shorter than five years, many people find that they don't save enough money to surpass the initial cost of the solar panel installation.

At a time when saving money and protecting the environment has never been so important, solar panels are a wise choice for those who want to benefit themselves and the environment. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved. And especially for residents of California, who live in an area of the country that is particularly struggling against an energy shortage, solar panel installation can be the answer to help alleviate stress, lower government spending, and conserve energy for the future.

As our country battles against an ongoing energy shortage, the state government has implemented several initiatives and incentive programs to encourage the installation of solar panels throughout the state. Solar panels offer many financial and environmental benefits, and as many California residents are becoming more aware of these advantages, more people are installing these panels into their homes and office buildings.