One of the most exciting areas of clean energy research is how businesses can take part in reducing the effects of climate change. Increasing amounts of greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere from sources like industrial factories, vehicle exhausts and agricultural run off. These emissions are the result of using our world’s already strained fossil fuel supplies to produce the energy we use every day. Many companies have made it publicly known that they are going to start investing in solar energy technology to significantly reduce their impact on the environment.
A prime opportunity for business owners who are interested in going solar is the investment tax credit available to them through the government. This investment tax credit encourages business owners to go solar by lowering their overall cost of ownership for their operations. When a business uses clean energy sources, they not only save money but they also help the environment by reducing carbon emissions that lead to climate change. The costs of these operations and purchases greatly offset any benefits the owners receive from the investment tax credit. Because the costs are so low, most businesses cannot afford to go without clean energy.
Another option for business owners is to seek out standalone energy storage systems. Although these products do not provide as large of an effect as the clean energy source above, the amount of carbon a system captures and stores can be far higher than with a solar installation. The amount of stored carbon is however not high enough to make a significant difference on the temperature or climate throughout the entire country. Most states have programs that allow owners of both technologies to claim credits for their own installations.
There are other ways for business owners to reduce their operational costs while simultaneously improving the environment. One way is to install solar panels or a whole series of passive solar energy collection systems. These devices take the raw energy they produce and turn it into electricity the same way that a solar panel does when it is properly installed. The only difference between an active system and a passive one is that a passive system collects its own energy from the air, collecting heat from the sun during the day and storing it for later use.
Installing solar panels is a great way for a business owner to offset some of his operational costs. However, many smaller companies cannot afford to invest in the extensive set up costs associated with a solar panel system. In addition, the upfront costs for these systems can often be prohibitive. For these types of companies, there are many government and non-profit organizations that provide loans and grants for small businesses that choose to purchase or construct their own solar panels. Government supported programs are particularly popular for companies who wish to reduce their operation costs while making a difference.
Businesses should never overlook the effect a commercial solar installation has on their property value. Over time, a well-installed system can seriously increase a company’s property value. Solar panels not only provide clean, renewable energy, but they also create a pleasant aesthetic enhancement to the property. In addition, improved energy bills help to increase a company’s profitability.