The advantages of solar power become particularly clear in specific geographic areas that are more apt to benefit from it. One of the best single examples of such an area is the warm and sunny climate inherent to Australia. The term insolation describes the amount of solar energy an area receives in a given time, and insolation values in Australia exceed those of other continents like Europe and North America. Thanks to Australia’s higher insolation, massive land area, and extremely dry weather patterns, it’s a perfect example of a country that could benefit most from solar power growth.  The potential for the growth and commercialization of solar power in Australia is almost limitless.

This potential is recognized by the Australian government and supported through a variety of different systems. In the past, the Australian government had been offering up to A$8,000 to those who installed some form of solar powered energy system on their homes as a part of the Solar Homes and Communities plan. Since 2009, the Solar Credits Program replaced the previously used method. In this new program, credits are awarded when individuals install solar systems, with the goal that 20% of Australia power system will be clean renewable energy like solar power by 2020. These credits result in substantial financial gain by individuals willing convert to a renewable energy system utilizing solar power, greatly offsetting the cost of installing the system and making solar power a more financially viable option for the average Australian consumer.

The question as to whether switching to a more solar power dependent system will save money for the average person is a common one. It’s difficult to answer, but the numbers are more favorable than ever. With the average price of a standard 1.5kW photovoltaic solar system in a residential area standing somewhere around A$2,000-A$3,000, the numbers do start to swing in favor of solar power as a financially comparative system. Thanks to Australia’s naturally beneficial climate, an individual can end up saving substantial amounts of money on their monthly electricity bills when switching to solar power. That’s right, implementing solar power can save you money, and lots of it depending on a few factors.

Taking a closer look at the numbers will show an average Australian electricity user just how much can be saved. A 1.5kW solar system will produce somewhere between 5.5kWh and 6.5kWh depending on the region of the country a household is located. The average Australian family uses 18kWh in a 24 hour period, so it’s possible for families to greatly offset their reliance on the standard power system, or even completely replace it with solar power. This is important because standard energy prices in Australia can be prohibitively expensive. By switching from a reliance on expensive standard systems to renewable solar systems, there is a lot of potential for saved money. With solar power systems, the costs are all at installation, and those costs are offset by government rebates, leaving for a lot of room in the budget to save money.

To get a little more specific, take an example of a household in Sydney. With a cost of 20 cents per kWh, standard energy is rather expensive. If the family installs a 1.5kW solar power system, it is likely to reach a daily production of about 6 kWh. That’s a saving of A$1.20 per day. It may not sound like much at first, but they stand to save approximately A$438 over the course of a year. Those are some huge financial gains that start to add up quickly over the years thanks to the reliable and renewable nature of solar energy. Depending on the amount of solar power a household utilizes and the costs of electricity in their region, some households could stand to gain even more.

Since in some scenarios it can take multiple years for the daily savings of a solar system to recoup the initial cost of installing it, some individuals are rightfully worried about their solar system breaking down. One of the great things about solar power systems is that they will include warranties to protect them from failure. Warranties typically include coverage for parts and labor, batteries, and inverters, all important components in a solar system. Even with warranty coverage, it’s still good to know that solar systems are typically quite reliable and are shown to provide monetary savings in the long term even when accounting for problems.

The practical advantages of solar power are more than enough to convince most people, but there are also a number of “green” environmentally friendly considerations to converting to solar power systems. Unlike typical energy solutions which are reliant on non-renewable fuel such as coal or natural gas, solar energy is completely renewable and safe. Coal and natural gas deposits will eventually be depleted, but the Sun will continue to provide free energy that solar panels can efficiently collect and convert for use. Burning fossil fuels also results in a number of negative consequences on the Earth’s atmosphere, wildlife, and human health. Solar power is an effective way to reduce these effects and doesn’t produce any of its own negative environmental consequences.

To combat the climate change being caused by traditional energy sources, more environmentally aware households are converting to Eco-Friendly Houses. These homes take advantage of the “green” systems being developed to become less dependent upon or even totally independent of standard fossil-fuel based energy systems and other environmentally hazardous practices. Installing solar panels and becoming 100% reliant on solar energy is one step in developing an Eco-Friendly house. It’s more affordable and practical than ever to implement solar power, and there are such a wide variety of advantages.