Have you been contemplating purchasing a generator?
Maybe you’ve been weighing the costs and benefits of buying a gas generator vs. a solar generator. Many people face this conundrum.
We’re here to let you know that you’ve been thinking about it all wrong. Solar generators are the only way to go.
Why you might ask? The reasons are many. The environmental benefits are huge, but there are personal benefits in going solar as well.
Here, we’ll outline 8 reasons why you need to drop the idea of gas generators and go solar today.
1) Environment Saver
This is the most obvious benefit of going solar. If you’re a burgeoning activist, you’ve probably looked at the statistics of solar power vs. gas power. It’s staggering, as are the dangerous prospects if we continue neglecting climate change.
Three years ago, world leaders pledged to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. If we don’t drastically change our emissions, we may run the risk of crossing a point of no return as early as 2020.
Using a solar generator instead of a gas one may seem like a trivial change to make in one’s own life. However, it’s part of a larger step that we need to make as a species.
If we act with more urgency, start by cutting out things like gas generators then move on to more impactful things, we still have a chance to reverse some of the damages we’ve caused to the environment.
It’s irresponsible to ignore such a simple change in your life, and as you’ll see, there are loads of other benefits to going solar.
2) Long-term Benefits
Many people scoff at the perceived cost of going solar vs. sticking with gas generators. The simple truth is that solar generators pay off in the long run.
It’s true, generator batteries are expensive, and if you go with a standby solar system, then you’ll have to pay for installation on top. But the difference lies in what happens post-installation.
Oil is a non-renewable resource. You’re always paying whatever market price is for gas to fill your generator, which then guzzles said gas, causing you to need more…you guessed it, gas.
Solar power is free. It absorbs the light from the sun and converts it into power. Look at it this way: Instead of mining the earth, which has a finite amount of oil, you’re mining the sun’s rays that are shining regardless of whether you use them or not.
3) Portable
Many companies now sell portable solar generators. There are many practical uses for portable generators, especially of the solar variety.
The portability allows you to take it on camping excursions and you can take it with you when you move house. If you’re diligent, you can also move it wherever the sun is shining to bank the most power.
Check here to find the best portable solar generators available.
4) Low Maintenance
A great benefit of solar panels is the lack of maintenance needed to keep it running. Gas generators are like engines, so they’re loud and the moving parts within them wear out over time.
There are no moving parts in solar generators. They’re simply made up of the connected solar cells that make up the solar panel and then the rechargeable batteries that the converted energy is stored in.
No parts are rubbing against one another, so unless you’ve got a faulty battery, you won’t have to replace anything as time goes on. Inside of a gas generator, you’ll see all of the tiny parts that make up the whole. Unless you’re a mechanic, you’ll probably need to see a professional if anything goes wrong with it.
5) Stores Power
When you start a gas generator, there’s no way to keep it going when the gas runs out. You have to store a large supply of gas and continue to refill the generator.
A solar panel, on the other hand, can constantly be recharged, even when it’s providing you with power. As long as it’s in the sun, it’s absorbing its photons. This gives you peace of mind, you’ll never feel like you’re unnecessarily using a solar generator.
6) Emergencies & Beyond
Not only are solar generators used in emergencies, but you can also use them in everyday situations to offset some of your energy consumption.
Again, even if you’ve got a small portable unit, you can be diligent and set it outside during the day even when you don’t anticipate needing it. If you charge it all day, then you can use it in the evening.
7) Quiet
If you’ve ever been to a campground, you know the low and constant hum of gas generators powering people’s RV’s at all hours of the day and night.
Anyways, back to the moving parts thing. A solar generator has none, just the solar cells and batteries, so there’s no noise whatsoever. In a camping situation, just set up your portable solar generator outside your camper during the day, and then let the batteries power you at night so you can still watch TV.
This is just as beneficial at home during a power outage. The last thing you want to contend with during a bad storm or outage is the loud noise of your gas generator.
8) The Convenience of Solar Generator
When purchasing a solar generator, there are many convenient features you can look out for to make your life easier in the event of an emergency.
Multiple AC outlets for powering multiple appliances and devices is featured on many units. USB plugins to charge smartphones and other devices are also commonly found.
Most generators offer expandability, in case you want to attach additional panels and batteries to your original unit. Many of them also have LED panels with the status of your system’s performance displayed on them.
A No Brainer
To us, going solar is a no brainer. There are almost no cons to going solar when you consider all that we’ve laid out in this article. It’s environmentally responsible, convenient for you, and low maintenance.
Get a portable solar generator today and show the rest of the campground that harnessing the power of the sun is more efficient and much quieter than their gas generators. One-by-one, you’ll save the planet.
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