You’ve probably heard this concept tossed around on the news or pasted on headlines, but what does energy independence really mean? And why should you care about it?
There are numerous benefits to being energy independent, some less obvious than others. Let’s break down what it is and what it means for you.
National Energy Independence
On a national scale, energy independence means that a country can create all the energy it needs to power homes, cars, businesses, etc., and does not rely on buying energy from foreign countries. Because the United States consumes more petroleum than it produces, it must compensate for that discrepancy by importing oil (crude and refined) from other countries.
To supplement the energy deficit, renewables such as solar provides a clean energy option and allow for energy independence. However, when we talk about this concept, we aren’t talking about a country; we are talking about you personally.
Personal Energy Independence
For you and your home, energy independence means you create more energy than you consume. Gone are the days of relying on energy companies to supply you and their variable rates. With energy independence — you are in control.
You can achieve energy independence by adding solar panels to your home and transforming it into a passive power plant.
- Predictable bill: If you have an off-grid energy system, it is much easier to predict your energy costs (hint: it’s zero). What’s more, you can easily save excess energy for when you really need it with the addition of a wall battery or other energy storage mechanism.
- Negative Bill/Net Metering: What’s better than a negative bill? If you’re on the grid but producing excess energy, you may receive a negative invoice. Generally, this rolls over as a credit, but in some cases, an energy company may pay you for the energy your home adds to the grid.
Learn more about how solar panels can help you save money in our previous blog post.
