Seven-year-old Kike didnât believe in the tooth fairy. Not anymore. She had caught her mum slipping some money under her pillow while taking away the tooth she had kept there for the fairy. Most of her childhood myths were being debunked one by one and she was finding it difficult to believe that Santa wasn’t real and he didnât ride on a sleigh powered by reindeers. She still held on to some of her beliefs though, because she was not going to let the cynicism of adulthood rob her of them.
Just like Kike and her incredulous myths which to her child-like mind are indelible truths, there are many myths about solar energy systems â five ridiculous ones, which should be ignored âĶcompletely.
The first of these is that solar energy systems are expensive. This myth has been debunked severally because, compared to the national grid and generators, solar energy systems are one of the cheapest sources of energy available. The cost of installation takes up the majority of the cost, and once installed, a solar power system can last up to 25 years while the battery needs to be changed every 15 years. By saving you the money you would otherwise have spent on electricity bills and petrol purchases, a solar energy system pays for itself within 5 to 10 years.
Another solar energy myth that should be ignored is that solar panels donât work when it is cloudy. This myth is obviously untrue because the clouds do not completely block the sunâs rays, if they did, it would be completely dark during cloudy weather. Though the solar generation during thunderstorms and snows can be reduced, it does not compromise the integrity of the solar energy system.
The third ridiculous myth about solar energy systems we should ignore is that solar panels can damage your roof. Obviously, before mounting your solar panel, it is wise to make sure that your roof has not exceeded its lifespan and is in good condition. Also, the weight and size of the panels should be commensurate with the size and structure of the roof. Solar panels also protect and preserve the roof with the cover they provide and since they are not directly attached to the roof, they can be easily removed to carry out repairs.
The fourth myth about solar energy systems is that solar panels require a lot of maintenance. This is not true because the installation is one-off and the panels can last for up to 25years. The batteries also last for as long as 15 years and the solar panels only need to be cleaned once in a while to remove any accumulated dust that has been trapped in them. Solar panels are constructed to withstand harsh weather and battery-based systems need more cleaning than those without batteries.
The fifth major myth about solar energy systems is that solar panels cannot be recycled and are toxic to the environment after they have expired. This is not quite true. This is because though solar systems present a challenge for recycling due to the varied types of materials they are composed of, they can be recycled after they are separated into different components and sorted out accordingly. This makes them more time-consuming and much more complex to recycle than regular items.
In conclusion, though some myths might have their uses in how they are applied and understood- to get children and people to behave accordingly, some are based on erroneous falsehoods which have no evidential bearing on fact and reality. So, just like these baseless myths, most myths on solar energy systems have been debunked and should be ignoredâĶcompletely.