Are you thinking that 2019 will be the year that you go solar? Jamaicans are becoming more aware of the power of the sun and the ability to tap into it as a source of renewable energy.

“The decision to ‘go solar’ is often second-guessed because the start-up is a little expensive,” says Mark Blair, head of engineering, Appliance Traders Limited.

“What most people do not realise is that going solar is not a short-term, but rather a long-term investment, and with more options of financing becoming available such as NHT loans, there are sizeable benefits for making the solar switch,” Blair adds.

If you’ve been thinking about investing in a solar photo voltaic (PV) system for your business or home, here are some reasons you should invest in solar today:

• You will be saying goodbye to outrageous energy bills – whether you choose to go fully off the national energy grid or go with a grid-tie (hybrid of sharing a PV set-up and the national energy provider), you could save thousands on your monthly energy consumption or eliminate those bills altogether.

•You will be increasing your property value – real estate is always a great investment and a PV system is an excellent way to add value to your home as it is included in the valuation report when properties are put up for sale.

• You will be playing your part in protecting our environment – solar energy is a clean, green source of energy, meaning you will be reducing the amount of carbon gases you cause to be spewed into the air, thus positively impacting the environment.

•You will be making a long-term investment – over the last seven years, solar energy prices have decreased, while electricity costs have been, and keep, rising. The National Housing Trust (NHT) is also now offering loans under its Home Improvement Programme for property owners to invest in solar energy systems.

• You will be saying goodbye to outages – solar energy is not only clean, it is reliable, consistent and dependable.