Homeowner shares honest review after 'magical' solar panels reduce electric bill by 78%: 'It's saved me a lot of money'

Kelly Good, a Habitat for Humanity homeowner, is having a good — no pun intended — moment. The Winchester Star recently reported how Kelly was able to cut her electric bill from $187 to $41 in just a year. The 78% slash from her utility bills is thanks to energy-saving solar panels.

The scoop

Kelly, along with her two children, moved into their first home in Winchester's North End. Through the Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity, her home was retrofitted with solar panels last April. 

"It's saved me a lot of money," Kelly told the Winchester Star. She noted that even on rainy days, her electric bills have remained low.

While this isn't a direct DIY hack, there's a clear message: Solar installations, particularly those backed by nonprofits, can significantly cut energy costs.

How it's helping

The most direct benefit is financial savings. Switching to solar installations gave Kelly a monetary lift that eased the pressure of owning a home for the first time. For many low-income households, that kind of savings can free up funds for other core needs like food and healthcare.

Solar energy also benefits the environment. It helps build a cooler and cleaner future. Solar panels reduce dependence on gas, oil, and coal. They limit the heat-trapping pollution that's overheating the planet. That's why more and more homeowners are turning to resources like EnergySage to explore tailored solar options and calculate potential savings.

Other simple home improvements can multiply those savings while boosting comfort and efficiency. These hacks include adopting smart home tools to optimize energy use and weatherizing your home to prevent heat loss.  

What everyone's saying

The article's comment section raised a thoughtful question: Are the cost savings due to solar energy, or are they tied to subsidies? This highlights an important point about the varied factors that can influence home energy costs.

What's clear in Kelly's case is that solar installations significantly reduced her electricity bill. It freed up a lot of money for other things, as she stated in the Winchester Star report. And she's thankful to the Blue Ridge Habitat for the opportunity.

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