Solar-powered car parking canopies are increasing in popularity. They can be found all over the world with countries like the US, South Africa, and Australia all investing in them. Structures like these offer a wide range of benefits to both owners and users.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the benefits a solar parking canopy can have in both commercial and domestic applications.
Commercial Solar Car Parking Benefits
Solar PV canopies placed over commercial parking lots have numerous benefits. Whether you are a landlord, business owner, or city planner, installing such structures over your car parks can be a wise investment.
So, why should you invest in solar parking structures? Let’s take a closer look at the benefits.
Profit From Unutilized Space
Car parks can take up lots of space. A dilemma for many commercial organizations is how to profit from this unutilized space. Do you charge for parking, potentially putting customers off visiting your premises? Or, do you offer free parking in the hope this will boost footfall and therefore sales?
A solar PV canopy installed over your parking lot may be the answer. By generating your own power, you can use this to reduce your utility bills. This can help to offset the cost of installation whilst also reducing overheads.
Once you have achieved a return on investment, any power you generate will go towards helping your business turn a profit.
Support Your Environmental Credentials
Today, most businesses operate according to environmental policies. Such policies show that your business or organization cares about the environment. They will often detail the steps you are taking to reduce the environmental impact of your activities.
By installing solar panels over your car park, on the roof of your premises, or in the form of solar lights for your parking lot, you can help to support your environmental credentials.
Stand Out From Your Competition
It’s no secret that it’s important to stand out from your competition. Solar car parking structures can be a sure-fire way to achieve this. If your competitors don’t already have solar car parks, you can quickly make a statement by installing the technology.
Offer Shade To Users of Your Parking Lot
Often overlooked is the secondary benefit of solar parking canopies. They not only help to generate power whilst improving your image, but they also offer shade to those who use your parking spaces. This can be a unique selling point for businesses based in warmer climates.
Benefits for Homeowners
Whilst solar parking canopies are more common in commercial environments, you can still benefit from installing one to your home. Let’s take a closer look at why you might choose to do this.
Reduce Your Domestic Energy Bills
With domestic energy bills rising in many parts of the world, it’s now more important than ever to take steps to reduce them. Often, you can achieve temporary reductions by simply switching your provider, but for longer-term savings, solar electricity can be a wise investment.
After the initial cost of your solar power system, any energy you generate can go towards reducing your utility bills. In most cases, you will achieve a return on investment, helping to offset the initial cost of the technology. You should, however, always check this with your chosen installer to determine the pay off period.
Increase The Value of Your Home
Installing a solar carport can help to increase the value of your home. This can also result in more interest from potential buyers should you choose to move home at a later date, potentially helping you to sell faster.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Whilst commercial organizations have a key role to play in helping to reduce carbon emissions, we can all do more to reduce our own personal carbon footprint. By using solar energy at home, you will consume fewer external energy sources that might have come from fossil fuels.
Traditional energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are responsible for releasing large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that is contributing to climate change and global warming.
Charge Your Electric Car
With the electric car revolution on the horizon, a solar-powered car parking canopy might be the perfect fit for your home. Of course, you would need to keep your electric vehicle at home during daylight hours for the charging to work, but once charged, you can be on your way.
Save Space Elsewhere
If you are interested in solar PV technology but don’t have enough space, then installing a solar canopy over your drive may be the answer. Some homes don’t have enough roof space to accommodate a suitable solar energy system. In such cases, a canopy over your driveway can help.
You should of course always check with your local authority and installer of any planning restrictions that you may need to adhere to when building such structures.
Overview
Whether you are a commercial or domestic user, a solar car parking structure will offer many benefits. Investing in solar technology can help you to reduce bills, turn a profit, and reduce your carbon footprint.
For a closer look at the pros and cons of solar energy in general, we have an article dedicated to the topic here.
