• Solar power can provide clean energy for homes and businesses.Solar image by Thomas Leiss from Fotolia.com
  
  Solar power is an excellent solution to today's energy concerns, although it can pose some issues for the home or business owner. Drawbacks of solar power include high initial cost, location limitations, overall appearance and roof concerns. Disadvantages of solar power should be considered by the consumer before purchase and installation.
  
  

Cost

• Although solar power is said to save the consumer money over a period of time, the initial cost of materials and installation can be quite expensive. A potential consumer's first concern is usually the overall cost to set-up and start using solar power. Tax and rebate incentives can help to decrease some of these costs.
  
  

Location

• Certain geographical locations are less likely to harness the full potential of solar power. Areas that are prone to cloudy conditions will not be able to collect as much energy as sunny locations. Additionally, constant humidity and frequent precipitation can deteriorate the solar panels and equipment.
  
  

Appearance

• The large solar panels, usually attached to the building's roof, can be considered unattractive. The overall appearance of a home or business with a decorative roof may decrease after the addition of solar panels. Advances in the solar power industry are presenting additional options that consumers may find more appealing than original choices.
  
  

Roof

• Not all homes or buildings were designed with the thought of solar-panel installation in mind. The roof must have a large enough area to accommodate the necessary amount of panels and should face the ideal direction of the sun. The "pitch" or angle of the roof can also effect the panels efficiency. Additionally, necessary repairs and maintenance to the underlying roof may be challenging after panels are installed.