Natural Gas vs. Solar Power for Homeowners

With so many energy options available today, homeowners often wonder whether natural gas or solar power is the better choice. The answer depends on your home's needs and your priorities. While both can help power your home, they work differently and come with different costs, benefits and tradeoffs. Understanding those differences can help you make a more informed decision when comparing natural gas vs. solar power for homeowners.

How Each Energy Source Powers a Home

To gain a better understanding of how natural gas and solar power compare, let’s start with the basics of how each works.

Natural gas: is delivered through a network of underground pipes maintained by your utility company. Once it reaches a home, it's most often used for space heating, water heating, cooking and clothes drying, though its range of applications continues to grow. It's also worth mentioning that natural gas is widely used to generate electricity across the U.S. However, using natural gas directly in the home is usually more efficient than first converting it to electricity at a power plant.

Solar energy: is captured by photovoltaic (PV) panels, which convert sunlight into electricity for use throughout the home. This electricity can power everything from lights and appliances to heating and cooling systems. Electricity generated from solar energy can also be delivered through the power grid by utility companies, though when homeowners compare natural gas and solar power, they're typically referring to rooftop solar systems. Because it relies on energy from the sun, solar power is considered a renewable energy source.

While natural gas and solar power can both help meet a home's energy needs, they aren't always direct substitutes. Natural gas is often used directly in appliances, while solar energy is typically used to produce electricity.

Defining Your Energy Goals

Homeowners don't all make energy decisions for the same reasons. Some are looking for dependable service, while others are focused on lowering costs, reducing their environmental impact or generating their own electricity. When evaluating natural gas vs solar energy for home use, understanding your priorities can help narrow down the options that make the most sense for your household.

Reliability: If you're the type of homeowner who values consistency and peace of mind, reliability may be one of your top considerations. You may be less concerned with generating your own energy and more focused on having energy available when you need it.

Natural gas may have an advantage if reliability is your primary concern because it delivers energy on demand and isn't dependent on sunlight or weather conditions—see how natural gas performs during severe weather. Solar can also be reliable, but its performance depends on available sunlight unless paired with battery storage.

Generating Electricity: Some homeowners are interested in producing part or all their own electricity. If energy independence appeals to you, it might be especially important for you to understand how different energy sources contribute to electricity generation.

For those wanting to generate electricity at home, solar often has the advantage because rooftop panels can produce power directly where it's used. As we mentioned earlier, natural gas is commonly used to generate electricity, but typically at power plants rather than individual homes.

Reducing Upfront Costs: For many homeowners, the best option is the one that fits comfortably within their budget today. If minimizing initial expenses is a priority, you'll want to pay close attention to equipment and installation costs.

Natural gas may be the more attractive option for homeowners focused on upfront affordability, while solar systems often require a larger initial investment.

Long-Term Savings: Other homeowners are willing to spend more up front if it could lead to savings over time. The long-term financial impact of each option may become clearer when you look beyond the initial price tag.

Whether natural gas is cheaper than solar energy—or the other way around—depends on a variety of factors, including your home's energy use, upfront investment and how long you plan to stay in the home. Natural gas can provide long-term value through efficient home heating, water heating and appliance use. Solar may appeal to homeowners looking to reduce their reliance on purchased electricity over time.

In fact, homeowners in some areas with solar may also be able to earn credits or compensation for excess electricity sent back to the grid, making the long-term savings even better.

Environmental Impact: If sustainability is important to you, environmental factors may play a larger role in your decision. Emissions, renewable energy and overall resource use are often key considerations for environmentally conscious homeowners.

Homeowners prioritizing environmental impact may be drawn to solar because it generates electricity from a renewable resource. Natural gas, while generally lower emission than other fossil fuels, is still a non-renewable energy source.

That doesn't mean natural gas isn't an important part of the energy conversation. In fact, many experts view it as a bridge fuel that can help support the transition to even cleaner energy.

Where Solar Can and Can't Replace Natural Gas

One of the most common questions homeowners ask is, "Can solar power replace natural gas?" The answer depends on how energy is used throughout the home. While solar can replace some uses of natural gas, it isn't always a direct substitute for others.

Heating: While solar panels can generate electricity to power electric heating systems, replacing natural gas heating isn't always practical for every home. That's especially true for households with significant heating demands during colder months. Learn more about heating with natural gas.

Water Heating: Solar-generated electricity can be used to power electric water heaters, making it possible to reduce or replace natural gas use for tasks like showering, washing dishes and doing laundry. However, the best solution often depends on your household's hot water needs and energy setup.

Learn more about lighting, turning up and maintaining hot water heaters.

Cooking: Natural gas remains a popular choice for cooking because it offers responsive temperature control and instant heat. However, electric and induction cooktops can perform many of the same functions and can be powered by solar-generated electricity.

For homeowners looking to replace natural gas in the kitchen, cooking is often one of the easier applications to transition to electricity. 

Electricity Generation: This is where solar has the clearest advantage. Rooftop solar systems are specifically designed to generate electricity for use throughout the home, while natural gas is more commonly used for electricity generation at power plants.

Pairing Natural Gas and Solar Energy

After comparing natural gas and solar power, many homeowners assume they need to choose one or the other. In reality, some households choose to pair natural gas and solar energy to take advantage of the strengths of both.

For example, a homeowner might use solar panels to generate electricity during the day while continuing to rely on natural gas for home heating, water heating and cooking. This approach allows each energy source to serve the applications where it may be most effective.

Pairing natural gas and solar energy can also provide added flexibility. Solar can help offset electricity use, while natural gas can continue to power essential appliances regardless of sunlight availability.

Backup Power Considerations

If backup power is important to you, it's worth considering how each option performs during an outage.

Solar batteries: store excess solar energy for later use, allowing homeowners to keep certain appliances and devices running when the power goes out.

Natural gas generators: provide backup power by drawing fuel directly from a natural gas line, making them a popular choice for extended outages. 

When comparing solar vs. gas generators, the right choice often depends on your home's energy needs, budget and preparedness goals.

Thanks for reading our blog. As you've seen, there's no one-size-fits-all answer when comparing natural gas and solar power. The best choice depends on your home's unique needs, priorities and energy goals. Be sure to stay tuned for more helpful blogs and follow us on social media.