Seamstress finances solar energy and is surprised: “I thought it was a rich person’s thing”

Seamstress Elaine Ribeiro, a resident of Sumaré (SP), saw in practice that solar energy is not just for those with high purchasing power.

After years of believing the investment was out of her reach, she decided to install a photovoltaic system in her home — and today she pays less in financing and on the minimum rate than she used to spend monthly on her electricity bill.

“My husband and son always told us to go solar, but I said it was something only rich people would do. I thought we wouldn’t have the financial means to do it,” Elaine said in an interview with Canal Solar.

The change came after listening to advice from a family member. "She told me that with the amount we paid for energy, we could finance the panels. And that's what we did," she recalls.

Economy and affordable financing

The installed system, valued at approximately R$15, was financed in 60 installments of less than R$500,00. Before installation, the family's electricity bill was around R$700,00.

The difference between what she paid before and what she pays now allows Elaine to invest in other household priorities. "With what we're saving, we'll finish the renovations, invest in my studio, and even install air conditioning. It's too hot," she jokes.

For Elaine, the biggest lesson was realizing that solar energy is no longer a privilege for the upper classes. "If I had known earlier, I would have installed solar energy a long time ago," she said.

"It's a myth to say it's only for the rich. Today, there's financing, there are affordable options, and we see that it's possible. I myself thought I wouldn't be able to do it, and now I recommend it to everyone," she emphasized.

Cases like hers reflect a national trend: according to data from ABSOLAR (Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy), more than 3 million residential solar systems have already been installed in Brazil, with a focus on low and middle-income families.

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