Solar energy is not brand new, but it is an unexplored topic for many people. In order to become an authority of solar energy, you should learn as much as possible about its potential. Keep reading to find out more about solar power.
The power you are able to generate with a solar energy system will depend on how many panels you install and their efficiency level. Calculate how many you need. It could work out that you’ll want the high efficiency panels to decrease the number of panels you’ll need.
If you’re thinking about installing solar panels to generate your own electricity, make sure that the roof you’ll be installing them on gets plenty of good sunlight. Good sunlight occurs between 9am and 3pm. You’ll generate the most electricity if your roof receives full, exposed sunlight between those hours every day.
If you decide to put solar energy panels on your home, remember to keep them clean. Your solar panels must reflect the sun’s rays in order to store the sun’s energy for use in your home or business. If they are dirty, they can not effectively do this. By keeping them clean, you will get the most bang for your buck!
If you don’t want to or can’t go for full solar power, at least consider a solar water heating system. Many regional and community governments offer financial incentives, rebates and tax credits for even doing this, just like they do for full solar installations. Check with your local government before doing anything to know the perks.
You can make a solar system installation more affordable by looking into grants and rebates. The installation costs of solar power are overwhelming. Verify whether state or federal rebates and grants are available to assist you. This can make solar energy a lot more affordable. You might even be eligible to claim a tax deduction.
When the space and resources are available, your best bet for maximum solar energy gathering is a panel system with sun tracking. These systems will follow the sun as it moves during the day. Solar tracking systems may be more expensive initially, but they pay off with the extra energy they produce.
If you often travel with your electronic, you should consider investing in solar-powered chargers. These chargers include a small solar panels that can generate enough power to charge your cell phone or another electronic device such as a laptop. There are even cases including a small solar charger designed for tablets.
Be sure mountings on solar energy panels are engineer certified for your area. For instance, if if you’re in an area that gets frequent cyclones, the mountings need to be cyclone rated. High-quality systems will be wind certified to ensure they don’t blow away in a huge wind storm. Mounting is an important part of the system and not all suppliers regard them that way. Stay alert when buying your system to make sure they have proper certifications.
Think about heating your hot tub or pool water with solar energy. These devices are some of the most energy consuming things that people have in their homes these days. If you use solar energy instead of standard energy to power these you could greatly reduce your carbon footprint and save money in the end.
Solar water heaters have been around for hundreds of years. For over 50 years people have been using them to heat everything inside and outside the home. Over the years, these solar water heating systems have become much more efficient. If you are located in sunny areas of the country, you should look into buying a solar water system.
We rely heavily in the United States on foreign energy sources, especially oil. This is money that is going to another country. By making the switch to solar energy you are helping to reduce the US’s dependence on foreign energy, and helping to keep the earths natural resources from becoming ultimately depleted.
You should pay close attention to the weather if you are thinking about purchasing solar panels. You need at least five hours of sunlight every day to get the most use out of them. When your area is burdened by clouds or snowfalls, this isn’t the energy source for you.
When it comes to solar water heaters, be realistic. They’re typically only 30% more efficient than any other form of water heater. Don’t think the water will be cold if you shower when it is dark. Solar-heated water should stay warm or hot for up to 24 hours.
Set up time every few years to clean the areas around your solar panels. These panels don’t take a lot of maintenance, but you want to upkeep the area around them so that you lower the potential for issues. Clean out leaves, remove any debris, and test all of the fittings to make sure all is well.
Ask your solar panel vendor about the certifications they have and about the testing of the panels you are interested in. You might qualified for some rebates offered by the government if you go through a certified vendor and choose panels that have received certifications too. Besides, this is a good way to make sure you are getting a quality product.
Lots of folks have been interested in solar power for a long time. Do more research on solar power and do not hesitate to share your findings with friends and relatives. This article is a great starting point for anyone who wishes to learn more about solar energy.
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