There are so many benefits to solar energy, it’s a wonder more people aren’t taking advantage of it. The savings in monthly bills, ease of use and reduced carbon footprint make solar energy the optimum choice in this day and age. Read more about solar power and how it can work for you in the following article.
As you comparison shop for solar power systems, remember that not all brands were created equal. You want to go with a product that has a reputable manufacturer. It is wonderful if another brand offers a substantial warranty or a great discount, but those things won’t help you very much if the company goes out of business in a few years.
Think about the money that you send to your power companies each month. How would you like to keep that money in your pocket? Changing to solar power will do that for you. After you pay off the initial investment, the money you used to pay to the power company will stay in your wallet.
Be realistic about the costs of having a solar energy system. If you’re paying much less than other systems that are around the same size as yours, you may have poor equipment or installation work. Like with many things in life you get what you pay for. Quality installation work and equipment isn’t going to be cheap. You may have substantial savings by going with a large company, but other companies may be cutting corners to keep costs down.
Contact your insurance agent to find out if a solar energy system could be included in your insurance policy. Expect your homeowner’s insurance premiums to go up once your system is installed and consider switching to a different insurance agency if you find that your premiums have become too expensive.
Consider changing out your windows when you install a solar energy system. Installing energy efficient windows will help your home be easier to heat and cool, maximizing your energy savings. Since you will now be providing your own power, it is a good idea to save energy wherever you can.
Keeping your solar panels clean is essential to getting the most out of them. Dirty panels will not absorb the solar rays as well as clean panels will. It seems to be common sense to keep them clean, but many people assume that the rain will clean them. But they still need a thorough cleaning to keep them in optimum condition.
Your solar energy system can not only save you money, but help you make it too. If your system happens to make more energy than you need, then you can sell it to the local energy company in your area. Imagine receiving money to produce energy instead of spending money to produce the same amount of energy?
Always use non abrasive cleansers on your solar panels. An abrasive cleaner can scratch the surface of the panel and cause permanent damage and affect how well the solar panel works. There are commercial cleaning solutions to use or you can use a pool skimmer with a very soft cloth on it.
If you lease solar panels to save the upfront costs, check the contract for the possibility of transferring the lease. If you sell your home or building that panels are installed in within the lease period, you want to be able to legally transfer the lease to the new owners of the property.
Check the quality of solar panels before you make a purchase. You will also want to think about performance level, material quality, size of the unit, the brand name being offered and the warranty. Do some background research on the products you are interested in and choose panels adapted to your needs. Buy the best you can afford.
You do not have to install solar panels on your roof. You may place your solar panels in a number of places around your land or in your yard. Systems that track the sun or adjustable panel mounts can provide more energy. Having said that, solar panels will take up a lot of space in a yard.
The amount of energy your solar panel will produce is rated by watts. For example, if your solar panel is rated 100 watts, then on a clear day, your solar panel will produce 100 watts per hour. To find out how much electricity you need to produce, look at your electric bill and divide the total by 30 days and then divide it by 3 as there is generally bright sunlight one third of the day.
For families with four people, a solar energy system should produce approximately 5,000 kilowatts. This allows you to wash and dry five loads of laundry a week, run the dishwasher five times a day and power multiple televisions and lights. When deciding on the system, choose one larger than what you think you need. You can always sell the extra power produced to the electric company.
Before you start to use solar energy to power your home, you should get an energy audit. The audit will give you an idea of how much energy your home uses on a regular basis. Once you know this, you’ll be able to get a system that can provide as much solar energy as possible for your home.
Considering how much money using solar energy can save you, it’s definitely worth looking into further! Hopefully this article has pointed you in the right direction and given you much to go on. Make further inquiries and see if you can’t put solar energy to work in your home or office soon.
Sherman TX
