In spite of abundant supplies of energy in the United States, energy costs seem to continue rising. One way to offset the extra expense is to use solar energy in our homes as much as possible. There are some valuable tips in the following article that can help you take advantage of the sun’s energy as much as possible.
Install panels a few at a time to break down the cost in setting up your home to operate off of solar power. There is no need to buy everything all at once, as there is much planning involved. You need to give yourself time to make adjustments and learn more as you go along.
Your solar energy system will be more efficient if it allows you to use power at anytime of the day or night. New solar energy systems can store a great deal of energy so that you can make complete use of your system 24/7, 365 days a year. Since we all use electricity 24 hours a day, this is essential.
With each year, solar power systems keep getting stronger and stronger. While you will still need to evaluate your situation, there are now more and more situations where solar power actually saves money. Solar power is more readily available to homeowners and business owners.
You should attend renewable energy fairs or visit renewable energy demonstration centers located in your area. You will get a chance to meet with experts and learn more about solar energy and the different types of panels you can invest in. You will make a better decision if you are properly educated.
When you are building your own solar panel systems, expect to build multiple arrays for the highest-efficiency. A solar panel can only generate a certain amount of energy–usually a fairly low number–which means that you need more than one panel. Multiple panels in the right spots is a recipe for success.
Make sure to watch the light on your solar panel inverter regularly. Check it at least a couple of times a week, while sunlight is hitting your panels. The light should be green. If it is not, your panels might not be working correctly, and it is time to call in a technician.
When considering installing solar panels, always check for local, state or federal incentives and rebates. The initial expense of solar panels can be costly so these incentives can be very helpful. Also consider the future saving and you will see that over time, your solar panels will pay for themselves.
As far as solar energy panels are concerned, size isn’t everything. There are a lot of variables to consider when buying solar panels. You should think about all of this before making your purchase.
Do you have a pool? You could save a lot by investing in solar panels. There are small solar energy systems designed to power a water heater or a water pump and since you only use your pool during the warmer months, your panels will work perfectly when you need them.
If you have a pool, don’t even think of heating it any other way than solar! This is easily the most efficient use of solar power there is and it will save you a bundle. Solar heating systems cost about the same or less than conventional systems and basically operate themselves so stop wasting your money doing it the old-fashioned way!
While solar panels can continue to work on days when it is not sunny, you should not have them installed if you live in an area that is cloudy most of the time. The amount of energy you save with them will not be worth the amount you paid for them.
Carefully consider the types of solar panels you plan on having installed. Long ago, if you didn’t have enough roof space, you’d need very expensive high efficiency mono-crystalline panels. There are now more advanced polycrystalline panels and even thin film panels. If you’ve got enough roof space, you might wish to look at the size of the panels in relation to their output capacity to avoid having insufficient panels that you need more of later.
Low prices can be very attractive but keep in mind that solar panels and their installation is not cheap. If a vendor has extremely low prices, you are probably getting low quality equipment or even second hand equipment. It is best to invest in quality solar panels and hire a trustworthy contractor to install them.
Solar panels produce DC electricity but your appliances need AC energy. You will have to invest in a quality power inverter to turn DC electricity into AC power. Select your power inverter carefully and do not hesitate to invest in an expensive one since the efficiency of your inverter could directly impact the amount of power you can generate with your panels.
If you do not have enough room on your roof to install solar panels to power your home, consider buying a heat transfer system instead. A heat transfer system will heat the water in your home. Usually in a standard home up to 20% of the power bill is spent on heating water sitting in a tank.
Everyone knows about solar energy, and understands it is a great way to save money and protect the environment. However, many people do not know about the many ways to take advantage of this free energy source. Use the information in this article as your guide to reduce your energy costs while saving the planet.
San Angelo TX
