There are many people all over the world that are taking advantage of solar energy. Others have not adopted this because they feel that it is something confusing and difficult to implement. The following article has several pieces of advice that will help you understand the benefits of solar energy and how simple it is to add to your life.
Position solar panels on the east or west side of your home or business. Since the sun travels from east to west throughout the day, placing solar panels on areas of your roof that face north or south is a waste. You’ll get much better energy returns by following the same path as the sun.
Just because you have a lot of cloud cover does not mean you can’t get solar power! Modern, high efficiency panels can produce plenty of energy even with limited sunlight. Many people say their best solar energy days are not on days when it is perfectly sunny.
One great way to take advantage of solar energy is by constructing a heat well just inside the south facing windows or patio doors of your home. This well collects heat from the sun during the day and releases it after dark. This form of solar energy is completely passive and requires no maintenance.
If you wish to get a solar power system, stay away from high pressure salespeople. Take all the time you need to ask questions, do some research and compare different options before investing in a solar energy system. Buying on the spot from a high pressure person can mean making the wrong choice and wasting your hard earned money.
Keep shade issues in mind when installing solar panels. A panel that loses a quarter of its light can lose half its power production. The main thing to keep in mind is tree foliage. Are any trees going to grow in between the panels and sunlight? Consider trimming them back a little.
After your solar panels are installed, check the inverter on a regular basis. Your inverter should display a green light if it is working properly. Call a professional if it’s blinking or off. It’s almost impossible for most panel owners to diagnose problems. A technician shouldn’t cost a thing if the panels came with the common 25-year warranty.
One of the major benefits of solar energy is that it is renewable. The sun (generally) shines each and every day, and there is no reason to worry that drawing power from the sun will somehow render it unusable in the future. Using solar energy, therefore, is a safe and reliable way to power the Earth.
If the environment is a concern to you, consider converting to solar energy. Since it gets its power from the sun, there is not much you can do to be greener than use solar energy. Start using solar energy and stop using fossil fuels.
When purchasing a solar energy system, make sure that you read the manufacturer’s warranty carefully. This is a very expensive item, and you want to know that you will be able to get a replacement in the event something happens to it. You should purchase an extended warranty if the one that is offered is very limited.
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.
If you are planning to move to remote location you may want to have solar energy panels installed on your home. Solar energy is still relatively expensive to install, but it can be more affordable than wiring power to your home. Get quotes on both before you decide which route you will take.
You don’t necessarily have to stick the solar panels in the typical locations you see in the brochures. There only needs to be a small gap of approximately 1″ behind the panel for air circulation. You can find interesting positions anywhere on your property that work with the style and design of the surrounding area.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is odorless, tasteless and deadly as well. This silent killer takes the lives of too many unsuspecting families. Help avoid this tragedy altogether by changing your current system over to safer and renewable solar energy. It will help to save you money, and give you peace of mind at the same time.
When you are figuring out the return on your solar power investment, do not forget that you can sell back energy to your utility company if you generate a surplus. This is usually in the form of a credit on your utility bills. Even though the initial investment may be hefty, the long-term financial benefits is there for the taking.
You need to understand that solar panels do more than simply light up your space. For example, did you know that they can generate heat for your home and water? As a result, one of these systems can dramatically cut back on your utility bills.
Solar water heating is a great way to use the sun’s power to heat up your swimming pool. It can also be used to heat the water for your home. That said, the energy savings is typically only 30% over traditional water heating devices, so keep that in mind as you create a budget.
Use winter sunshine hours instead of summer hours whenever you are calculating how many solar panels you will need. This is because winter sunshine hours only add up to about half that of summer. It is better to overestimate how many panels you will need rather than underestimate. If you underestimate, you will end up losing power when you need it.
Now that you have read this, you should be ready to start using more solar energy sources in your life. While it may take a bit of adjusting, after a while it will seem like second nature. In the process of saving a bit of money, you will also help save some of Earth’s valuable resources.
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