In Style Radio

Home Solar Panels is a Good Investment

Solar Power is becoming widely used as a source of alternative energy. There are basically two types of solar energy conversion that can benefit the homeowner. Solar thermal and Solar Photovoltaic.

Solar thermal energy is used to collect the heat from the sun and most commonly used as low temperature heating for swimming pools whereas Medium Temperature Collectors are used for hot water in homes and businesses. High temperature collectors usually produce electric power by concentrating sunlight onto solar cells with a lens or mirror.

Photovoltaic solar cell arrays are the most commonly used method of collecting the sun’s energy and is also the most cost effective renewable energy for homeowners to take advantage of energy savings. Solar power panels for home use are a terrific investment, which not only saves the homeowner cash in the form of reduced bills but can also raise the value of the home. Also, if the solar power generated exceeds the amount of energy being used by the home that it supplys, the excess power can be sold to the utility company. With solar power being a renewable energy source, though there are certain variables that can affect its performance, such as cloudy days and it doesn’t work during the night under moonlight conditions.

There are a few options when considering home solar power. You can build a grid-tied system, which is the most utilised. In a grid-tied system, as stated above, the excess power gets cycled back into the national power grid, which the utility company must credit to you. Grid-tied systems usually consist of the solar panels, a few wiring boxes, a disconnect switch and an inverter to make the electricity generated usable. There are various advantages in using a grid-tied system such as not having to setup a storage system of battery banks to store the power for nights or cloudy days, but also there are disadvantages when the power is not being stored such as blackouts still leaving you powerless.

Hybrid-solar power generator systems are yet another option, most commonly used in remote locations or entirely off-grid houses. These systems are similar to grid-tied except they typically utilize a wind turbine or gas generator as well as solar panels. Battery banks are used to store power and these systems are often complex and require more initial investment and routine maintenance. In conclusion, when considering the cost of bringing grid power to a remote location, say miles away from a normal electrical hook-up point, a hybrid-solar power system coupled with a wind turbine might be a much less expensive option than paying for power poles and traditional power to be brought in.

Overall, solar panels for home use can be a viable and attractive option to many homeowners all over the globe. The options available nowadays are much more advanced and efficient then most people realize. With the correct education, and a little DIY know how, and an easily attainable guide to building your own solar panels the option is there to even construct your own solar panel array, which, once completed, could provide your home with solar power for only a few hundred dollars. Consider this a correctly assembled Solar Panel array will typically last for 40+ years. Think about how much money you will save on your utility bills over the next 40 years. Isn’t it worth the investment of $200 – $300 one time?