Use of Solar Panels For Home Purposes

Solar systems are becoming a practical and an increasingly attractive great energy source for the home. This could be attributed to three basic reasons; namely, the increasing costs of energy from conventional sources, the falling costs of improved solar panels for homes as well as incentives offered by governments that make green energy an attractive option.

In America, more than 10 thousand homes are powered entirely by solar energy systems. In addition to that, several hundred thousand homes use solar systems to partially meet their energy requirements. That translates to significant savings on energy bills. Subsequently, the use of conventional resources (fossil fuels, etc.) is reduced, which results in less environmental impact.

The cost of installation for a typical home can be $18-20 K if done by a professional installation company. Such high costs prevent people from using solar systems. But you can save money on installation costs via tax credits and state rebates. Also,you can do it yourself, and then the cost would be only approximately 30 % before tax credits and rebates.

You do have two choices: a stand-alone unit that needs battery or a unit that is tied to the grid.

A good upgrade to your house would be to convert to grid-intertied solar system. Planning ahead is the main prerequisite of successful conversion.

First, calculate the amount of energy you will need based on historical consumption. You should select the right size of your solar system. An oversized energy unit will generate more energy which you could send to the power company, but you can only receive credit and not cash for it.

After that, understand if your house is suitable for a solar energy system. These factors are to be considered:accounted for: available space, building orientation and climatic conditions. A rule of thumb for estimating needed roof space is 80 to 100 square feet per kW. A building should face south for the system to be efficient, and should be free of objects that may get in the way of sunlight.

Though it is possible to install the solar panel units on poles, panels are usually mounted on rooftops. Using stainless steel bolts, the mounts are attached to roof rafters. The solar panels are then installed on the frames.

Solar panels are available on the market. There are suppliers that sell their products on the Internet, but I would not recommend to buy from them unless you have prior experience with installing them.

Typical set of hardware you will need for a stand-alone grid-intertied system consists of: solar panels, power inverter, kilowatt-hr meter, roof mounts, a couple of heavy duty safety switches, wires and conduits. A DIY kit for a 1-kW system would cost a little above the $3,000 mark.

If you don’t have experience in this area, you ought to select a reputable vendor who is known for high quality service. It is reasonable to consider DIY kits with an installation manual with at least enough illustrations. The vendor should preferably have telephone contact, and much better, could send a representative in case you need consultation. Alternatively if you are lucky enough to have a friend who is experienced in installing home solar systems, then ask him to help you in the buying of the hardware as well as in the installation.

Many people have proven that renewable energy can save one money and the environment. With availability of improved, affordable solar panels for homes and businesses, solar energy is the best option for the majority of individuals, so go back to that home improvement project: install a home solar power unit.