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Renewable Resource: Harnessing The Power Of The Sun

When it comes to solar energy, there is no question that it is great for the environment. After all, you are using a renewable energy source that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. However, there are a number of factors to consider when installing solar panels in your home. The following article will serve to aid you in that department.



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.

Consider your home's outside design when thinking about solar energy. Having solar-powered pathway lights installed outside is an easy way to use solar energy at home. If you're building a home, positioning it so that it can take advantage of the sun's rays is also beneficial. Well-oriented homes filter in winter sun http://www.greenpower.gov.au/ rays in the south-facing windows and that can reduce heating bills.

Get online to find your local Internet solar panel community. You can find out good information about peaks and lows in solar energy use in your area. If you get particularly adept at getting on a roof to clean your solar panels, you might can even market yourself and make a few bucks off other solar panel owners afraid of heights.



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.

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.

If you are thinking about having a solar system installed, make sure that your home or business is suited for it. Sometimes the layout of the roof will not accommodate the proper angle for maximum energy production. Talk to more than one company to ensure the contractor is being honest about your solar situation.

Be sure mountings on solar energy panels are engineer certified for your area. For instance, if if you're in an area that gets frequent cyclones, the mountings need to be cyclone rated. High-quality systems will be wind certified to ensure they don't blow away in a huge wind storm. Mounting is an important part of the system and not all suppliers regard them that way. Stay alert when buying your system to make sure they have proper certifications.

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?

If you invest in a large solar energy system, you could actually make money off of it. If you can pull enough solar power with a collection of solar panels, you may be able to sell your excess electricity to neighbors or even the power company. Contact your local company to see if this could work for you.

Once your solar energy system is installed, be sure to keep it maintained. Overall, solar power does not require a great deal of upkeep, however there are a few precautions you should take. Check your solar panels frequently for anything that could obstruct their exposure to the sun. This includes fallen leaves in autumn or snow accumulation in winter.

Be sure to account for maintenance and upkeep costs when figuring out the costs of a solar energy http://my-led-lighting-guide.tumblr.com/post/146084209798/how-to-install-a-led-retrofit-kit-into-an-existing system. While solar energy has the potential for a lot of savings, it greatly depends on your location. Solar power is not right for every situation, and even has the possibility of costing you more money in the long run.



Many companies are now allowing consumers to lease solar energy products. This is perfect if you are unsure if you are a good candidate for solar energy or if you do not have the financial means to purchase a solar energy system. Ask your local electric company for suggestions of companies who lease solar energy products.



Consider investing in a high-quality inverter to go along with your solar system. This is essential if you are planning on running your typical household appliances off of the stored power. The panels work with 12VDC in most situations, but an inverter takes this low DC voltage and produces a higher, 110-120VAC output.

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.

If you are thinking about installing a solar system on your roof, you need to make sure that it can handle the weight of the system. You will need to have an engineer come out to your home and take a look at your roof to ensure that it can support the weight of the panels.

Consider grid tied solar panels as a means to save money while helping the environment. This way, you can sell unused energy to a local power company. This can help negate the installations costs.

An adjustable orientation mount should be used for solar panels. This can allow you to make adjustments as the day wears on. Let a professional tell you which orientation will work the best.

Lots of people have yet to fully appreciate the true potential solar energy offers. Fortunately, with some simple, factual information, that dilemma can easily be solved. Hopefully the article above has given you the sort of foundation of understanding necessary to continue a personal exploration of how you might integrate solar technologies into your lifestyle.