Many of us know that solar power is useful to mankind. There are still unanswered questions and doubts in the mind of people about home solar power. That the sun is the benefactor of life on earth is indisputable. But to use the solar power for our home is debatable. Are we safe with installing solar panels on our roofs? Isn’t hydrogen which is used in the panels harmful to health? All these questions plague our mind, but still we only try to see the advantages of using home solar power. Till no concrete evidence is found that it is harmful we shall continue to use it. How do we generate our own electricity from the freely available heat of the sun? First solar panels or modules are placed on the roof or ground or backyard of the house where there is direct sunlight falling on it. These are flat and square or rectangle shaped sheets made of photovoltaic cells. These solar panels absorb the heat from the sun and convert it into electricity. This electricity is sent to an inverter. The power then travels from the inverter to an electric panel that distributes the power through out your home. When excess power is produced by the panel there is a meter which monitors your consumption and gains you a credit with your utility company. The utility grid will automatically supply you with solar power for your home when you need extra power. This is the method by which your home solar power is generated. There are many places and different types of mountings available to position the panels in your home for solar power. Mostly it is custom made to be positioned on top of the roof. These panels can also be placed in the ground and tilted towards the sunlight. There is also pole mounting which is very easy and simple to install. As per requirement poles can be placed at strategic places and can also be shifted when the sun moves. The latest and most popular panels to generate home solar power are the building integrated system. Even the ‘White House’ in Washington DC has building integrated solar panels that is not visible. Many home developers and builders are opting for building integrated home solar power systems. In states like California, Nevada, Florida people are particular about buying homes with solar power. Though the initial cost is more for a home with solar power, it is helpful in the long run. Building materials that are renewable, locally produced and natural are preferred for a home with solar power as much as possible. Conscious effort is made to choose materials that are safe and non-toxic to produce and use. This is an area that is rapidly expanding and new products are introduced each day. However finding green building materials is still a challenge, and requires much more research than a trip to the local hardware store. Last but not the least home is where the hearth is. home solar power gives warmth to our heart and homes.
The idea of using renewable energy resources more is catching on for many people. This is partly because of the environmental problems, like global warming, that traditional energy resources are thought to impact on. A more tangible factor for many people is the rising costs of traditional energy resources. The costs are rising partly because the resources are getting scarcer and partly because of political problems. One such renewable resource that has been used for a few years now is solar power. This article will detail the advantages and disadvantages of solar power.
Solar thermal and light energy can be used to provide our homes with power. Solar light energy is used in many portable devices. A major advantage of such systems is that they are clean systems. The energy comes from the sun, so there is no need to excavate and process the raw materials to create a usable energy resource.
By using solar power system, a home an help to reduce environmental pollution. It will not add to the amount of greenhouse gases being emitted. It does not harm the land where it is used.
Solar power systems will normally last a long time. Many solar panels on homes are designed to last 20 to 30 years with little maintenance. This can make them an attractive proposition for people looking to invest in their homes.
The costs for maintaining a solar power system are very low. Some components of the system may last decades without any maintenance at all. Solar panels are often warranted to maintain 80% of their efficiency for up to 25 years. Other parts will need to be replaced sooner, but if all goes well there should be no maintenance costs at all for the first five years.
Home solar power systems are not complicated or dangerous to run for the average person. In fact, if they are part of a net metering scheme with a utility company, most of the complexity is worn by the utility company.
However there are also negative aspect of solar power. When creating solar power systems for the home, the initial up front cost can be high. This can put a lot of people off and stick with the status quo. However, if they can afford this up front cost they may be eligible for government or state rebates. They should also recoup the initial costs over the operational lifetime of the system.
Despite the costs, possibly the biggest potential problem with solar power is the reliability. solar power systems are not useful in locations that are always cloudy or don't get much sunlight throughout the year. And of course, it doesn't create any power at night when there is no sunlight.
As Solar power is perceived as being unreliable, many governments are not as committed to it as a way to mass produce energy. Instead they see nuclear power as a better choice in terms of reliability.
Given that efficiency of solar cells should increase and the costs will come down, it makes a lot of sense to get a solar panel for your home. There should be a fall back system because of the reliability issue. Most people go for a grid tie system whereby they keep grid power and sell their solar power to the utility company, thus getting a discount or cheaper utility bills. This is a stress free way of using solar power.
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James English has sinced written about articles on various topics from Religion, Visa Credit Cards and Bank of America. Chad Hartman is a supporter and a staff writer for Go-Solar.org. To learn more about solar energy and how you can benifit from it, please visit our site at:. James English's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.
Adrian Fletcher has sinced written about articles on various topics from Information Technology, Cure Anxiety and Home Improvement. Find out how a works and how passive solar energy can provide heat in your home at. Adrian Fletcher's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.