Thursday, January 24, 2013

Solar Power Energy Systems For The Home

By Robert Allison


The sun is here for the next 5 billion years. The electricity, as we know it today, will be produced this way only for the next several years. So what should we do in this situation? Obviously, use the energy of the sun to generate cheap, green electricity.

Select the right technology. There are different kinds of solar panels available and prices vary. Again, get help from a professional and do some research to find out which type of solar panel is best for you. You can adjust your solar energy system to your needs; if you cannot afford to power your home entirely through solar energy, think about getting a smaller system. You can get outside lights powered by solar energy or a hot water solar system to cut down on your water bill instead of your electrical one.

Space needed. Your roof must be able to accommodate the area of the solar panels, and optimally the composition material of your tiles is asphalt. Wood shake or clay shingles can tack on more to the cost and are more difficult to work with. If your roof is not a viable option, you have the option of installing a a ground-mounted solar array. Again, the biggest obstacle will be your space requirements.

The federal government offers grants and interesting tax rebates for households who rely on green energies. You should find out more about the different programs and grants available. In most cases, grants are given to non-profit organizations fostering green energies, but you might be able to get one if you get some neighbors together and put together a proposal for the installation of solar panels to power your block. Do some research to find out if your state or local government has any grants you could apply for.

There are many incentives or grants that you might qualify for if you are considering solar energy. Do some research to see what kind of rebates you could get for installing a solar energy unit. To get started, check out 'The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency' which provides a list of incentives by state. It is also possible that you could get tax breaks for switching to solar energy. Again, this varies by state, so get the information that applies to you before you make the purchase.

The largest of these systems is a solar water heating system. Instead of using expensive solar panels to generate electricity, this system uses panels that are dark colored to capture as much heat as possible. These panels are then used to heat water that can be used throughout the home. The cost of these systems vary based on how complicated you make the system, and cost recovery varies by region, taking up to 20 years in northern climates.

One thing that you can do to ensure that your system runs its best is ensure that a professional installs them. If you try installing them on your own, you can mess certain things up that might make your panels less effective. By ensuring that a professional installs the panels, you will ensure that you are going to get the absolute best from your panels.

Do more research about solar energy and meet with a professional to assess your needs. Investing in a solar system is an important decision; you need to make sure that you can afford it and that solar energy is the best option for you.




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