What does the sun do for you? I'm sure it provides you light to get around safely by. It also gives you heat. Did you know that everything you're made of came from a star? Now, let's put solar energy to use, too! Read on to find out how to do it.
Are your energy bills getting a little out of control these days? If you are tired of paying costly energy bills then it is time to switch to https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-warming-101 solar energy. It might cost a little more upfront, but will ultimately end up saving you a ton of money in the long run.
Solar heating systems use the power from the sun to help heat your home in the Winter. This type of system is a great option for locations that do not get especially cold. Using this type of system in conjunction with your regular heating system can save you up to 50 percent of your energy costs.
Be careful when positioning solar panels on your home. These panels need direct sunlight, at least during the main portion of the day. If there are a lot of trees that shade the panel, you'll reduce your overall output by a lot. Plan ahead and look at all of your placement options.
Get quotes from several contractors before signing any solar energy installation company. Just as with any other construction product, it pays to shop around before you commit to a particular company. Check out their reviews online and their standing with the Better Business Bureau. A little research ahead of time can save you a big headache later.
A backup power plan is a must. You can use a generator or stay on the power grid and use this when your solar panels are down. If you choose to go the generator route, consistently test it. You may also want to have multiple generators.
If you are buying a solar energy system, make sure your panels can be easily adjusted. As seasons change, so does the angle of the sun. Your panels will need to be adjusted every three months or so. Make sure that you know how to do this or talk to your contractor about seasonal maintenance.
If you lease solar panels to save the upfront costs, check the contract for the possibility of transferring the lease. If you sell your home or building that panels are installed in within the lease period, you want to be able to legally transfer the lease to the new owners of the property.
When considering a water heater powered by the sun, be realistic regarding its costs and benefits. Electric models are only one third less economically efficient than some of the best systems, although you will still save money. Don't think the water will be cold if you shower when it is dark. Water that's solar-heated is going to be warm for about a day.
Check with your local power company as to whether they have a program to buy excess electricity collected by your solar panels. Some utility companies will give homeowners credits to apply to any energy provided to them. These programs are becoming more available as more and more people install solar panels on their home.
Don't assume that you have to live in the desert to use solar panels on your roof. If your roof expanse gets a minimum of five hours of direct sunlight on an average day, there is likely a solar panel installation that can generate electricity for your home or building.
Your heating bill will be lower if you install solar panels that are photovoltaic on your house or use water heating that's solar. Remember that a photo-voltaic solar panel needs a minimum of five hours of good sunshine every day to work its best. Solar water heating can significantly reduce your heating costs, especially if you have a swimming pool that you heat up.
An alternate type of solar panel recently developed is a photovoltaic panel. This type of panel uses the sun's energy to produce electricity. This electricity can be used to power anything in your home that is uses it, or it can be stored in batteries. These panels can be considerably more expensive than the original solar panel.
Are you building a home or moving to a remote location? If so, then you might want to seriously consider using solar energy to power your place. Getting the local energy company to come out to you might be expensive or impossible, so using renewable solar energy is a great way to ensure you will have all the energy you need.
While solar panels can continue to work on days when it is not sunny, you should not have them installed if you live in an area that is cloudy most of the time. The amount of energy you save with them will not be worth the amount you paid for them.
If you do not have enough room on your roof to install solar panels to power your home, consider buying a heat transfer system instead. A heat transfer system will heat the water in your home. Usually http://www.my-led-lighting-guide.tumblr.com/post/153128621678/what-is-good-led-hospital-lighting/ in a standard home up to 20% of the power bill is spent on heating water sitting in a tank.
It is important to understand your needs when purchasing a solar panel. You should know your electric usage, optimal areas of sunlight and make decisions for the sizing and shape of the panel. It may be better to install several smaller panels instead of one larger panel.
Be sure to get a manufacturer guarantee on your solar energy system. Just like any other appliance, there could be a defect in the system that you purchase, leaving it useless. If you want to protect yourself from a huge financial loss you must have a written guarantee on your system.
It's easy to forget all about your solar energy panels, but if you want to get the most out of your solar energy panels and to extend their life, be sure to keep them clean. If you don't take the time to provide maintenance on a regular basis, your solar panels will work less and less efficiently as time passes. Dust builds up and blocks the sun! It's as simple as that, so be sure to schedule a weekly wash-down to keep your solar energy panels sparkling clean so you can keep on saving money and energy.
As was mentioned in the beginning of this article, solar energy seems like it would make sense for everyone. However, having read this article, you should now understand that there are some cases where solar energy simply isn't worth it. Use the information above when trying to decide whether or not solar energy is a viable option for you.
