When put to use efficiently, solar energy can do a lot for either a home or business. You can get potentially significant tax breaks, serious reductions in your utility bills and sleep better at night knowing you're inflicting less harm on the environment. Keep reading to learn more about solar power and how to put it to work for you.
Contact your local government to ask them about rules in place where you live. No solar technology should be in use without permission from the powers that be. You may find yourself fined and having to take down all that you worked so hard to put in place if you don't inquire first.
You should figure out how you can store energy after you get it made by the solar energy system you're using. A quality battery is something that you should look into to facilitate proper http://www.myledlighting1.weebly.com/home/what-is-high-bay-lighting-and-its-uses storage.
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 rays in the south-facing windows and that can reduce heating bills.
Check your solar panel inverter from time to time. You will want to see a green light. If the inverter light is blinking or not on at all, you should call a technician to come out and fix the problem. Unless you are an expert, you may be unable to diagnose the cause of the problem. A technician can often come free if you have a warranty.
Cleaning your solar panels does not need to be labor intensive. You want to avoid abrasive soaps at all costs, as they can deteriorate and even destroy your panels. So long as there is not caked up dust or bird droppings, frequent rinses with just hose water should be more than enough.
Solar energy systems allow you to cut your ties to the outside world. You can go completely off grid with one of these systems. You will not have to pay monthly fees or wonder who is watching your power use. You can increase your level of privacy while saving the environment and your money.
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.
The best time to incorporate solar power into the design of a home or building is in the initial construction. Windows are best facing south to let maximum sunlight (hence greenhouse heat) in during the winter. Likewise, avoid windows facing directly into the summertime sun to keep things cooler, so less power is needed for fans or air conditioning. The maximum roof space, however, should always get sunlight exposure.
Set up time every few years to clean the areas around your solar panels. These panels don't take a lot of maintenance, but you want to upkeep the area around them so that you lower the potential for issues. Clean out leaves, remove any debris, and test all of the fittings to make sure all is well.
If you are located in the Northern hemisphere, your solar panels should be facing south. People who live in the Southern hemisphere should install their panels facing north. Putting them in any other way will defeat the entire purpose since the panels will not have a chance to collect a large amount of energy from the sun.
Keep your solar panels out of the shade. It might seem obvious, but your solar panels do need sun. Make sure that you are not installing them in the shade. Trim back the branches on surrounding trees if you need to. Failing to do so could cost you more than half your energy output.
Take several factors into consideration when estimating how much power you will be able to generate with your solar energy system. The solar panels usually come with information on their output, but this data is based on exposing them to full sun, all day long. Shade, cloudiness and other considerations will lower the true measure.
Do not rush in selecting the first solar power system you come across. Before you make a commitment with a company, you need to make sure you cannot find any better deals elsewhere. Check out your town's federal, state, and local incentives first. You can find this information at the DSIRE database.
Maximize the output of your solar panels by adjusting them seasonally. Adjusting your panels twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter, will ensure that your panels are producing the maximum amount of energy by taking into account the earth's changing position relative to the sun.
If you are going to invest a lot of money into solar panels, you should make sure that you pay for monitoring services. This type of service will make sure that things are working as they should be. You can usually access the information by phone, computer or a wall-mounted device.
One of the most efficient methods of gathering sunlight for your solar panels is to invest in a sun tracker. These trackers following the movement of the sun so as to maximize the exposure of your solar panels. While they may cost more initially, they will output the most electricity possible.
Check into all of your potential rebates. You know there are rebates, correct? The government (in certain states) has a bunch of ways that they'll reward you for taking the solar energy plunge. And there are also benefits during tax season. Look into them all so you'll get every penny coming back to you.
Do you feel better now after having read this article? Solar energy, while still fairly new, is making great strides when climbing up the energy ladder. It is set to take over, and it is a renewable energy source that can help you realize great savings in the long run.
