Solar power system
With soaring energy costs and increased environmental concerns, more homeowners are investigating solar power options. Solar power systems for the home are a choice that many are making given the nature of solar energy. Since solar energy is a clean and renewable energy source, home solar power systems can address both of these concerns at once.Solar power systems can be divided into two broad categories - stand alone and grid-tied systems. When choosing which type of solar power system will be right for your home, there are several things to consider. Location of the home, amount of electricity needed and costs associated with setup are three of the most important factors in making the right choice.
Stand alone solar power systems are self-contained and operate without being tied into traditional energy sources. In other words, stand alone systems are what you need to be considered off the grid. That means that your home solar power system would produce all of the electricity that you need, eliminating dependence on utility companies and high electric bills.
For stand alone solar power systems to be most cost effective, it is recommended to reduce the amount of electricity needed to run your home. Since you need a greater number of PV panels in order to generate more electricity, cutting down on how much electricity is required will enable you to reduce the size of the solar array needed to power your home. This will obviously save money in initial installation costs.
Grid-tied solar power systems, on the other hand, are still connected into the traditional electric power grid. This eliminates the need for energy storage as the home will automatically pull from the utility company when there is not enough solar energy for the home's requirements. While grid-tied systems will rarely eliminate your utility bills, they will certainly keep the costs to a minimum. As with stand alone solar energy systems, reducing your home's energy consumption will help you gain the most benefit from a grid-tied system, as well.
This type of home solar solution is best for existing homes where it isn't feasible to incorporate as many energy efficient options and passive solar techniques that you can with a new home plan. Not only does this type of home solar system save a significant amount on your annual energy costs, it can also provide a way to offset the costs of what you do draw from the grid.
Generally with this kind of system, the electricity generated can be put back into the grid when it creates more than you can use. This will result in the meter actually running backwards during those times of excess. In some areas, the excess must be bought back by the utility company which is known as net metering. That means that grid-tied solar power systems could actually make you money if you live in certain regions.
Stand alone solar power systems are the most costly option, at least initially. However, if your home is in a very rural area, it may be less expensive than having to run power lines. In some locations, such as up on a mountain, it is more feasible to install the solar power system. This type of home solar energy system will pay for itself much more quickly in those circumstances.
Whichever type of solar power system you choose, the cost of installation will eventually be offset by the savings in energy costs. Solar power systems are highly durable and very low maintenance so there is very little further expense past the initial setup. Once that payback period is finished, your energy costs become minimal as solar energy uses the ultimate free resource - the sun.
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Related information
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- Residential solar power system A residential solar system is an entire system of components that work to capture solar energy and transfer it through air or liquid.
- Solar battery charger The solar battery charger is a stand alone gadget which you attach to the battery of the appliance that you are trying to charge.
- Solar cell phone charger Solar cell phone chargers are essential items when traveling. They often come with a range of adapters that will fit most phone brands.
- Solar cells Solar cells convert light energy into electrical energy through the photoelectric effect and they are often called photovoltaic cells.
- Solar collectors Solar collectors such as a roof-mounted hot water system are designed to convert the energy of sunlight into thermal heat.
- Solar lights Solar lights work by using the solar panel to charge the internal battery during the day, so that it can power the light at night.
- Solar photovoltaic system Solar photovoltaic systems refer to solar electricity systems that use silicon solar panels to convert the sun's energy into electricity.
- Solar power generator Solar power generators harness and convert solar energy into electrical energy for powering from lights to electrical equipment.
- Solar power inverter The process of harnessing the sun's energy to produce power involves a solar inverter used for converting an electric current.
- Solar shingles Solar shingles are small solar panels made to look like regular roofing shingles. They are made from flexible thin-film solar cells.
- Thin film solar panels Thin-film solar panels are a substantial improvement over the first generation, which use thick wafers of crystalline silicon.
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