Installing Your Own Residential Solar Panels
August 4, 2009 by Chris
Filed under Green Resources
When it comes to taking the necessary steps to lightening our carbon footprints and our environmental impact, installing residential solar panels is a great step toward achieving this. Not only does it diminish the degree of our fossil fuel dependency but it also affords us the opportunity to take advantage of such technology and reap the financial rewards that come with it.
The advent of the internet has seen an explosion of information readily available to anyone wanting to learn how to install their own residential solar panels. Making your own solar panels is labor intensive but can be financially rewarding while giving you a sense of achievement at the same time.
Because there has been an uptick in solar panel interest lately and because people are tired of being held ransom to rising energy bills, they are desperately looking for cheaper alternatives, hence the recent boom in the DIY solar panel kit market.
There is a wide selection of residential solar power kits these days and it’s no longer affordable to only a select few. Gone are the days when you needed to outlay $20,000 just for the privilege of owning them in fact you can purchase your own residential solar power kit for as little as $200, a drastic price difference putting the technology into the hands of anyone wanting to gain the benefit from them.
Depending upon your budget, the varying materials that comprise your residential solar panels will have different price points and along with it they will also have varying levels of effectiveness. Some of the materials that are used in residential solar panels are more efficient at collecting and storing the energy from the sun than others. Just because you may not pay as much doesn’t mean that your solar panels will not be able to effectively harness and store solar energy, it just means that it does so at a slightly lower efficiency. Don’t let this be a deterrent if you’re interested in solar panel technology because even cost effective solar panels are still effective.
When installing residential solar panels you can also produce excess energy that can be sold back to the power company, a definite advantage of going partially off grid. The extra energy production can help fund the installation of even more residential solar panels enabling you to save even more money over time. Not only does this feature of solar energy make it an attractive solution to your power needs but you also receive tax breaks and rebates allowing you to put more of that hard earned money back into your own pocket.
You can either find free information online or purchase a guide to make your own residential solar panels for free, however the better quality guides are the ones that you will have to purchase and the best solar panels are the ones that are readily made, the money you save creating your own free residential solar panels will cost you in extra time, so weigh up your options.
Either way, residential solar panels have so many perks that it’s hard to ignore it as a serious replacement for your current energy needs and will only gain in popularity with time.
Reasons To Consider Home Solar Panel Installation
July 26, 2009 by chrisr
Filed under Green Resources
Global warming is in the news and most Americans are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint on planet Earth. Home solar panel installation can make a huge different in the size of your carbon footprint. Utility companies in the United States use fossil fuels like coal and oil to produce much of their electricity. Home solar panel installation reduces your dependence on the utility companies and helps to reduce their use of fossil fuels.
The Environment
If you consider yourself to be an environmentally conscious individual then you should definitely invest in home solar panel installation. People who live completely on the grid get all of their electricity from the burning of fossil fuels. When fossil fuels are burned poisonous gases are released into the atmosphere and this adds to the problem of climate change. By contrast solar power is a completely clean and renewable energy source. People who live entirely off the grid and use solar power do not damage the environment so their consciences are clear.
No Escalating Electricity Bills
As the cost of fossil fuels rises, so do electric bills. Solar panels can reduce or eliminate electric bills for your home. Many people worry about the cost of home solar panel installation, but when you offset the initial cost with the long term savings, solar panels can actually pay for themselves and save you money. Consider the added benefit of improving the environment by reducing your dependence on fossil fuels and solar panels are a bargain. As the technology for home solar panel installation improves, the cost drops making this an even more attractive alternative to the power grid. If you live in an area subject to blackouts or brownouts due to heavy power usage, your home will always have power with solar panels. Living off the power grid has many advantages. With escalating power costs, solar panels are a better alternative than ever before. Every homeowner should consider this option.
Government Incentives For Clean Energy
There are many financial incentives for home solar panel installation. You may be eligible for state and federal tax rebates if you install solar panels. You may also be able to apply for a government sponsored home improvement loan at very low interest rates. In the United ! States, the government has recognized our need to reduce our dependance on fossil fuels. Our economy has become too tied up in imported fossil fuels and we have to find domestic alternatives. The financial incentives offered by the government can make alternative energy sources like solar panels very attractive. Being independent of the power grid means no more worrying about high bills or scheduled power failures. It could earn you the envy of all your neighbors.
Solar Power Homes: 3 Factors To Consider First
July 8, 2009 by chrisr
Filed under Green Resources
Have you been considering using solar power for homes, but are not sure if this is a good idea? The best way to determine if this is what you want to do is to research and learn all you can about it. Solar power can definitely help you save money on your bills every month, but there are 3 important factors that you need to know about before you decide to use this for your home.
Below are the 3 main factors that you should think about before you decide to use solar panels for your home:
Factor 1: Sure, solar power is powerful enough to power any home, but the weather where your home is located is still going to play a big role in your savings. before you install any solar panels, you must first ask yourself a few basic questions like… Do you get good year round sun? Does your property get good sunlight or is it blocked by trees?
Solar power for homes means that you need to have a lot of sun in order to have them work efficiently for you, so these are all very important questions to ask yourself. Your home will still get power, but trees, rain, and clouds will prevent your solar panels from working like they should. Any home in a very sunny area will gain the most benefits from solar power. For example, if you live in Las Vegas, then you can gain a lot of savings with solar power.
Factor 2: Figuring out where to place the solar panels is also vital. You have to make sure that you install the solar panels in the area that receives the most sunlight. If you place it in a shady area, then you will not be getting the full energy from the solar power. So, figuring out where to place the panels is vital to getting the most benefits from it and for saving money; otherwise, you can lose money from using this power for your home.
Factor 3: You must ensure that you connect the solar panels properly to the electricity grids. If you do not, then you will be left scratching your head wondering where your power is. You must take the time to study and learn how to properly install solar panels so that you gain the most amount of solar power possible. If you don’t know how to do it yourself, or simply just do not want to learn how to do it, then you can always hire somebody to complete the job for you.
These are the 3 factors that you have to know about before you decide to use solar power for homes. Now that you know about these factors, you can make an informed decision about whether solar power is the right way for you to go. Research and learn as much as you can before you make your final decision.
Do It Yourself Solar Panels – The Way Of The Future
May 5, 2009 by Chris
Filed under Green Resources
You can live independently off the power grid and never have to pay for electricity again through harnessing the power of the sun.
Increasingly more people are opting for this method of power generation now that energy costs are ever on the rise. The benefit of going this route is not only financial but environmental. This is one of the cleanest methods of energy generation with no harmful byproducts.
Opting for the path of solar energy generation is not without its disadvantages. While solar panels can dramatically reduce your electric bill and make your home more ecologically friendly however, the start-up cost for a solar powered electric network can be very expensive and set you back a small fortune. In fact, some estimate that it will take on average around 15 years or more to completely make your money back. Not very encouraging when you want to save money and help the environment at the same time. However, there are some ways you can get around the huge start-up cost and install solar panels on your roof. While installing an entire solar array on your roof may be a little complicated, it is possible.
If you plan on installing a solar power system in your home, there are a couple of things you’ll need.
First, of course, you’ll have to purchase the solar panels. This is going to be the most expensive part of your DIY solar panel setup.
Second, you’ll need the generator that will hold the power you collect.
Finally, you’ll need to know how to connect the generator to the panels and the entire solar panel system to your home’s electrical system. This may be a bit complex for anyone who has no experience in wiring, although the generator and panels should come with instructions on how to connect them.
You may want to contact your electric company and talk to them about installing your solar panels. They will be able to instruct you on how your home is wired and what you need to do to connect your system. In some cases, a company electrician may need to come to your home and modify some wiring.
Regardless, you will need to know how to shut down your home’s power system so you don’t run the risk of electrocuting yourself. That is the main concern when installing your solar panels. The second largest risk is falling off the roof or otherwise injuring yourself when installing the panels on your house.
Other than the wiring, the rest of the installation is fairly simply. You will install the solar panels on your roof and then install the generator in a location that is easy to access. Then you simply connect everything together and turn your home’s power system back on. If all goes well, your home will be up and running on pure sunlight. Just be sure you connect your generator. It collects any excess solar power your solar panels generate, power that you’ll need when it’s dark or on an overcast days.


