Solar Panels

There are two ways to harness solar energy, using two different types of solar panels.

1.  To utilize the heat of the sun during the day to simply heat things up in order to reduce the need to use electricity to do the job.

This is basically maximizing the latent benefits of normal sunshine, and most of us understand this. For example, solar water heaters circulate water through panels (usually mounted on the roof) to expose the water to direct heat from the sun. In some areas, this can provide almost all of a household's hot water requirements, but even for others it will usually reduce the demand for electricity to maintain hot water temperature, this generating energy savings. Your Home Solar Energy recommends the installation of solar water heating panels as an important step to energy savings. And many modern houses are designed with windows and skylights to maximize the benefits of sunshine (light and heat) to reduce electricity consumption and be more energy efficient.

2.  To use solar energy in sunlight to generate electricity using solar panels made of photovoltaic (PV) cells.

The costs of these panels continue to drop while their efficiency and reliability grow. And it is even possible for a person with moderate DIY skills to easily purchase the components to construct their own solar panels.

The simplest example of the use of solar cells is in solar powered calculators. Although the PV cells are very small in this case, they are proof that electrical energy can be generated from sunshine.

In fact, there is a growing list of very useful consumer items that make energy from compact photovoltaic panels to maintain their batteries. Of course the most ironic of these has to be solar powered flashlights or garden lighting, which obviously are needed in the dark. And there are also separate portable solar chargers that can keep various electronic devices charged and ready to go using the free energy from the sun.

The use of solar powered products now ranges from flashlights, security lights and garden decorations, to cell phones, MP3 players, laptops and even car batteries.

Obviously, if you're going to provide power to a home, then larger panels will be necessary. Fitting solar energy panels to the roof of a house maximizes potential exposure to the sun, without affecting the shelter and protection that the roof was simply designed to provide. There's a lot of surface area available on most roofs that could be helpful in reducing energy costs.

Solar panels come in various types and formats, but typically each type will be rated for power output. Knowing what your current electrical usage is will be helpful to calculate what you need, and together with your budget and available area for solar panels, you can begin to build your solar energy system.  More details about solar panels are available here.

There are popular and very successful kits available that help you to build your own solar panels and install them yourself.  Anyone with moderate DIY skills can use such a kit to save money on installation as well as on energy costs.  Or get started more quickly by buying ready made solar panels!

Also, while you can do a lot of the construction and installation work yourself to save costs, if you wish, you will need the services of an approved electrician to connect your energy producing solar panels to your household electrical system.

Assuming that you'll begin with production of less electricity than your house needs, you'll also want to consider whether or not to install batteries that store the electricity generated during the day, for use in the evening to further reduce your regular electricity costs. And if you begin a program to make your home more energy efficient to reduce the amount of electricity needed, then your solar panels will meet more of your energy requirements.

The savings could be substantial, and remember to check with your local government agencies as there could even be official assistance to get started.

For a list of incentive programs in each State to fit solar panels, click here.

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