Installing solar energy at your home or your business is a great way to save money. By producing your own power, you will no longer have to be reliant on the big energy companies. Solar power is also a green, sustainable energy source that helps the environment. To learn more about using solar, keep reading.
Solar energy through the use of solar panels can last up to 30 years. It is a long-lived use of energy and requires very little maintenance on your part. Since there are no movable parts, solar-energy panels don't break or need repair. This can provide years of electricity bill savings.
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.
Have solar panels installed in the best positions to get more sun during the whole year. If you have questions about placement, study the sun's path on your own to see exactly what area of your property gets the most consistent sun exposure.
When you are just transitioning to solar power, pick something small to start with. Buying some solar energy lights to use in landscape lighting can save power and help the planet. You can locate these at quite a few retailers, like home improvement businesses and big box retailers. Installing them means nothing more than shoving them into the soil.
Get online to find your local Internet solar panel community. You can find out good information about peaks and lows in solar energy use in your area. If you get particularly adept at getting on a roof to clean your solar panels, you might can even market yourself and make http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=led+lighting a few bucks off other solar panel owners afraid of heights.
Look into portable solar energy battery packs. These can be extremely useful when you are somewhere that does not have access to power. For example, it could be used to charge your cell phone while you are camping in a remote location. It has recently become very popular, and because of this, it is relatively read the full info here inexpensive.
Installing pathway lighting is an affordable way to take advantage of solar energy. The lights power up all day and then brighten the path at night. Installation is easy, and there's an added aesthetic factor.
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.
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.
Solar panels are usually installed in the area and at the angle that give them maximum sunlight, but over time there are things than can affect the sun reaching them. It is important to check regularly for trees that may be overshadowing solar panels due to growth.
Do you have a pool? You could save a lot by investing in solar panels. There are small solar energy systems designed to power a water heater or a water pump and since you only use your pool during the warmer months, your panels will work perfectly when you need them.
If your home receives a minimum of 5 hours of direct sunlight daily, you may want to consider switching to solar energy. In the long run, the energy saved will outweigh any initial cost.
Solar power heating, whether for heating water or for a direct heat source, is different from solar power electric. By installing one of these systems, you can reduce your gas bill by up to 50 percent. This is on top of the savings you have on your electric bill already.
Take into consideration the purpose and location of the solar panel, particularly where the power is utilized and the voltages that it will require. Most panels work with 12VDC outputs, but there are other alternatives available for certain needs. Check the voltage ratings on the panels and find a size that fits.
Before you install a PV system in your home, contact the local utility company for an energy audit. An energy audit assesses the amount of energy you are using before you supplement it with solar power. This will help you find areas where you can save electricity or areas that need to be fixed before the system is installed.
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 think you might need to replace your roof in the near future, hold off on installing solar panels. Solar panels can be difficult for some roof installers to contend with, and this means a more difficult and increasingly costly roof repair bill. If you can afford to wait on the panels and replace your roof first, this is the way to go.
If you're having solar panels put on the roof, consider their location when their angles are adjusted. You need to take your latitude into account when installing your solar panels so that you can maximize the amount of electrical output you get from them.
Now you should have a good idea as to how you can move forward with a plan for solar energy in your home or business. As you continue to learn more, keep these tips in mind that you've read. Remember the numerous benefits, and think about how this renewable energy source can help you.
