Introduction
Every home has a power bill, and the cost of power is one of the biggest expenses associated with housing. How can your home power itself, while cutting out the big energy company and power company wires? Solar power can help you do just that. Photovoltaic (PV) is one of the most common types of solar cells, and is often used on its own, but it is also useful in conjunction with a PV array, or even a PV system powered by other systems, such as batteries.
Solar power is especially useful when a roof is exposed to direct sunlight, when roof shadow limits the availability of sunlight to photovoltaics. PV arrays have a variety of uses, including generating electricity for the home, as a backup to the power grid, and to produce enough energy to power off-grid buildings.
Why should you switch to solar power?
Lack of trust in the political process. People are becoming increasingly frustrated with the inefficiency of government services and a government that seems to be more and more beholden to special interests. The fossil fuel based energy industry is almost guaranteed to reduce its profits during a major fuel crisis.
If the supply of oil or coal becomes scarce, the price of electricity will increase significantly and utility companies will make less profit. Since most solar power systems use electricity, and electricity prices typically increase when supply decreases, it would be in the best interest of a family or business to get solar panels installed immediately.
What is the process of going solar?
In terms of the technical process, the main energy saving challenge comes from the energy required for installing and maintaining solar panels. However, it is still possible to go solar and save substantial amounts of money by: Using the solar power generated by your panels during the daytime, which is at a lower cost and can be guaranteed to cover the energy needs, and use the energy produced at night, for example, when the sun is not shining.
Reusing the electricity generated by solar panels during the day for heating your home, for cooking, or for generating electricity at night, if you have access to the grid.
Tips for maximizing your energy savings
In the worst case scenario, solar panels work really well during the day, or during relatively clear days. When you have clear skies, a sunny roof or a relatively sunny location is the ideal place to get solar power. To get maximum energy savings, try to install solar panels near windows or during low-light hours.
The majority of available solar panels are oriented towards the east to take advantage of the most direct sunlight. The best method is to get solar panels that are angled at 25 degrees to the east or north. However, this might be an over-optimistic angle for cloudy or very dark conditions.
Conclusion
While there are many benefits to using solar power, it is important to remember that electricity is more expensive than ever and if you can’t live without having your mobile devices on the go 24/7, you might not have the option of a solar cell charging setup. A good compromise would be for a solar panel system to use a small amount of electricity and therefore save a lot of money. When looking into installing your own solar system, make sure you are working with a reputable solar power company.
When you are searching for the right solar power company, try to use an organization such as Rooftop Solar Talk, where you can get quotes and find information about a good solar company.