Are you tired of wasting money by paying the power company for electricity? Do you feel that you are being charged to much just to power your home? There is an alternative source of power for those who want to break free. This source is called solar energy, and you can learn how to use it in this article.
When it comes to solar energy, the sky is truly the limit, so learn about your options before you buy. How much space are you allowed, by local law, to fill with solar equipment? Can you sell excess energy back to the grid? What sort of regulations are in place?
If you don’t want to or can’t go for full solar power, at least consider a solar water heating system. Many regional and community governments offer financial incentives, rebates and tax credits for even doing this, just like they do for full solar installations. Check with your local government before doing anything to know the perks.
Humans have taken advantage of the sun’s heat for thousands of years. A lot of energy can be saved by drying your clothes outdoors in sunny weather. This cuts down a lot on the energy used to dry your clothing in an electric or gas clothes dryer, and linens dried outside smell great.
Before you invest in a solar energy system, find other homeowners in your areas who use solar panels. Ask them how much energy they are able to generate thanks to their system and find out how much the installation cost them. This will give you a better idea of what to expect.
Cleaning your solar panels does not need to be labor intensive. You want to avoid abrasive soaps at all costs, as they can deteriorate and even destroy your panels. So long as there is not caked up dust or bird droppings, frequent rinses with just hose water should be more than enough.
Be realistic about the costs of having a solar energy system. If you’re paying much less than other systems that are around the same size as yours, you may have poor equipment or installation work. Like with many things in life you get what you pay for. Quality installation work and equipment isn’t going to be cheap. You may have substantial savings by going with a large company, but other companies may be cutting corners to keep costs down.
If you are building a vacation, rental or retirement home in a rural area, solar power can make a lot of sense. It can spare you the cost of a power line being routed to your home. At the very least it can give you some power in the case of local grid outages, as rural areas have power restored far more slowly than what you might be used to in a city.
Be realistic about what a solar water heater system can do for you. The best of these systems are just one-third more efficient economically than the best available electric models and they will still save money. Also, you shouldn’t assume that you are going to only have ice cold water in the morning. Solar water heaters will stay hot or warm for around a day.
Arrange for twice-yearly maintenance and evaluation of a solar energy system. This check involves examination of the connections as a means to make sure that the panels are angled properly and that the power inverter remains in good working order.
If you reside in the southwest of the US, you need solar power. This is the best area for utilizing solar energy. Check out this option as soon as possible.
Don’t assume that just because a company sells and installs solar panels means they are good and trustworthy people. Shop around. Get a minimum of three quotes. Read all contracts. Check backgrounds of potential contractors. Deal with this like any other home-improvement project that you would otherwise do.
Check for government financial incentives when you considering solar energy. While the cost of purchasing and installing panels can be high, there are certain government grant, loan and rebate programs that can help offset this cost. By understanding these programs, you can make a smart financial investment that allows you to take advantage of this green energy source.
Avoid walking on your installed solar panels. These can cost you quite a bit of money, so they need to be kept in great condition. If you have to walk on them, don’t walk on the ends since these are the most fragile areas.
If you are interested in a solar panel vendor, do some background research on them. You should aim to work with companies who will likely be in existence for many more years. This is important for your warranty coverage should you ever need a replacement.
Don’t waste your time lining the solar panels beneath an array of florescent lights–though it may sound tempting. Solar cells are not designed to generate a voltage from fluorescent light sources and this is a waste of energy of time. Any spot in the yard would be a better location for the panels.
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is odorless, tasteless and deadly as well. This silent killer takes the lives of too many unsuspecting families. Help avoid this tragedy altogether by changing your current system over to safer and renewable solar energy. It will help to save you money, and give you peace of mind at the same time.
If you choose to buy solar panels, make sure you compare prices of the panels themselves, as well as the cost of installation. Be sure you understand what is included in each estimate. You don’t want to automatically choose the cheapest contractor, but you also don’t want to pay more than you need to.
The power company hold many people and their homes hostage each day by charging them outrageous prices for energy. Many people have grown tired of it and switched to solar energy. You can be among those people and use an energy source that practically pays for itself. Solar energy is the way to go!
