People are moving away from fossil fuels today. Solar energy is popular as a result. In this article, we will give you some great tips and information to help you along your way.
Solar energy systems will keep working, but you must maintain them. This requires that you thoroughly inspect your panels and carefully wash their surfaces a minimum of once per month. Hire professional help for cleaning and inspection if you want, but remember that there are great savings to be had by doing such tasks yourself.
If you own a pool, consider using a solar water heating system to keep it warm in the cooler months. Solar heating is much less expensive than electric or even gas heating, and it is relatively easy to install. In the first year alone, you can save about thirty percent over the cost of heating your swimming pool with electricity.
Your home or business should receive at least five hours of direct sunlight per day to get the most from solar energy. Obviously more sun is better when it comes to solar panels, however if you get less than this solar energy can still be a viable option. If you are in an area where energy bills are sky high, solar might still save you money even if you don’t have the optimal sun exposure.
One great way to take advantage of solar energy is by constructing a heat well just inside the south facing windows or patio doors of your home. This well collects heat from the sun during the day and releases it after dark. This form of solar energy is completely passive and requires no maintenance.
Remember – you get what you pay for! Yes, there are a lot of cheaper solar panels flooding into the market from abroad. But many of those panels might not last more than a few years, and solar energy is about a long term investment. It’s better to get solar panels known for their quality that’ll last for decades, rather than a cheap option that may only last a few years.
Do a careful estimation of your energy usage needs and how many panels you will need with someone who knows all of the points to consider. Depending on your location, solar panels might be too expensive when overhead and output potential are taken into consideration. When you buy first and do the math later, you may not like the outcome.
Keep track of how much energy you use and look for patterns. You have to understand how much you use per day. This information is vital in selecting the right size solar energy system. Go back over the entire year to see how your energy usage changes throughout the seasons.
Most of the time, solar panel installation occurs in the area that provides the most sunlight. Unfortunately, certain things can disrupt the sun’s rays from hitting them. Check regularly to be sure that trees aren’t overgrown and blocking the sunlight you need for your solar panels.
Never install solar panels in a place that can easily be affected by storm debris. Solar panels are extremely sensitive, and because of this, should never be placed near trees or other tall structures that could cause damage to your panels if a strong storm were to hit the area.
Minimize the upfront costs of solar panels by considering a lease instead of a purchase. This spreads the payments over a long-term period into monthly installments, so you could actually start saving money immediately. Still, consider how long you will be in that building, as the long-term periods usually run a decade.
Living a green life helps protect the environment and generally helps you save money. By choosing solar energy options such as solar heating, solar hot water heating and solar lighting, you can rest assured that you are helping to save the planet. Keep your solar products free from dirt and debris for best results.
Are you building a home or moving to a remote location? If so, then you might want to seriously consider using solar energy to power your place. Getting the local energy company to come out to you might be expensive or impossible, so using renewable solar energy is a great way to ensure you will have all the energy you need.
Have financial background checks done on solar panel companies you plan to purchase from. You’re going to want to enter into a business relationship with a company who is going to be around later. This is essential for the life of your warranty. They need to be around in case anything goes wrong!
Find a vendor who offers a lengthy warranty for your solar panels. A lengthy warranty is a sign that the vendor has faith in the products and it will help you save a lot of money in case your panels malfunction. Do some background research on the vendor you chose to make sure they are likely to still be around over the next decades.
When most people think about solar energy, they think that it has to cost a lot of money, but it doesn’t. If you want to use solar energy, but you have a limited budget, you can install solar powered lights in your yard. This is a good way to save energy without spending more than you can afford.
When you select your solar panels, never go just by price. There is so much to look at, such as wattage, efficiency and warranty length. That’s why it’s important to really do your research on any solar panels you want to buy and think about quality instead of cost. Purchase the best panels for a price that’s affordable.
Maximize the power output of the space you use for solar panels. This means you should invest in quality panels that can produce high amounts of energy without taking up your entire roof. Maximizing the power output of your panels will allow you to easily expand your system if you need to produce more energy.
In the future, the price of power and the way it affects the environment will get better. There is no reason to wait. Why not explore the options now? You will be amazed by the amount of money and energy you will save.
