Generate Your Own Energy: Solar Panels
Generate Your Own Energy: Solar Panels
Generate Your Own Energy: Solar Panels
With the Energy Saving Trust arguing that micro generated energy such as that gathered from solar panels could provide 30% to 40% of the UK's electricity by the middle of the century it's a great time to see what all the fuss is about. Firstly, it's important to get to grips with the basics of how solar energy works before looking into installing a panel of your own.
How Solar Panels Work
Solar is an ideal source of renewable energy. It's always there in abundance with no damaging emissions polluting the atmosphere as a result of using it. Solar panels work by harnessing light rays. The heat transfer system uses the collected heat to heat water which is collected by a cylinder that stores the hot water (keeping it hot for up to 24 hours) for later use.
One misconception is that you need continuous sunlight for a solar panel to work actually solar panels will convert any form of light that hits it and will still be effective even on cloudy or dull days. In general solar panel are connected to a home's water supply and the energy is used to heat water, but it's also possible to use for other purposes, such as heating a swimming pool.
According to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, a solar panel can provide almost all of your hot water during the summer months and about 50% the rest of the year round.
Types of Solar Panels
There are a number of different varieties of solar panels. You should make your decision based on the size of your home and the space you have available.
An integrated solar power system fits within the roof tiles. This works well as a more subtle and aesthetically pleasing choice, however can work out more expensive. This choice will also depend on the space you have available on your roof.
A roof top system works in a similar way except the collectors are more prominently visible on the roof itself rather than hidden away.
Alternatively, if you have the space in your garden, you can install a standalone system, where the collector sits on the ground away from the house altogether.
Advantages of DIY Solar Panels
Energy From the Sun is Eternal and Limitless
Environmentally Friendly There Is No Pollution or Carbon Footprint
Solar Panels Require Very Little Maintenance
Electricity Generated Can Be Used Immediately or Stored for Later Use
The Savings from Utility Bills Will Pay for the Solar Power System
Solar Panels Increase the Resale Value of Homes
There Are Federal Tax Incentives for Using Alternative Energy Sources
Solar panels for homes can be a great energy alternative to traditional electricity. Home solar panels have been dropping in price over the last few years, as demand has soared a great deal. As they've become much more common in the average household, residential solar panels are now much more affordable to everyone. Plus, for the money it costs to have solar panels for houses installed, you'll go far beyond that in energy savings over the years.
Solar panel for your home works based on an extremely effective piece of technology that harnesses the suns' radiation, and converts it into energy. A solar panel for home use does this by using silicon cells to act as semiconductors for the sun. When the sun's rays hit the panel, energy is absorbed and released as free-flowing electrons that will then flow into the solar panel's metal tips. From the metal tips the electrons are converted into a free flowing electrical current, which can then be used as electricity in your home.
Solar panels for homes are only effective under consistent direct sunlight, as they require constant sun in order to do the most work. Solar panels for the home only convert about a quarter of the radiation that they absorb into viable electricity, so constant sunlight is a must. Usually an installation team will find a side of your roof that's most likely to achieve the most sun throughout the day. In most cases solar panels are only installed on one side of your house, to achieve maximum effectiveness and increase the likelihood of the panels getting full sunlight.
Under ideal conditions, house solar panels require about six hours of steady sunlight, in order for you to see big results. Given the best case scenario, from one solar home panel on your roof you could have no trouble lighting and heating your home, as well as using electronics, without ever having to tap into electrical power provided from a power company. Solar panels for home are also a fantastic addition to your house because it cuts down on the need to expend vital fossil fuels for electricity. Solar power is a widely available, renewable resource, and the technology to utilize the sun's power is getting better every day. Using renewable energy as much as possible removes our over reliance on fuels that will soon be completely expended.
Another benefit of using solar panels for homes is that the government offers all manner of tax break incentives for those homeowners that decide to use this energy source. Of course installation will cost you a lot of money, probably into the thousands, but you'll also save on money as long as you're intelligent and conserve energy whenever possible. By conserving energy and using solar panels, you don't have to make any major changes to your lifestyle, but you'll save money and be more friendly to the environment.
Although it's important to realize that solar panels for houses can be a great way to cut down on nonrenewable electric resources, they aren't a solution entirely. Depending upon the area you live, you may not be able to get enough viable sunlight for your home's solar panels to properly function. Also, a run of stormy or cloudy days will really hamper the ability of the solar panels for homes to work. Right now, living off the grid completely probably isn't a realistic possibility. But the current technology available in solar panels is a great start, and a great way to be more environmentally friendly.
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