Will Solar Panels Be Right For Home Energy?

Solar panels have been around for a long time

, but more and more people are beginning to pay attention to the fact that these energy-catching devices can come a lot closer to home than the ones on the satellites orbiting the earth.

Even if you have never wanted to live off-grid, or disconnected from the electric company, you probably have noticed the solar panels along the road, attached to the blinking sign that says you're speeding, or the temporary light at a bridge construction site. You may know that your cell phone has one, and your notebook computer, maybe even swimming pool. You may send your kids to a school with solar power, or know people who have energy collecting panels on their roof.

In these days of great concern for the environment, the carbon footprint, and the possible brown-outs in major cities, it makes sense to get informed on the technology of photovoltaic modules (photoelectric panels, which are simply collections of units (or cells) that absorb energy from light (which is made of photons), which will be transformed and stored as electricity. Even if that is not technically 100% accurate, it explains the idea and some of the language.

Intensive research done on solar collectors for space travel has been tapped for the power units used on earth. Care must be taken to ensure that the simple but durable systems can be protected from moisture, extremes of cold and heat, high winds, and all sorts of weather. A solar power system can last for decades if constructed properly.

The panels are only part of the operation that gathers the energy of the sun and makes it usable for some purpose.. Three modules may be needed to power an average house in these electronic times. Also needed is a n inverter to channel the energy from light to electricity, batteries to store the power as it is produced, and wires to link everything together and then to the electrical wiring of whatever needs electricity. The whole process may seem mysterious, but the concepts are actually quite simple.

As innovation increases efficiency and production rises as demand grows, the cost of solar power is coming down to levels that may be practical for homeowners. There are tax credits to help defray the cost, and the systems will pay for themselves sooner or later in energy cost saving. Adding solar collectors to your house is still a major home improvement project, however.

Lots of people have made their own solar power systems with components from their neighborhood hardware store and been completely satisfied. Some handymen and live-off-the-land types have even used recycled and scavenged materials to provide all the energy they need. Remember the beer bottle solar collectors of the '60s?

It might surprise you to know how many people are actually getting their power from the sun via home made set ups. The Internet is well stocked with sites that offer kits and instructions. The products offered have mixed reviews, there are many testimonials of success, and there are some warnings to help people make the right choice.

For those that shrink from attempting to build their own solar panels, and who fear that a professional installation will be too costly, there are discounted panels available, and the panels can even be rented.

by: Richard Ransome

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