Follow The Sun! The Right Way To Use Solar Energy
When put to use efficiently, solar energy can do a lot for either a home or business. You can get potentially significant tax breaks, serious reductions in your utility bills and sleep better at night knowing you're inflicting less harm on the environment. Keep reading to learn more about solar power and how to put it to work for you.
Install panels a few at a time to break down the cost in setting up your home to operate off of solar power. There is no need to buy everything all at once, as there is much planning involved. You need to give yourself time to make adjustments and learn more as you go along.
If you are thinking about using solar power in your home, you must consider how much direct sunlight your home is actually exposed to. In order for solar energy to be worth it, your roof should have full sun exposure a minimum of 6 hours every day. You should also be wary of any areas of your roof covered by shade.
To help keep your solar energy panels running efficiently, keep a record of your solar panels performance. On this record, note when the days are overcast and how much energy your panels produced. This will help you plan your energy consumption better. For example, if the forecast is cloudy, then you should wait to do household chores that use a lot of energy.
Be prepared to keep your solar panels clean. The dirtier they get, the less efficient they are at generating power. While it is true that rain and wind can often take care of a lot of this for you, you do need to get up there sometimes and dust them off yourself.
Seek out grants and rebates to assist you in paying for the installation of your solar energy system. It can be expensive to install and run your solar energy system, but there's help out there. Look into government rebates and grants that will reward you for using a renewable energy. This will help cut your expenses significantly. Under certain circumstances, you may be eligible for tax credits.
Solar power systems are evolving each year. What used to cost a small fortune now has lowered to the point where many consumers can afford them. You can find the proper unit for your home with just a little homework and effort.
Consider changing out your windows when you install a solar energy system. Installing energy efficient windows will help your home be easier to heat and cool, maximizing your energy savings. Since you will now be providing your own power, it is a good idea to save energy wherever you can.
If you wish to use solar power at home, you should begin by converting areas that are easy to work with. Begin the transition by purchasing solar-powered appliances. Converting a little bit at a time can help you feel more confident about committing to solar energy for your home.
We rely heavily in the United States on foreign energy sources, especially oil. This is money that is going to another country. By making the switch to solar energy you are helping to reduce the US's dependence on foreign energy, and helping to keep the earths natural resources from becoming ultimately depleted.
Converting your whole house to solar power can be expensive. Before you commit, look at how much you can afford. The initial investment will be very large, but there will come a time when you will break even, then start realizing your savings. Work out the numbers so that you will know how it will affect your long-term budget.
Take the first step toward a solar energy system by purchasing a solar-powered water heater. Water heaters can account for up to 35 percent of a home's energy usage. Because start-up costs are much lower than with complete power systems, solar water heaters can produce real savings much faster.
Take into consideration the purpose and location of the solar panel, particularly where the power is utilized and the voltages that it will require. Most panels work with 12VDC outputs, but there are other alternatives available for certain needs. Check the voltage ratings on the panels and find a size that fits.
Before you start to use solar energy to power your home, you should get an energy audit. The audit will give you an idea of how much energy your home uses on a regular basis. Once you know this, you'll be able to get a system that can provide as much solar energy as possible for your home.
Solar energy offers many benefits, no matter who you are or where you live. Consider how you can benefit as well as how the reduced pollution can help the environment. Solar energy may not be the answer to all our energy problems, but it certainly is a very good start!