What You Need to Know Before Installing Solar Panels

You’ve already heard that we may run out of fossil fuels in the next thirty years. That’s if the most rapidly growing nations in the world slow their ever-increasing use of our global resources at faster and faster rates. Alternative solar energy could be the answer to our energy problems. It’s free and it’s everywhere.

Making your own solar and wind power for less than $200

While alternative solar energy could be the answer to the world’s energy crisis, can you use solar solutions at home? Yes, you can. Maybe you have imagined solar power to be expensive and difficult to work with. It may shock you how little work it takes to put in and maintain a solar energy system. You’ll love to see how your power bill shrinks, but best of all, you’ll be making a difference for the future.  

Here’s how you can use alternative solar energy solutions at home.   

Solar water heaters came into popularity in Israel in the 1960’s. The Israeli government now mandates that all new homes be built with solar water heaters, making Israel the global leader in the use of solar water heaters. This saves Israel 2 million barrels of oil each year.  

At its most basic, the solar water heater consists of a collector and tank. The collector absorbs the rays of the sun. Most take the heat of the sun and transfer it to the water. Some collectors work to convert the light of the sun to heat, providing hot water in freezing temperatures.   

The heated water transfers to the tank, where it is stored hot until it is used. Some systems require a pumping mechanism to transfer the water to the household, while others just use gravity.   

Making your own solar and wind power for less than $200

While solar water heater can sometimes provide electricity, providing electricity is not the purpose of a solar water heater. To harness the rays of the sun and turn them into electricity, you need a different solar energy system.    Photovoltaic panels, often seen mounted on the roof of a building, take the light of the sun and turn it into direct current. The system then inverts the direct current to make it alternating current, which the appliances in your household can then use.   

What happens on cloudy days? Many systems do more than just capture and convert the energy; they store it too. Solar electricity systems frequently include batteries, which store the energy caught by the system but not immediately used.   

The future of photovoltaic products is looking good. Low profile, smart looking panels are coming onto the market. Soon we will even see photovoltaic materials incorporated into house paint, windows and, already on the market, roof tiles.   

Many people find the initial investment in solar energy products to be prohibitive. As technology continues to improve, the cost of purchasing and installing solar energy systems continues to decline. Is it possible that you could kiss your electric bill goodbye?   

It only takes three to four years to see a return on your investment in many alternative solar energy systems. After the payback period, you no longer have an electric bill, your system works at no cost to you. In addition, you know you are doing your part to salvage global resources.

Making your own solar and wind power for less than $200