The Pros And Cons Of Residential Solar Energy

Residential solar energy, although having great ecological as well as financial benefits, can also present some of the greatest hurdles as well.

Whereas large industrial solar arrays maintained by corporations with large budgets can easily seem cost effective on paper, outfitting a single family dwelling can present a rather large investment to a family wanting to lower their power bills and carbon footprint.

Another problem in some residential areas are the owners association and zoning rules regulating what sort of things can be visible on top of a roof. Likewise, there are the issues of the shape of a roof and the angle which the panels are required to be facing in order to gain maximum exposure.

Large industrial arrays can be faced in any direction when installed and can also follow the sun as it crosses the sky. Residential solar energy systems are far more limited. Usually they are stationary and limited to the size, shape and orientation of the house they are to be installed upon, as well as the sizes and types of kits which are offered to the general consumer.

Some of these kit systems are simply added on to the existing grid system. Many are advertised as a way to lower power bills and even sell electricity back to the power company during times of low demand at the solar site. It is not unfair to characterize many of these systems as scams which do little else than make money for the manufacturers, insulation companies and finance companies.

A truly useful solar system is going to involve the solar panels which collect the energy, batteries which store it, inverter which converts it, and the wiring and switching which distributes it. This is usually an expensive venture, with the most expensive parts being the panels and batteries.

These are all factors which should be carefully considered when looking into residential solar energy systems. In the end, a huge investment does not always equal a huge return. Before you make any decisions regarding solar energy, first read a few books, make sure it’s something you can actually live with and whether or not it will fit into the house you are living in. For some people, it’s worth designing an alternative style structure which makes a solar life far more functional. It just comes down to educating yourself and then deciding what you truly want.