Solar Panels For Houses

solar houseA good number of homeowners are hesitant when it comes to solar panels for houses and investing in solar energy. Especially when they may be convinced that the costs are not justifiable.

Granted, just a few years ago such a view had merit as photovoltaic technology was certainly impractically expensive. However, in a matter of years the costs have plummeted making solar panels for house improvement projects comparable to buying grid electricity if not better. Also many people do not understand how solar panels work and shy away from this amazing technology.

Federal Assistance

Over the recent past, governments at both the federal and state level have made special provisions to help homeowners making a transition to renewable energy much easier. The federal government for instance offers assistance to eligible homeowners up to a third of the cost of purchasing the necessary hardware. If you check, you will invariably find other local and statewide incentives with a similar objective.

If you have grown tired of paying ballooning power bills every month, you need to install a photovoltaic system at home. This will reduce the amount size of your bill significantly if it will not eliminate it altogether. This is because such a system is capable of generating power to use for all domestic needs including lighting, running appliances and hot water.

Sell Your Energy

If you install panels capable of generating more energy than you need, you can sell the excess power back to the grid under net metering rules. All public utilities are legally obliged to provide special net meters to clients who ask. During the day these meters run backwards, and at the end of the month you will receive a check from you utility company!

Though government incentives have helped bring down the cost of solar panels for houses, market forces have also made a big difference. Over the last couple of years, there has been an oversupply of modules in the market, causing prices to plummet. The situation is unlikely to hold on for long and now may be one of the best times to invest.

Granted, there are many who opt for green energy alternatives in a bit to cut down on costs but this is not always the only or even biggest reason. There are some who see the benefit of PV modules in helping reduce green house gas emissions. By having a green energy project at home, you can decimate the size of your family’s carbon footprint. Many people also decide to build their own solar panels. A great do it yourself (DYI) course can be found here.

Solar Benefits

Installing a green energy system has also a number of not-so-obvious benefits for homeowners. Modern panels have been designed to look great on any rooftop they adorn. In addition too, they are much lighter and safer than the behemoths of four decades ago. Homes that have photovoltaic modules installed are adjudged to have greater equity value compared to those without the fixtures.

solar benefitsThe benefits of adding a new green energy system to supplement your family’s electrical energy requirements makes sense from different perspectives. This is especially true when you consider the benefits of installing solar panels for home electrical needs. You have a guarantee that your power bills will be lower and you may even end up being paid by the utility power company instead of the other way round. The project will also help increase the equity value of your home not to mention the satisfaction of knowing that you are protecting the environment from disaster. Solar panels for houses have nothing but a sunny future!

How Do Solar Panels Work?

solar panel diagram

A lot of people are marveled by solar panels and often ask the question; how do solar panels work? Although it seems complex from a technical point of view, it is basically a modular design of several photo-voltaic cells which take energy from the sun and covert it to electricity.

The modules are connected by special wiring and act as a field unit. Solar panels vary in size based upon the need of the user and the number of photo-voltaic modules required. To protect the cells, a covering is necessary. Coverings are typically made from glass, plastic, metal and fiberglass.

In order for the solar panels to function correctly, all the cells are required to be wired together which allows them to transfer an electric charge. Due to the sensitive nature of the cells, they must be protected. Wafer based silicon cells are especially brittle and need to have additional protection from for exposure and outside elements including wind, rain, snow and hail.

In order for the panels to remain in the best working condition, it is important to insulate against corrosion from moisture and dampness. Normal modules tend to be more rigid and thin film cells tend to have more flexible in their application. Overheating of the cells is avoided by diodes integrated into the panels which automatically decrease the temperature. In addition, ventilation options are built directly into the solar panels by most manufacturers. Each panel is tested in the most extreme of conditions to make certain they function properly in all environments.

Solar Efficiency

A measure of efficiency is how much solar exposure a solar surface receives  This is referred to as “insolation“. More solar energy is a direct result of a greater degree of insolation which the solar panel can convert to electricity.

Weather conditions, angle of installation  obstructions, and shade all impact the output of solar panels. Optimal performance of a solar panel comes from direct sunlight, no obstructions and installation in high regional installation areas.

Dynamic mounts, increase the solar panel efficiency by using a tracking system which follows the sun and will rotate each panel to secure the maximum daylight exposure possible.

Mirror and Lens Panels

Another type of panel used by many manufacturers uses a combination of mirrors and focused lenses which concentrates energy directly onto the cells. This in turn magnifies intensity as well as reduces the over cost of the panel. As the solar industry continues to evolve and the demand increases, solar capture will benefit from new and improved innovations over time.

With the high cost of energy today, the high pollution rate of producing energy and green house gas issues, it is no surprise that more and more home owners are looking to solar as a long term solution for alternative energy. This coupled with the fact that over 80% of the household heat and energy requirements can be addressed with solar panels, is creating a rapid move to solar.

So the next time you hear someone ask, “how do solar panels work”, just smile and say “perfectly”!