How Does Residential Solar Power Actually Work?

July 10, 2019

Considering Buying Solar Panels? Here’s What You Need to Know

More and more homes are moving to solar power as green initiatives become a greater priority for homeowners. A lot of people are curious about solar power and its benefits, but may not be entirely sure how it works. Do you have to convert your home so it uses only solar energy? What happens when you don’t have enough solar power? What equipment is required?

It’s only natural to want to know as much as possible before you consider adding solar panels to your home. Here is the basic information on how a residential solar power set up could work for you.

What Are Solar Panels and How Do They Work?

A solar panel is a metal frame containing a layer of silicon cells in a glass casing with wiring to allow current to flow from those cells. These cells are known as photovoltaic cells, because they have the property of being able to absorb sunlight and convert it to electricity.

The process of a solar panel collecting energy to power your home is simple. As the sun hits the solar panels on the roof or other exposed area of your home, it agitates electrons in the silicon cells. This in turn generates a flow of electric current that the nodes and wiring in the panel capture as DC, or direct current, electricity.

The current then flows into a solar inverter connected to the wires, which converts this current into the AC, or alternating current, that your home uses. This AC current is then available through the electric outlets into your home to be used just as you currently use the electricity from the power company to power your lights, appliances, and other household devices.

How Does My Solar Panel System Work With the Power Grid?

So, once your solar panel system is connected, must you rely only on solar power? You can, but you do not have to. First, your system can be connected to solar batteries that store solar energy for use at night or when the sun is blocked by clouds.

More importantly, your solar system can be connected to your power grid utility meter. In most areas, this will enable what is called net metering.

What net metering means is that your solar panel system and the local power grid work together to your benefit. When you are not drawing as much power as you need from the solar panels, the power grid kicks in and you get a boost from the local electricity utility.

However, when you have more power than you need, you can actually feed that power into the grid and earn credits from the electric utility. Earn enough credits, and you can draw on the extra power when you need it for free.

How Much Does a Solar Panel System Cost?

The cost of solar panel systems can vary depending upon where you are, how many competing solar companies are in the area, and how much solar panel coverage you plan to get. You can get basic information on solar options in your area here right now.

Remember that in addition to being better for the environment, solar panels can pay for themselves very quickly with the money that you may save on your electric bill.

Explaining Power Purchase Agreements to Homeowners Interested in Residential Solar

June 26, 2019

A Powerful Alternative Financing Option for Purchasing Home Solar

In the dark ages of solar, the primary bar to entry for those who were interested was the cost of a system. This was despite the fact that early solar panels barely produced when compared to what contemporary solar panels can do. Now, the cost of home solar power is considerably less than it ever has been and contemporary solar panels produce an amazing amount of power.

These two factors – lower costs and greater efficiency – not to mention the ongoing developing issues with conventionally generated power, are two of the three main reasons that solar power has exploded across the country in the last ten or so years. The third reason is the amazing variety of financing options that are now available. more “Explaining Power Purchase Agreements to Homeowners Interested in Residential Solar” …

Debunking a Few of the More Common Myths About Residential Solar Power

June 12, 2019

The Truth About Home Solar Can Set Your Mind at Ease

Solar power has been around since the first star first flashed into existence. Solar power has been what fuels the engine that runs everything on the earth from the very beginning. All forms of fossil fuel are derived from solar energy long ago stored in the form of decaying plants and animals.

Solar power drives the rain cycle and the winds as well. All power is solar power, but other than tapping into stored solar, we have only recently been able to turn the direct energy of the sun into power we can use to heat our homes and hot water, run our small appliances, and enjoy the many other conveniences and necessities of contemporary life. more “Debunking a Few of the More Common Myths About Residential Solar Power” …

A Guide to Solar Power in the US: Could the Country Be Fossil Fuel Independent?

May 29, 2019

The State of US Solar Power

As has been reported on many other blogs and website, solar power is enjoying a massive upswing in adoption around the world and here in the United States. Thanks to government and other adoption incentives, matured financing options, and steadily decreasing costs coupled with steadily increasing generation and storage capacity, installing solar panels on your home is more popular than ever and only getting more popular.

Big utilities are increasingly getting into the game across the United States, and many big consumers of power – amusement parks, server farms, government installations – are putting in their own utility-scale solar power plants to cut back or eliminate their dependence on conventionally generated power.

Solar power has become a major component of the fight against fossil fuel pollution and ongoing climate change. But, can the US truly become fossil fuel independent? more “A Guide to Solar Power in the US: Could the Country Be Fossil Fuel Independent?” …

5 Things You Need to Know About US Residential Rooftop Solar in 2019

May 15, 2019

The Ongoing Rise of Solar Shows No Sign of Slowing in the Year Ahead

2018 may have been a year of relatively flat growth across the renewable energy sector, but that was largely considered to be good news by most experts. There were many reasons to think that the past year would see solar and other renewables lose some ground thanks to uncertainty surrounding tax and tariff news in late 2017 and early 2018.

Solar remained strong and is only looking to grow further in the year to come. Here’s a look at five things you need to know about solar in 2019. more “5 Things You Need to Know About US Residential Rooftop Solar in 2019” …

Do Solar Panels Actually Save Homeowners Money?

April 29, 2019

Will Going Solar Help You Save on Your Power Bill?

The short answer to this question is a simple “yes.” Solar power is not just good for the environment, as putting solar panels on your house could also net you considerable savings on your power bill. Depending on where you live and the amount of power your home or business consumes (see below for more information), that savings could be enough to offset the cost of the solar power system you get installed in as little as a few years.

Regardless of where you live, solar power is a terrific way to gain savings while doing a little something good for the environment. In this post, we will start by taking a look at how much you may stand to save if you decide to put solar panels on your home.

We’ll also look at the amount you might save on your power bills, depending on where you live and what size system you decide to purchase. Last, we’ll take a quick look at how solar power incentives, tax credits, and other programs can offset the cost and get you into a position to realize those savings faster. more “Do Solar Panels Actually Save Homeowners Money?” …

Financing My Solar Panels: A Quick Guide to Paying for Residential Solar Panels

April 22, 2019

The Best Ways to Pay for Residential Solar

One of the most challenging things about preparing yourself to go solar, is sorting through all the options you have when it comes to paying for your solar panels, solar storage, and everything else that comes along with a solar power generation system. Weighing the options when it comes to paying for residential solar power can be confusing, but it is worth careful consideration.

After all, solar power isn’t cheap. Though your new solar power system will eventually pay for itself several times over the next couple of decades, finding the best (and least expensive) way to pay for it will only increase your savings and get you to realizing those savings all that much faster.

So, in this brief guide on paying for residential solar, we’ll look at several of the contemporary financing options for solar panels, and provide you with enough information to get you on your way to making the best decision for your situation and your budget. more “Financing My Solar Panels: A Quick Guide to Paying for Residential Solar Panels” …

How Much Will It Cost to Put Solar Panels on My House?

April 15, 2019

A Breakdown of All the Costs Associated With Home Solar Installation

Solar power has gotten less and less expensive over the years, with the average cost of solar panels and the rest of what makes up a solar power system now costing roughly a third of what it did at the turn of the millennium. That said, figuring out how much a solar power system will cost you can be challenging. There are many variables involved, so the short answer to the question in this post is “it depends.”

In this post, we’ll get into some of the variables involved in estimating how much of a system you need and how much it’ll cost to purchase that system and have it professionally installed.

We’ll look at the effect your location can have on pricing, as well as the variability of equipment option pricing, and even what you may be able to count on for price offsets in different places across the country. But to truly get your head wrapped around what you need and what it will cost, you’re going to want to consult a local solar installation professional. more “How Much Will It Cost to Put Solar Panels on My House?” …

What Are the Basics of Net Metering Before I Switch to Solar Power?

April 8, 2019

Everything You Need to Know About Net Metering Programs Before you Go Solar

Depending on which state you live in, or in some locations, on your local utility company, net metering may represent one of the biggest incentives, one of the biggest cost offsets, for going solar. Installing solar panels on your home allows you to set up your own electric utility, just for your needs.

Net metering, however, allows you to sell the power you generate back to the grid you’re connected to, offsetting the cost of the electricity you draw from the grid when you can’t produce your own and run out of stored power. In some cases, this may even earn you money.

But of course, it’s not quite that simple. Net metering isn’t available everywhere, and net metering programs differ a bit from location to location, state to state, and utility to utility. In this post, we’ll go over the basics of net metering. more “What Are the Basics of Net Metering Before I Switch to Solar Power?” …

Solar Plus Storage: A Guide to Solar Power Storage for the Homeowner

April 1, 2019

Solar Power Generation Plus Storage for a Complete Solution

For many people considering taking the plunge and going solar, examining the staggering array of options available these days may be an early and high hurdle. At first glance, it may seem like solar power should be a relatively simple thing – if you leave out how the solar panels work themselves. You put the panels on your roof, pointed toward the sun. They generate electricity, and your house uses that power to run your lights, your appliances, your television, etc. Roughly speaking, that is certainly how it works.

Going solar will also require all of the necessary modifications to your home’s circuit breaker. There will also be additional equipment needed to convert the power that the cells generate into power that can be used to turn on your appliances, lights, and other electrical things. more “Solar Plus Storage: A Guide to Solar Power Storage for the Homeowner” …