When thinking about alternative energy sources, solar energy is one that most people think of first. Solar energy is safe, renewable and affordable. Over the next few minutes, you’ll discover a variety of tips and ideas on using solar energy.
Your solar panels will function correctly if you maintain them. This requires that you thoroughly inspect your panels and carefully wash their surfaces a minimum of once per month. Get a professional to assist you with cleaning and to inspect your setup, but know you’ll save money if you do it yourself.
Think about whether or not solar makes sense for your house. You need to consider several different things. If you live in a remote area, solar energy might be great for you. If you can make a large up-front investment, it can also reduce your energy costs over the life of the panels.
You should feel comfortable with the person you are considering buying the solar energy system from. You must spend sufficient time gathering information if you are to make a smart decision. Buying immediately from any high pressure salesperson may result in making the wrong decision and wasting your money.
You need to check your inverter on a weekly basis. You always want to make sure that the green light is on and steady. When the light blinks or is turned off, call for help. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can do all of the maintenance on your solar system by yourself. If you have a warranty on the panels, you shouldn’t have to pay for someone to look at it.
Keep track of how much energy you use and look for patterns. You should know the amount of power you need before switching to solar panels. This can help you achieve a proper alignment with your system. You should go over a year’s worth of utility bills to see how energy use changes.
Solar Power
A solar powered fan for your attic is a good choice if switching completely to solar power is not feasible. These fans have temperature sensors that switch automatically on when the attic reaches a certain threshold. Heat is removed from the air, requiring less energy by your A/C unit. As a plus, solar power adds nothing to your monthly energy bill.
If you will be switching to solar energy, begin with the easiest areas to convert. Starting with smaller appliances will help you transition without disrupting your daily routine. This will help you enjoy the benefits and get you motivated going forward.
You need to find the design date of the solar panels you find interesting. The newest technology is the most efficient, but some vendors sell older technology. While out-of-date technology costs less, it is not as efficient as the latest solar panels.
Just because a solar panel is bigger, that doesn’t mean it is better. Many things affect the quality, like wattage, the materials it’s made of, and the warranty. Before making this purchase, every factor needs to be thought through.
Solar Panels
If you are considering investing in solar panels, you should start monitoring the weather. Solar panels are a good option if there are five hours of sunlight a day in your area. If you have many cloudy days each year or if your roof is often covered by snow, alternative green energy sources must be considered.
It’s a good idea to understand the solar water heating system’s abilities. While they do produce some energy savings, even the most efficient only use one third less energy than convectional water heaters. You should also know that showering in the morning when it’s still dark out doesn’t mean you’ll have cold water. Water heated by solar energy stays warm for about a day.
Before getting a solar energy system, look at the shade that’s close to your home. If you have a lot of shaded area, pass on the solar panels. A lot of shade may mean that you can’t gather as much energy, so you could simply be throwing money away on panels.
A good solar water heating system can be a great start before diving in headfirst into a whole solar panel grid. Remember that water heaters can be a significant portion of total energy costs. With up front costs considerably lower than full power systems, a solar water heater will start saving you money much sooner.
Making the decision to go solar is a big one, but will reward you well. The numerous benefits include a reduced carbon footprint and long-term savings. Solar power could be just what you need. Take the information from this article and put it to use today.
If you continue to learn about this, you will be a pro in no time. Utilize the knowledge you have just read here, and you can have more success with solar power. You need to make sure that you take success one day at a time.
