Just about everyone in the modern world is already using solar energy. It is in your fuel, your food, and in some form or another almost everything you do. In more practical terms, though, we are talking about heat and electricity. Why should we use solar energy systems to power our homes?
The answer is solar power is free and reliable. From the early morning dawn to the late evening set, the Sun will shine each and every day. Solar energy may be the single most consistent thing there is on our planet.
The great thing is no taxes, no pollution, and no global warming. And solar energy needs no refinement, it's ready to go. Rays of sunshine from above, perhaps nothing more perfect than pure solar power.
So what if your photovoltaic system is only 12% efficient, or your solar collectors absorb only 70% of the available heat? The reality is, your power source is free! No more utility bills, gas stations, and no more power outages. You eliminate recurring fuel costs onche you have your solar power system in service. All that could take you down would be a volcanic cloud or weeks of unstoppable rain.
The difficulties in using solar energy are with selecting the right application and the right equipment. How much does a solar energy system cost and how difficult is it to integrate? How simple or elaborate should it be? In my location, is solar energy right for me? Here we present a few straight forward answers to help your case.
If you have a sunny climate with lots of solar energy, then put it to use. You will save money in the long run, and living in an environmentally friendly way. We would estimate that at least 50% of the United States could be using solar energy in some way.
If your home is overcast and rainy most of the time then a solar power system probably won't work well for you. Northern winters and coastal weather can be difficult for this. But this does not mean you should not investigate, there may still be some opportunity.
When it comes to making heat and hot water with solar energy - absolutely. This is called passive solar heating. These are inexpensive set ups that can be integrated directly into your home or business. Many designs for passive solar heating systems are inexpensive and simple too.
When it comes to making electricity from solar energy, the answer will depend on many things. You know sometimes it is just hard to beat how effective the power supplied by the local utility.
If you are using tons of electricity in your home or your business then solar energy may be difficult to justify. This is where local Utilities are good, they can kick out the juice for all the high power users and the heavy duty industries. But if you are simple in life and efficient in how you use energy, then the up-front cost of solar power can pay off over time. It could be as little as 5 years depending on the electrical rate of your local utility.
If you are miles from an electrical supply then solar power can save you a bunch of money. Save money by avoiding costly power lines being run to your remote property.
If you are interested in an emergency reserve of energy, then this also is a good use for solar energy. You could charge a large bank of batteries with a small number of solar panels. So when you get those destructive storms and environmental disasters, just kick in the emergency reserve and ride it through.
Whatever your purpose may be, the justifications for solar power are many. Installing a solar energy system can save you money, reduce pollution, back you up in an emergency and overall provide a rewarding experience.
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