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Solar panels that utilize the sun’s energy to power our homes are much more efficient, cost less, and are better for the environment than the continued use of fossil fuels. If your house is connected to the main power supply grid, you can use the residential solar power as primary power supply and use the grid’s power supply as a back up or as a supplement. Conversely you can use the main grid supply and have the residential solar power as a supplement or back up power.

Solar panels used to generate residential solar power are usually mounted on walls or roofs. They can also be mounted on a tower or a free standing platform. These sometimes can be more effective as they can turn to follow the sun over the course of the day. When sunlight passes through the semiconductor material on the panel, energy capable of powering your household is released.

Not all solar panels are like those great big square panels we have all seen at one time or another. You can now buy solar cells that are an integral part of the roofing material that offers the same protection as standard asphalt shingles while providing you with the means to generate residential solar power. That means you get a nearly invisible system which doesn’t detract from your home’s appearance.

The path the solar power panel takes in order to generate electricity is dependent upon the type of installation that you choose to use. In a stand-alone system, your home bypasses the connection to the traditional power company grid. In a stand-alone system, electricity from a solar panel will pass through a controller or regulator and then to an inverter, which converts the power from a direct current to an alternating one which all American electrical equipment operates on.

With some types of residential solar power installation, power from solar panels is routed to a power inverter, and then to a storage system, or else directly into your house’s electrical system, with any leftover power being sent to the power company. The electricity that is channeled to a storage system, usually one or several batteries can be accessed when needed. The current is routed through your home’s circuit breaker to provide the energy for your lighting fixtures and electrical appliances.

Many states offer what is known as net metering, which sends the excess power generated by your residential solar power system to the power company grid. This makes your power meter actually run backwards and the power company could very well be getting a bill from you!

If you install residential solar power, there can be financial incentives at not only the state, but also the federal level. Some of these incentives include tax breaks, and low cost financing which can help offset most, if not all cost of equipment and installation. The best break might be that you will also see that your electricity bill has virtually disappeared.