Light Bulbs

Solar power for the home has made great strides since its early beginnings. Technological advancements have allowed commercially available building materials to incorporate solar cells, which turns them into solar panels that are virtually invisible to the naked eye.

Solar power for homes can generating using one of two methods. One method is the stand alone solar power system, which will meet all of your home’s needs, including power storage for when the sun is down and not actively generating electric current. The other form is supplemental solar power, where generated electricity is available during the day but the home pulls from the grid at night.

The same basic parts for generating solar power for homes are used for both standalone and supplemental systems. First, there are the photovoltaic panels, also known as PV panels or solar panels. These are lined with a semi-conductor unit or solar cell which will turn the sun’s rays into electricity. This electricity is routed into a voltage regulator/controller that maintains the current at the appropriate level for your system. The electricity then goes into either a battery backup storage system or directly into your home’s electrical system so that solar power will be supplied after sundown.

Installing a storage system has its pluses even if you’re connected to the grid. Your monthly utility bill will still be less than what you would pay for full service from the power company, but you’ll also have access to power in the event of any outages.

Augmenting or altogether replacing your power requirements with solar power for homes has never been simpler or more cost-effective than it is right now. There are new building materials include roofing material, car port roofing, awnings, and even the edges of your window-panes that contain solar cells. These types of solar panels are known as Building Integrated Photovoltaics. The application of the roofing materials not only serves as solar panels, they also provide for the same degree of protection as regular asphalt shingles.

The set-up cost of converting to solar power for homes s the real disadvantage, as it can be quite expensive. But there are some things you can do about that. State and federal grants are there to assist you in setting up an alternative energy source for your home, taking some of the financial weight off your shoulders. While the federal rebate might vary from one year to the next, state rebates vary from one state to another; some states offer special low-interest financing as an additional incentive of the green variety along with any rebates.

Aside from reducing your homes environmental impact, perhaps one of the greenest returns you will see will be in your utility bill which you can reduce or eliminate through the use of solar power for homes. Most utility companies even have a metering program that enables you to sell the excess power generated by your solar power system to the utility company, now hows that for green!