Many people wonder why you'd want to use solar panels; after all, isn't relying on the sun just a stop-gap measure until we develop better alternatives?
After all, solar panels are expensive and cumbersome, and the sun only shines part of the day anyway.
The truth is there are several good reasons to use solar panels.
The first is that the earth's natural resources are limited, and we may eventually run out of fossil fuels as reserves are depleted.
In addition, fossil fuels produce emissions that can damage the environment and harm human health.
For these reasons, the best way to power your home is with renewable resources like solar panels.
Solar panels can be used for anything that is powered by electricity.
You can use them for lighting, air conditioning, computers, and many other home appliances.
They can be used in remote areas where electricity supply is not available. It is also environmentally friendly and is economical.
If you consider investing in solar panel systems to power your house, you should consider the following tips.
Going Solar Takes Time And Planning
We've all heard this one. It's easy to say but not so easy to do. After all, solar energy isn't quite as plug-and-play as most people would like.
You can't just go out and buy a solar panel and stick it on the roof, and the sun will start powering your home.
There's more to it than that.
While you may be excited about the idea of going solar, you might find yourself wondering if it is the right decision for you.
The good news is that going solar is a lot more affordable than it used to be, and many companies offer financing options that make it even easier to make the switch to solar.
But to determine whether going solar is the right decision for you, you need to consider how much time and money you have to invest.
You also need to know how much power you need and what kind of budget you have for either a solar installation or other energy-efficiency options.
Find out How Energy-Efficient Your Home Is
Homeowners need to assess their energy use and evaluate available upgrades before committing to the process of powering their home with solar power.
Before choosing solar, homeowners should be aware of all their electricity consumption and consider energy efficiency measures that are easy to perform and less expensive.
By reducing your energy usage, you will be able to invest in lower wattage panels, making them cheaper to install.
Some ideas you can follow to get to this stage include:
Audits Of Home Energy Use
You can improve your home's efficiency with the help of an energy audit to identify where energy is lost and how to improve efficiency.
Electronics and Appliances
Put your money into high-efficiency electronics and appliances, or use them more efficiently.
Energy Efficient Lighting
Change to LED bulbs for energy savings.
Heating or Cooling
The amount of solar energy you require will depend on the heat and cooling you need for your home.
With proper insulation and ventilation in your home, you can heat and cool your home efficiently and reduce the amount of electricity you generate with solar energy.
Solar Potential Assessment
Assess the amount of solar energy you can use at your house before choosing the best electric power method.
There are numerous solar resources available for installing home solar electric systems in the United States since PV technologies rely on both direct and scattered sunlight.
Nevertheless, the total power generated by solar energy systems at a particular site depends mainly on how much sunlight reaches the system and its size.
Several mapping tools and services are available to help you figure out whether your house is suitable for solar energy production.
Besides providing information on the estimated system size, potential savings, and local contractors, some services provide estimated costs and savings.
This tool will tell you whether your house can accommodate solar if it isn't already solar-equipped and what you can do to enjoy solar's benefits whether it is not solar-ready.
The tools provided are helpful, but they do not consider your system's unique set of circumstances.
Find Out How Much Solar Power You Need
Provide information about your home and electricity use to your contractor to provide recommendations regarding your system's size and type.
You can find out your annual electricity needs by reviewing your electricity bills.
Usually, your electrical use is shown in kilowatt-hours rather than watts. Review your usage by month, and some utilities provide tools to help review your energy use.
Think about any future changes. For example, if you intend to buy an electric vehicle or add to your house, your electricity needs may go up.
Request Solar Installer Bids And A Site Assessment
Installers that possess the necessary certifications and qualifications should be sought out when looking for installers.
You can also check online resources for reviews and ask your friends and family for references if they have recently gone solar.
If you have any doubts about a contractor's license, ask for a copy before hiring him or her.
The installation of PV systems should involve soliciting and comparing at least three different bids based on the same criteria so that you can quickly analyze them.
Ask the following questions when discussing options with installers:
Can their organization provide detailed information about the local permitting processes and interconnection requirements?
You can be assured that your system is installed correctly by ensuring the installer is conversant with your local processes.
Could the company supply references from its past clients?
Find out how the company helped resolve any challenges faced by other customers in the area.
Do they have any certifications or licenses?
Installers should be licensed to install PV systems.
In most cases, that the installer is licensed as an electrical contractor or that the subcontractor is licensed.
Local building departments may require installers to have general contractor's licenses. If the contractor has an electrician's license, your state electrical board may be able to verify that he is licensed.
Does this system have a warranty?
How is the system operated and maintained?
A 20-year warranty is typical for solar panels, but inverters typically come with a ten-year warranty.
It is often a good sign that the installer uses quality equipment if a strong warranty backs the system.
In a similar vein, the homeowner needs to determine responsibility for the system's general maintenance and repair.
Are there any judgments active against the company?
It is recommended to carry out due diligence on any project requiring a contractor.
Any judgments that may have been made against a state-licensed electrician are available from your state's electrical board.
Consumers who reside in the city or county should call for information about how to evaluate contractors.
Summary
Because of its growing popularity in many households and businesses, solar energy is now considered a cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable energy source.
The use of solar energy has many benefits; some of them are: it is cheaper than other forms of energy, it is sustainable, it is readily available everywhere in the world, and it helps to reduce oil dependency.
Hopefully, this list of tips will set you on the right path when deciding to go solar.
