| If you think solar power and solar batteries | | | | not make that much of an impact on the |
| aren't the wave of the future, you may be | | | | environment |
| missing out on some exciting possibilities. | | | | |
| America is just now starting to take action | | | | Unless you believe that reducing greenhouse |
| in the way of policy changes and R&D funding | | | | gasses by 3 million tons for every 1 million |
| to move away from energy produced from fossil | | | | homes equip with solar panels isn't a big |
| fuels. On August 21st 2006, Governor | | | | impact, this misconception is simply untrue. |
| Schwarzenegger signed the solar power bill | | | | The removal of 3 million tons of greenhouse |
| that aims to make California the biggest | | | | gasses is roughly the equivalent of |
| producer of solar energy in the world by 2018 | | | | eliminating the harmful greenhouse gas |
| through the installation of 1 million rooftop | | | | emissions of 1 million cars. Multiply this |
| solar batteries on residential homes, office | | | | by the total number of homes and residences |
| buildings schools and farms. | | | | in the US, and the impact is critical move |
| | | | for a growing population. |
| Homeowners who outfit their homes with solar | | | | |
| batteries will not only benefit from lower | | | | Misconception #3- Solar batteries cost more |
| energy use costs and higher home resale | | | | than they save |
| value, but under Schwarzenegger's new law, | | | | |
| they can sell excess power back to their | | | | While it is true that solar batteries do |
| utility company for a profit. Despite all of | | | | involve more upfront costs than simply |
| the evidence pointing to the positive aspects | | | | plugging into the grid, it's important to |
| of power generated through solar batteries, | | | | look at costs over the long term to get an |
| including a commitment of $2.9 billion dollar | | | | accurate cost perspective. Solar batteries |
| commitment by the California Public Utilities | | | | can continue to produce power steadily for 50 |
| Commission, many people still believe that | | | | or more years. Once your batteries are |
| solar batteries are ineffective for producing | | | | installed and producing power, there are no |
| adequate power. In this article, we will | | | | more costs involved with taking energy from |
| explore the 3 most common misconceptions and | | | | the grid. And while grid energy may be |
| facts surrounding home solar power and the | | | | affordable now, that doesn't necessarily mean |
| solar battery. | | | | that it will be in the future. We have seen |
| | | | how quickly a limited supply and demand can |
| Misconception #1 - I would need to live in a | | | | impact the cost of gasoline. |
| hot area of the country in order to benefit | | | | |
| from a solar battery | | | | What's more, if the rest of the US follows |
| | | | California's lead, excess electricity can be |
| There are two types of solar panels. One | | | | sold back to the energy for a profit. Solar |
| produces heat by absorbing heat from the sun. | | | | batteries also open up new possibilities in |
| The other type, solar batteries, use | | | | home ownership; allowing people to build |
| Photovoltaic principles to turn the light | | | | private getaways and vacation homes in |
| from the sun into energy. These solar | | | | remote, low land cost areas that are off the |
| batteries are made of silicon which becomes | | | | power grid. With the increased longevity and |
| electrically charged from the sunlight. The | | | | lower cost of today's solar batteries, |
| sun is always shining, even in the wintertime | | | | homeowners owe it to themselves to explore |
| which means that solar batteries work year | | | | the possibilities of solar power and to |
| round-even when it doesn't feel hot outside. | | | | rethink their paradigms about energy costs |
| | | | and homebuilding possibilities. |
| Misconception #2 - Using a solar battery will | | | | |