| In the past few years solar power is being seen as | | | | power system in your house. |
| the solution to our energy needs. On average during | | | | - A residential solar power system once installed |
| the middle of the day the sun provides about 1,000 | | | | becomes part of the house. When you move, the |
| watts of energy per hour per square meter. That | | | | system stays with the house. |
| translates to 1000 watt per hour per square meter or 1 | | | | - Solar power does not work well for large devices |
| kWh/m2. To put it another way, according to the | | | | that use an electric heat element. Devices like electric |
| United States Department of Energy, in a 100 square | | | | hot water heater, electric whole house furnace, electric |
| mile area in the desert southwest of the United States | | | | oven and range. |
| receives enough energy from the sun to meet the | | | | - During the night and on cloudy days the solar power |
| entire US daily energy needs. Now, here is the | | | | system does not produce any electricity. |
| challenge: how to effectively convert all of the sun's | | | | - Replacing your composition roofing will require extra |
| energy in this 100 square mile area into usable | | | | work and cost because the solar panels and related |
| electricity. | | | | mounting hardware will have to be removed from the |
| Advantages of Solar Energy | | | | roof. After the roofer has completed the reproofing |
| Solar power for homes via photovoltaic power | | | | work, the solar panels will have to be reinstalled and |
| systems is the most commonly thought of method. | | | | reconnected by a qualified electrician. |
| There are many advantages of owning and operating | | | | - The cost per peak watt to have a residential solar |
| a residential solar power system. | | | | power system installed is still much higher than what |
| - Solar panels have a long operational life. Most | | | | the electric utility company charges per kilowatt hour. |
| manufactures warrantee their solar panels for 20 | | | | - Depending on where you live, hail can be a real |
| years. | | | | problem for the photovoltaic panels. Before purchasing |
| - Producing electricity from solar panels is completely | | | | a residential solar power system, find out from the |
| silent process. No noisy diesel or gas motor running to | | | | manufacture how durable the panels are with respect |
| produce the electricity. | | | | to hail. |
| - The solar panels provide some shade for your roof. | | | | - Check with your home owner's insurance agent if |
| The area that the photovoltaic panels are covering on | | | | your insurance policy covers replacing residential solar |
| your roof is not being heated by the sun which will | | | | power system in the event of a covered event such |
| result in a slightly cooler attic. | | | | as fire or weather related damage. |
| - Once you have reached the pay off point, the | | | | To have a 3.6 kW photovoltaic power system costs |
| amount of time it takes to pay for the residential solar | | | | about $9 per peak watt on average. The installation |
| power system's installation cost, from there on the | | | | cost would be around $32,000. Now, there are some |
| system is earning you money. Money you did not have | | | | tax incentives and rebates to help off set the |
| to spend buying electricity from the power company. | | | | installation cost, but there is a sizable investment that |
| - Once the solar power system is installed and | | | | still needs to be made out of your own pocket. The |
| configured it is pretty much a maintenance free | | | | 3.6 kW solar power system will provide about half of |
| electricity production system. If your system includes a | | | | the power needs of the average home. You will still |
| battery pack you will need service the batteries | | | | need to purchase electricity from the electric company, |
| periodically. | | | | just not as much. |
| | | | The advantages and disadvantages of solar power |
| With all of these advantages why isn't everyone using | | | | are many and these are a few of the major ones that |
| solar power for the home? | | | | you need to be aware of, especially if you are |
| There are some disadvantages to solar energy that | | | | considering having a residential solar power system |
| you need to be aware of. These need to be taken | | | | installed. |
| into account as you consider installing a residential solar | | | | |