| Across the globe, it is becoming a priority for all nations | | | | It's also the one that's hardest to retro-fit onto an |
| to focus more and more on the use of renewable | | | | existing installation. One of the reasons why it makes |
| resources, and using less electricity. Solar home power | | | | the most sense for home owners when it's an option |
| systems are actively encouraged and there is now a | | | | is that the largest draw on power use that most |
| wide range of financial incentives to businesses large | | | | families have, after running the refrigerator, is hot water |
| and small to provide energy efficient appliances and | | | | for showers and cleaning. So using solar power for |
| home power generation systems. For example, one of | | | | heating water should definitely be one of the options |
| the leading market areas that's getting stimulus funds is | | | | you look at if you are considering solar home power. |
| solar power residential systems, which take a solar | | | | A solar power residential system requires a bit more |
| array, a DC to AC converter and a battery set up to | | | | study on what your actual electrical usage is, and on |
| generate power. | | | | how your house is situated. Solar home power of the |
| Solar power residential systems aren't the only way to | | | | electric sort requires a south facing solar panel cell |
| benefit from the sun; there are also solar thermal | | | | system, where you can catch sunlight and convert it to |
| systems and even landscaping and painting schemes | | | | electricity. Depending on how your house was |
| to benefit from solar home power. Which one is right | | | | constructed, this may or may not be feasible, but it |
| for you is largely a matter of cost versus return on | | | | usually is to some degree. The more unobstructed |
| your electric bill. | | | | sunlight that your solar cells can get during the day, the |
| When it comes to cost, look for local tax credits for | | | | more independent you can be. What a lot of |
| solar home power - these vary from state to state, | | | | homeowners don't realize is that there's more to a |
| and from county to county, and a number of them that | | | | home solar power system than the photovoltaic |
| were due to expire got extended instead. Depending | | | | arrays - you also need a power inverter, to convert |
| on where you live, the type of credit available, and | | | | the power from DC to AC, and you need batteries to |
| how much effort you're willing to exert, these can help | | | | store that power for later use. |
| to offset the cost of a solar home power installation. | | | | You don't need to get locked on to one solution. For |
| The next thing to look at when considering a solar | | | | example, there's nothing that says your rooftop solar |
| home power system is your electrical bill and your | | | | collector can't sit on a rooftop heat exchanger that |
| utility company. The reality of solar power residential | | | | heats up water in your home; combination systems |
| use is that it will cut back on your utility usage and it is | | | | are often cheaper than having one full solar power |
| possible to achieve the dream of never having to pay | | | | residential set up of one type or another. |
| the utility company again but this very much depends | | | | While this article has focused on installing a solar home |
| on your own particular circumstances. Some utility | | | | power system, don't forget that you can also make a |
| companies have policies where they buy back power | | | | difference to your electricity bill and the planet by |
| that's generated by residential solar power and wind | | | | reviewing your current power usage. |
| turbines, and that's definitely the goal to shoot for. | | | | Finally, to plan appropriately, look at how much energy |
| While you're talking to your utility company, ask them if | | | | you use, during what times of the day. Also, don't rule |
| they have an hour by hour breakdown of your last bill, | | | | out the possibility of building your own solar hot water |
| to see what your peak usage times are, what your | | | | or home solar electricity system. This will obviously |
| baseline load is, and use that as a guideline to what | | | | work out a lot cheaper and you will recoup your initial |
| sort of solar home power system you're going to use. | | | | return on investment very quickly by the reduction in |
| When talking solar power residential usage, the two | | | | your power bills. Many people are finding this to be a |
| top candidates are solar thermal (where you use a | | | | very practical and economic solution for them. There |
| heat pipe arrangement to heat up hot water) and solar | | | | are step-by-step guides available to help the average |
| home electricity. Of the two, solar thermal is more | | | | family build these solar power residential systems for |
| efficient at storing energy for future use, largely due to | | | | themselves quickly and cheaply and this is definitely an |
| the laws of physics and the properties of hot water. | | | | option worth considering. |