A Guide to Understanding Residential Solar Power

Residential solar electric systems are a practical way to power your home, even if you do not understand the physics behind the system. Have you been researching what it would take to add a solar electric system to your home? Are you baffled by the computations and formulas to determine the maximum and minimum out put of a residential solar electric system? Not to fear you can still get all of the benefits of a residential solar power system without understanding the calculations and formulas.

What are the benefits of owning a residential solar powered system?

As energy prices keep rising more home owners are interested in investing in a residential solar power system. A residential solar power system offers many benefits to the home owner.

· Produce electricity without air pollution.

· Quietly produce electricity, no loud motors or other mechanical systems required.

· The solar panels produce electricity year around anytime the sun is shining.

· Have the electric company pay you for your excess electricity!

· A residential solar powered system never runs out of fuel. As long as the sun is shining your system is generating electricity for you.

· Reduce your family’s consumption of fossil fuels.

· Solar electricity does not produce green house gasses.

These are just some of the benefits that you receive owning and operating a residential solar powered system. Solar power is quickly becoming the preferred way to power your home in the 21^st century.

How does a solar powered system work?

The technology behind solar electricity works by converting sunlight directly into electricity. Meaning, solar power will work every time the sun is shining, while intense sunlight produces more electricity. Since a solar panel does not use heat in producing electricity, the semi-conductor materials of a solar panel generate electricity from the electrons emitted by the sun.

Residential solar power systems usually generate around 10 watts per square foot, depending on the size of a solar panel mounted on a home’s rooftop. However, the number of “southerly” exposure available (or the area that remains un-shaded during the day) determines the maximum amount of electricity from solar panels. As a result, your residential solar power system may produce more or less electricity compared to your neighbor’s system.

How cost efficient is it?

If you are planning to add a residential solar powered system to your home, be aware that there is a sizeable up front cost in purchasing and installing the system. However, financing a residential solar power system can provide you with incentives and rebates, while allowing you to spread the costs over several years. Some states offer rebates and tax credits to home owners who install a residential solar powered system. When investing in a solar powered system you are in effect paying for electricity for several years in advance. Over time the cost per kilowatt of solar power produced by your residential solar power system will be less than what the utility company is charging you.

Why is my electric meter running backwards?

On very bright and sunny days it is very likely that your residential solar power system will produce more electricity than your home requires. The extra electricity flows from your home into the electric company’s power grid. Effectively your home is an electricity producer for the electric company. The electricity company is buying your excess electricity and your electric meter will run backwards!

People choose to invest in solar electric systems for several reasons. While some people wish to reduce air pollution by preserving the natural fossil fuel from the earth, others find the energy-producing investment saves them money from paying monthly electric utilities. Regardless of personal reasons on choosing solar power over traditional utility-purchased electricity, every consumer who purchases residential solar power systems can avoid possible rate increases in the price of utility-purchased electricity.

Enter your search terms Submit search form