I bet you are already using solar power. It is in your fuel, your food, and in some form or another almost everything you do. In more practical terms, though, we are talking about heat and electricity. Why should we use solar energy systems to power our homes?
The answer, solar power is reliable and free. From the early morning dawn to the late evening set, the Sun will shine each and every day. Solar energy may be the single most consistent thing there is on our planet.
The great thing is no taxes, no pollution, and no global warming. And solar energy needs no refinement, it's ready to go. Like a gift from heaven, perhaps nothing more perfect than pure solar energy.
So what if your photovoltaic system is only 12% efficient, or your solar collectors absorb only 70% of the available heat? The reality is, your power source is free! No more utility bills, gas stations, and no more power outages. You eliminate recurring fuel costs onche you have your solar power system in service. All that could take you down would be a volcanic cloud or weeks of unstoppable rain.
The difficulties in using solar energy are with selecting the right application and the right equipment. How much does a solar energy system cost and how difficult is it to integrate? How simple or elaborate should it be? In my location, is solar energy right for me? Here we present a few straight forward answers to help your case.
If you have a sunny climate with lots of solar energy, then put it to use. You will live in an environmentally friendly way and save money in the long run. We would estimate that at least 50% of the United States could be using solar energy in some way.
If where you live is cloudy and rainy all the time then solar energy probably won't work out for you. Coastal climates and northern winters tend to be tough for this. But this does not mean you should not investigate, there may still be some opportunity.
When it comes to making heat and hot water with solar energy - absolutely. This is called passive solar heating. These are low cost systems that can be designed directly into your business or home. The designs for passive solar heating systems can be relatively simple and inexpensive.
When it comes to making electricity from solar energy, the answer will depend on many things. Truth be told, the combustion engines and furnaces at the local Utility are sometimes hard to beat.
If your household or business consumes lots of electricity then solar power is hard to justify. This is where local Utilities are good, they can kick out the juice for all the high power users and the heavy duty industries. But if you are simple in life and efficient in how you use energy, then the up-front cost of solar power can pay off over time. It could be as little as 5 years depending on the electrical rate of your local utility.
If you are miles from an electrical supply then solar power can save you a bunch of money. Running power lines to your property is very expensive and you can save that expense.
If you are looking for an emergency back up of energy, then this is another use for solar energy. A large battery bank can be charged with just a small number of solar panels. So when you get those destructive storms and environmental disasters, just kick in the emergency reserve and ride it through.
Whatever your purpose may be, the justifications for solar power are many. Whether saving money, reducing pollution, or backing yourself up in case of emergency, installing a solar energy system can be a profitable and rewarding experience.
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