Reducing monthly bills is one of the most important things on a homeowner’s to-do list. Instead of paying for electricity from a local power company every month, a homeowner can have solar panels installed to provide electricity to their home. These solar panels will absorb energy from the sun and convert it into electricity that can be used to power everything in a home, including the hot water heater. Who wants to continue paying for electricity when they can generate their own with solar panels?  There are many benefits to installing a solar power system on your property.

Common Misconceptions About Solar Systems

Some homeowners think that they can’t have a solar system installed on their home because of how their roof is designed, but the panels don’t necessarily need to be installed on the top of a home. They can be placed in the yard or anywhere on the property that gets plenty of direct sunlight during the day. Solar panels can even be moved from home to home if you decides to move in the future. It’s common for a homeowner to avoid using solar power because of the price of the system. However, most solar power companies offer financing options for those who qualify. Making a monthly payment on the solar panels is better in the eyes of most homeowners because they are working towards a goal. Once they finish paying for the panels, they will own them and never have to pay for electricity again.

The Installation Process

Installing solar panels installed is a fairly simple task that can be completed in a day or two, depending on the number of panels. An installation company consults with the homeowner to find the best spot to install the panels. They will need to place them on a stand if they are going in the yard, otherwise they can fasten them securely to the roof. A professional installation service will be able to install them properly.

Other Benefits Of Solar Panels

Homeowners with solar power systems are eligible for a tax credit when they file their tax returns at the end of the year. These extra savings can help reduce the amount of money someone owes to the IRS. In addition to the financial savings, installing solar panels will reduce the CO2 emissions a home normally gives off. Switching to solar panels is much better for the environment, which has become a huge concern in the recent years. Homes using solar power are similar to electric cars- reducing our use of fossil fuels results in less pollution in the atmosphere. There are many reasons to take advantage of a solar system for your home. Decreased CO2 emissions, tax credits, a reduced electricity bill and so many more positive things result from using solar power. Take advantage of companies that install solar panels to make your home energy-efficient and cheaper to run.

Recently the Californian government set the stage for affordable solar energy to low-income residents.   About $14.7 million has been raised from the Golden State’s cap and the trade system  to move the project of installing solar panels to underprivileged neighborhoods for free forward . This program aims to lessen the energy costs for families that could be of great help, as it also lessens the environmental footprints. This approach limits the amount of greenhouse gases a company can emit on a regular basis, and it reprimands polluting companies, such as power plants and oil refineries to purchase credit for each ton consumed. This credit can be used to help families save a good amount of cash over the year. The group is also planning to install the paneling for more than 1,600 families before the end of next year. These families will be able to save money every month for clothes, food, medical expenses, and so on. To support that, one of locals who can enjoy this kind of privilege is Roy Rivera. He lives with a disability and relies on a fixed income, that it’s almost impossible to make ends meet. However, because of this project, he’ll be able to save as much as $818 one energy costs during the first year of installation, and he can use that money to buy his other essentials. Even though the use of solar energy can help in cutting down the family’s costs, the installation price can be quite expensive– it can cost $15,000 or more, and this is the main reason why a lot of low-income Americans aren’t capable of using their energy source. The price of installation alone restricts them. This was based on the findings made by the San Francisco Chronicle. Based on the data gathered last year, there are more or less 3.5% of all rooftop solar installations across three different states, namely: Massachusetts, Maryland, and New York. The median household incomes fall below $39,999. Though, there are more than 54% of installations in Maryland where the household income exceeds $90,000. This only implies one thing: people are interested in trying this source of energy if they’re capable with, and can pay it. Thus, the California program is trying to alleviate this kind of financial burden to those residents who barely earn a living. If granted, this can be a win-win situation for both the company and residents as well. Just like what the Vice’s Brian Merchant mentioned, being able to control the population business, that will allow the families to take advantage of that can be the best strategy for all. This program also has the opportunity of increasing the ‘good optics,’ because everyone wants to have a cleaner environment, but the cost and expense of it are just some of the usual restrictions that make it impossible.

Typically, most residential consumers use power grids for their electricity.  So when there is a huge power shortage or outage many people are affected. Not to mention there is much concern that we are rapidly depleting our energy sources. So what does the future hold? Many people theorize that the next wave of energy production must come from renewable energy sources.  Such as solar power.  Solar power is a viable commercial energy source and is a constant; as opposed to the other renewable energy sources like wind, biomass, biofuel and geothermal power.  Which is why many people are making the investment in installing solar panels.  There are a large number of reasons why people should consider installing solar panels.  For the sake of brevity, and sticking to the most important ones, here is a list of the top five reasons why you should get solar panels installed on your home. 1.  Economics.  The first reason you should add solar panels to your home is that they will save you money.  Solar panels produce energy for your home, which means they allow you to take less energy from the utility company.  After you have made the initial investment to install solar panels, your monthly utility bill will decrease drastically.  Over the course of 5, 10, or 20 years, you will save thousands upon thousands of dollars, because your home will be producing the energy that it uses. 2.  Community.  Solar panel installation is also good for the community you live in. Everyone in your community relies on the utility company in your area for energy.  However, those utility companies can increase the rates as they like, and people have to pay it.  Having solar panels decreases the amount of energy that your home takes from the utility company, and can even put energy back into the grid.  This helps to decrease the demand for energy in your community and works to stabilize energy rates for your neighbors. 3.  Environment.  One of the most obvious benefits of solar panels is that they are better for the environment.  Rather than depending on coal burning power plants to provide electricity, which dirties the air and leads to all sorts of environmental problems, solar panels harness the clean energy of the sun.  They make the world cleaner and better for future generations. 4.  Infrastructure.  The fourth reason solar panels are great is that they increase the infrastructure in the country.  If everyone depends on the utility company, and that company has an issue one day, everyone loses their power.  Utility companies are susceptible to this sort of thing.  Having solar panels decreases your reliance on the utility company, benefiting the overall infrastructure of the country. 5.  Security.  Along the same lines as the infrastructure argument, having solar panels on your home creates more energy security for your home.  You are no longer dependent on anyone else for your energy.  This means that even if the grid goes down, or the utility company runs out of coal to burn, you will have power in your home. A great solar panel company in Colorado is Golden Solar.  They understand all of the benefits solar has to offer to communities and individuals, and want to help you go solar as soon as possible.

Solar energy is quickly becoming one of the most talked about forms of renewable energy.   The benefits of installing solar panels is quite evident and there are many consumers looking to make the switch.   But where to begin?  How do you know what kind of solar panels work best for your property?  To answer these questions, you must first educate yourself on the different types of solar panels are on the market today. Everyone who intends to install solar panels to generate electricity should know the main types of panels available. This knowledge will make panel selection easier and faster. Here is a brief description of the three major types of solar panels on the market.

1. Mono crystalline

These solar panels are made from single-crystalline silicon (or monocrystalline silicon) solar cells. You can recognize them easily because they have the same black color with a uniform appearance. Monocrystalline solar cells are produced from cylindrically shaped silicon ingots. To maximize the performance of each solar cell, the four edges of the ingots are cut out. This is what gives the monocrystalline panels their unique look with typical black and white sections. The white sections are produced by the intersection of the rounded edges. Some of the major advantages of monocrystalline panels are: * Efficient Electricity Generation. These panels are made from the best grade of silicon so they produce electricity at 15 to 20 percent efficiency. * High Space Efficiency. Due to the higher amount of electricity generated by these panels, they require a smaller amount of space than other types. * Long Lifespan. These panels last the longest; usually they work for close to 50 years. That is why manufacturers place a 20 – 25 year warranty on their monocrystalline panels. However, monocrystalline panels have a few disadvantages. First, they cost more to produce than other types of panels. This is why some homeowners consider their prices to be relatively exorbitant for their residential solar energy projects. Also, the production process for these panels requires more energy. The edges that are cut off lead to more waste. In addition, these panels are fragile. Hence, great care must be taken when transporting or installing them.

2. Polycrystalline

Polycrystalline solar panels are made of multiple silicon crystals. These crystals are not all perfectly aligned to each other. Thus, there are losses at the joints resulting in less efficient electricity generation. Some of the advantages of polycrystalline panels include: * Lower cost of production. Less energy and materials are wasted during production. * Lower prices. They are cheaper than monocrystalline panels with the same rating. * They perform better at lower temperatures. One of the major demerits of polycrystalline panels is their lower efficiency. Typically, these panels attain an efficiency rating of 13 – 16 percent. This leads to another drawback – lower space efficiency. To produce a similar quantity of electric power as a monocrystalline panel, you will need to install a larger polycrystalline panel on your roof.

3. Thin-film

Thin-film panels are produced by depositing several layers of thin photovoltaic material into a substrate. Four different types of materials have been successfully deposited into a substrate. These include: organic photovoltaic cells, copper indium selenide, cadmium telluride, and amorphous silicon. Thin film panels are also commonly called amorphous silicon panels. These panels offer the lowest efficiency but they are the cheapest to produce. Currently, they provide an efficiency of between 7 to 13 percent. But research and improved production processes are expected to boost their efficiency to between 10 to 16 percent. The flexibility of thin-film panels makes it easy to incorporate them into so many applications and devices. The two major considerations that influence a homeowner’s choice of solar panels are space and cost. The crystalline panels are more cost effective where there is limited space while the thin film panels may be more suitable for those who have more space and want to get the most electricity at the least cost. However, the actual quality and efficiency of various panels can only be determined with the help of professional solar panel installers.