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.