By TreeLiving
The increasing awareness about global warming and depletion of the earth’s natural resources have made numerous people around the world wake up and do their bit to sustain the environment. Going solar is the easiest and the most cost effective way to create energy efficiency and reduce the green house effect, which is why people are now looking into ways to use solar energy effectively in their homes. Solar panels not only help to meet the energy requirements in your house but also produce extra energy that can benefit more households. In many countries, power companies actually pay households for extra energy generated through the installation of solar panels.
If you too are planning to go solar, here are a few things to keep in mind.
To get started, it is very important to know the total energy consumption in your home. This will not only help you save upfront costs reflected in electricity bills and reduce wastage but also provide the right foundation for the installation of your solar panels. A good idea is to discard all items and equipment that require a lot of energy to function and go for more practical ones. Bigger and heavier electrical items consume a lot of energy. For instance, you do not need a very big air conditioner or a refrigerator when you can actually do with a smaller one.
Solar power systems work by absorbing the natural sun light and converting it into solar energy. Since the sun is the ultimate source of free and unlimited solar energy, the cost of generating energy in a household through sun light costs absolutely nothing! However, before investing in a solar power system in your house, you must be aware of how it actually works. The first essential requirement for a solar power system to work is abundant sunshine available to your home through the roof, on a daily basis without any natural or man-made obstruction. South facing homes are perfect for installing solar panels. Obstructions in the form of parapets, air conditioners, skylights or chimneys can cause the solar panels to become ineffective.
The next thing to consider is the dimension of the roof of your house as this will determine how effectively the solar power system will function. Typically, a solar system would require approximately 15 sq. feet of roof space in order to work effectively and produce the desired amount of energy for your house. Most solar panels are constructed to last a lifetime. These factors need to be taken care of before installing solar panels and alternations, if required, and must be made well in advance.
From saving money to protecting the environment and keeping additional maintenance work at bay – the benefits of going solar are truly far reaching, not just for the environment but also for your pocket. Keeping these points in mind will help you make the best choices while going solar and in the most effective manner!