The rising cost of energy and an increased attention to environmental responsibility has led more and more people to consider the use of residential solar panels. Also called photovoltaic panels, they collection solar energy, which is then converted so that may be used to power a home. Even for those who do not live in a particularly sunny area of the world, advances in residential solar power panels have increased their efficiency, so they can operate even without much direct sun. Whether you are considering complete freedom from utility companies, or simply hope to supplement your existing energy source with free solar power, there are low cost options available.
In order to determine the number of solar panels required to power a home, one must first estimate the number of watt-hours that must be produced. To find the average amount of energy usage in a home by watt-hours, take the average usage over the past few months as outlined in utility bills. If the goal is to rely solely on residential solar energy for power, this is the target number. If however the residential solar panel will only provide supplemental energy, the watt-hours target will be less. The second factor in determining the number of solar panels you need is called the isolation value. The isolation value represents the number of hours of peak sunlight per day at your location. During peak sunlight hours, your solar panel will generate the maximum number of watt-hours possible.
In addition to electricity producing solar panels, panels that will heat air and water are also available. Passive thermal energy produces hot air that may be used to heat your home. Thermal hot water panels will produce hot water that may be used for heating purposes or just to replace the hot water heater currently in use. Panels that serve these purposes are typically sold as units separate from the electricity producing photovoltaic panels.
There are a number of stores and websites from which one can buy residential solar panels. Local retailers will often offer home installation at an additional cost, which should be considered for first time users. If do-it-yourself installation is desired, panels can be purchased as part of an installation kit that will explain the process and provide the tools necessary for the job. If the solar panel will act as the primary source of power for the house, solar kits that store extra power in batteries are recommended. Keep in mind when calculating watt-hour production that some energy will be lost in storage.
The cost for residential solar panels is impacted by a number of factors. The number of watt-hours necessary to power your home and the hours of peak sunlight are two of the biggest determinants of pricing. If residential solar power panels will also be used to heat a home, additional panels will need to be purchased that will affect the cost of the system. Systems can start around a few thousand dollars but a full solar conversion may be tens of thousands of dollars. When considering whether this is a worthwhile investment, remember that federal and state government incentives can offset some of this cost. In addition, the long term savings in utility bills will be substantial.