This post was most recently updated on June 10th, 2019
With the recent advances in technology, having the capability to produce viable and clean energy to be used to power your home is now a reality. Alternative sources of power and energy will not only help you avoid burning fossil fuel to help provide electricity for your home but will also help you save a considerable amount of money on the cost of your utility. Solar power now is the emerging alternative, clean-burning energy source that’s finally an option for many homes and businesses.
Solar panel systems are as diverse as non-Solar powered technology. This diversity allows for a wide array of flexibility. Since solar energy has become more common and more viable in the recent years, developers have begun to develop different solar energy systems that you can choose from, depending on your needs and limitations. Choosing a solar energy system that would fit best for your home is not necessarily an easy thing to do, which is why it is important that you learn how to choose the best one in order to get the right type of solar energy system for your home. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you begin assembling that solar powered system you’ve always wanted.
Know Your Solar Energy System
It pays to do your homework, do your research so that you make the best decision possible. Understand that there will be several types of solar panel systems available. And which type you choose will depend on how you access its use, application and the size of your overall budget.
The 2 primary types of solar powered energy systems include the photovoltaic(PV) panels and the solar thermal powered systems. Basically, there are two different types of solar energy systems, and those are the photovoltaic (PV) panels and solar thermal systems.
Photovoltaic Panels
Photovoltaic Panels Photovoltaic panels are solar energy panels that convert solar energy and turn them into electricity that you can use to power up most of your appliances and household lighting, and should only be used for those particular uses. Unfortunately, among the solar energy systems that are in the market, photovoltaic panels are considered to be one of the more expensive ones, if not the most expensive in the solar energy market today.
Solar Thermal Systems
Solar Thermal Systems Solar thermal systems, on the other hand, simply generate heat, and are well-suited for boilers, furnaces and water heaters, as this type of system allows you to make heat using direct solar energy at a much lower cost as compared to using conventional energy and electricity. If you really want to customize and fit your home with either of these solar thermal systems, the tradeoff will be that you’ll probably have to compromise some space in your home. With that downside in space consumption, the upside is that annually you’ll save upwards of 70%.
Calculate Your Energy Cost
Calculate Your Energy Cost Once you have a much better understanding and grasp of what solar energy systems are out there, and how they work, you simply need to learn how to calculate the cost of your energy consumption. A good criteria for weighing the amount of power you’re going to need is to list and prioritized all the appliances and devices you normally use day to day. Again, be mindful and have realistic expectations especially if you plan to power your entire household. If you can, try and figure out first if there are ways that you can reduce your electricity and energy consumption without having to resort to retrofitting your home with the solar energy system.