What You Need To Know About Home Solar Power
There are three types of solar cells: single crystalline, multi-crystalline, and amorphous silicone. Single crystalline cells are the most common and most efficient type of photovoltaic (”PV”) solar energy cell. These PV cells are guaranteed to produce at least 80 percent of capacity for 25 years. Solar power cells will continue to produce energy well past their warranty, but at a steadily declining efficiency rate.
Amorphous silicone solar power cells are actually a thin film that can be used to coat a variety of surfaces including glass, plastic, and roofing tiles. It is less efficient than a single or multi-crystalline solar cell but is much more durable and portable, and in many cases is incorporated in green home building on surfaces that receive a lot of sunlight.
Some things to consider when purchasing a home solar energy system:
- Location. To maximize the efficiency of your solar power system, it must be located in a brightly lit area with no shading. Even if only one solar cell on a whole panel is shaded, that affects the electrical output of the whole unit, since all solar panels are a continuous circuit of multiple solar cells. Since crystalline-style cells are fragile, they are typically mounted in a metal frame and covered with glass or other protective material; therefore, you will need a large area that is shade free to accommodate a whole panel and frame.
- Temperature. Heat actually reduces the efficiency of a solar power panel; however, you can purchase solar panels with colder or warmer temperature ratings that will maximize the efficiency of the panel based upon your local climate.
- Region. Different regions receive different amounts of sunlight in an average year, affecting the electrical output of your solar power panels. In order to effectively estimate the potential output of solar power panels in your area, consider the average output of sunlight. In general, the Southwestern U.S. is the best, and the Upper Midwest and Northeast are the worst when it comes to solar energy output, with varying degrees in between.
- Energy Usage. In order to maximize your solar power investment, you should first minimize your home power usage through greater energy efficiency, that way you can greatly reduce or even eliminate your non-renewable energy usage. For more tips on improving home energy efficiency, check out Save Money With Easy Energy Conservation.
Off-Grid vs. On-Grid Solar Energy
Today the most common type of solar energy is off-grid, meaning the home is located in a rural area and has no other electricity source. That is changing quickly, however, as solar cells become more affordable and traditional power becomes more expensive. An on-grid solar energy system, meaning your house is connected to the power grid, can make your meter run backward by dumping excess energy produced by your solar cells back onto the power grid. Increasingly, utility companies and the local, state, and federal government are offering tax incentives and rebates to install a home solar power system. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (”DSIRE”) website contains comprehensive information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Passive Solar Energy
Another approach to using the sun’s energy for your home is passive solar energy: using smart home design to maximize solar heating in your house. Skylights, south facing windows, and solar thermal water heaters are all examples of passive solar energy. The more direct winter sunlight you use in your home, the less heating you have to do, especially in northern climates. South-facing windows are especially effective because they receive the majority of the sun’s light during the day, although west-facing windows also do very well. Solar thermal water heaters use the sun’s energy to heat your water and are typically more effective in warmer climates.
Related Articles
McBuild » Blog Archive » Solar Energyon 23 Jun 2008 at 10:27 pm 1[...] Amorphous silicone solar power cells is actually a thin film that can be used to coat a variety of surfaces including glass, plastic, and roofing tiles. It is less efficient than a single or multi-crystalline solar cell but is much more …Posted from By Greg McGuire [...]