The Basics of Solar Power For Your Home
By Rick Chapo
Solar power is an alternative energy source with tremendous economic and environmental benefits. If you’re considering it for your home, here are the basics.

Sunning Your Home

Put simply, works by converting free sunlight into usable energy. This process involves using photovoltaic tiles or platforms to capture the energy inherent in sunlight. The photovoltaic materials consist of positive and negative slices of material, often silicone, that react to the sun. As the sunlight hits these cells, the energy “slices” off negatively charged ions. This creates a magnetic field, a form of energy. The energy is then captured in small wires, which forms an electric current. The wires are connected to an inverter. The inverter converts the energy into a usable power source.

The beauty of is it is a free source of energy. Historically, the cost of capturing and maintaining wasn’t cheap, but this has changed dramatically in the last ten years. Systems are now much more efficient, with the total cost usually involved in the purchase and installation. Depending on the system, there is almost no maintenance cost and most systems have a 40 or 50 year life span. Not bad, eh?

Going solar is also more attractive now because of laws passed by numerous states. Initially, homeowners can get a tax rebate for installing

Beyond batteries: laptops to be powered by solar power, micro fuel cells
The article entitled Beyond batteries: laptops to be powered by solar power, micro fuel cells has been moved to http://www.NewEnergyReport.org/000028.html
What happens when solar cells get 20 times cheaper?
The article entitled What happens when solar cells get 20 times cheaper? has been moved to http://www.NewEnergyReport.org/000004.html
Solar breakthrough could suddenly make solar power cost effective
The article entitled Solar breakthrough could suddenly make solar power cost effective has been moved to http://www.NewEnergyReport.org/000003.html
Company plans world's largest solar energy farm in California
Sterling Energy Systems hopes to build the world's largest solar power plant -- a 500 megawatt, 4,500-acre solar energy farm of large, dish-shaped mirrors -- in the Mohave desert near Victorville, Calif.
Despite benefits, most still wary of expensive solar power units
This article is primarily about Moved to NewEnergyReport.org. If you find this article interesting, be sure to also read 'California leading the way with plan to add solar power to 1 million homes.'


solar. On top of this, more than half of the states now mandate a concept known as “net metering.”

Net metering is all about saving tons of money on your utilities. Essentially, you are now allowed to “sell” power back to the utility companies at the same price they charge you. With solar power, this means you can simply feed your system into the utility grid during the day and then use regular energy at night. Since your utility meter runs backwards, this effectively means you will dramatically reduce, if not eliminate, your electricity bills. This process alone can save you thousands of dollars a year and $40,000 to $100,000 over the life of the system, depending on your typical monthly bills. With such savings, you can see why is becoming more attractive.

When it comes to solar power, the question isn’t whether you should use it. The real question is why you aren’t using it already!
Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com – a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles about what is solar energy and solar power - how it works


Here are some more solar power articles...