3. Solar 101
Cut away illustration of house with solar panels and inverters
1. Solar modules react to sunlight, creating a flow of electrons (electricity).
2. The inverter converts the raw electricity to grid standard (AC).
3. AC electricity is sent to the electric panel to be used in the home.
4. When the system produces more power than the home is using, excess
is sent to the grid. A bidirectional meter keeps track of the flow to and from
the grid.
4. The Benefits Of Solar Power For Your Home
By Paul Varga
Have you ever thought of equipping your home with solar power, but
thought it was too expensive?
Yes, whole house solar power systems can be an expensive layout up
front, but in a handful of years it could wind up being the cheapest energy
source you could ever purchase.
Imagine selling power BACK to the local power company, instead of paying
for it. In reality, you'd be your OWN power company. For a change, the
power company would be PAYING YOU.
Over the long run, solar power home systems may be much cheaper than
most might consider. Consider that most if not all of the system is of
solid-state origin (very few moving parts to break down), with a minimum of
5. maintenance care, a well installed system could offer decades of
dependable free solar power.
Realizing that after installation you'd start getting your power for free while
earning a side income, selling the excess electricity back to your local
power company.
It would seem with both those factors working together, the whole house
solar power system cost could be reduced down to nothing and it could
conceivably be paid off in a relatively short period of time.
Also, most people have not truly considered the possibility of the power grid
going down for some unknown reason. What could you do to provide power
6. for yourself and your family while this calamity goes on? With enough solar
wattage you could power, cool, AND heat your home..even in the worst of
circumstances.
No one wants their family to suffer without the comforts of electric power.
How about the need for maintaining a safe food supply for the fridge
because there's power to keep it running? An electric stove would become
a luxury in an extended power outage situation.
Having a viable solar power system attached to a home would no doubt
increase the resale value of that home, and adding to the fact that excess
power can be sold back to the local power establishment would indeed
make it an attractive offer.
7. Another factor to consider is as the economy continues to worsen, solar
systems WILL go UP in price, not down, making the value of your home
even greater.
As time goes on and technology improves, and as prices for products and
installations drop, it will become clear that solar power is rapidly becoming
the energy source of choice in our changing world.