with the rising cost of gasoline and the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), it is increasingly important to educate yourself about ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
In fact, Green Power, a premium green energy provider, reports that more than half of U.S. homes are cognizant about how much energy they use and whether they are using conventional energy or green power.
In fact, according to their reports, nearly one in five American households uses Green Power!
One way you can reduce your carbon footprint is by using renewable energy sources such as solar power. In fact, over 200 countries have passed national laws mandating that at least 20% of an individual’s electric needs be derived from renewable sources such as solar power.
With the rise in popularity of solar powered homes and businesses, there is now a need for professionals who can help manage these homes and businesses . . .
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Decide what type of solar panels you want
There are two main types of solar panels: thin film and thick film. Thick film panels, the traditional type, are usually taller and thicker. Smaller roofs can be a problem for this type of panel.
Thin film panels can be mounted on a roof in multiple configurations. One way to do this is to purchase a mounting kit. These typically come packaged with instructions on how to install it, but you can do it!
Large community or private systems can often use the more modern thin film panel systems. These have the ability to be mounted on a standard roof top mounting system, allowing you any space to sit and gaze at the sun.
Buy the solar panels
As the name suggests, a solar panel provides electricity based on the energy in the surrounding environment. This can be in the form of solar radiation, weather conditions, and/or voltage levels that are available.
Whether you live in a hot climate or a cold one, having a solar panel will help power your home. There are two main types of panels: grid-tied and home-tied. Grid-tied panels can be placed anywhere and are typically more expensive due to added safety and security.
Home-tied panels can be placed anywhere as long as there is an adequate connection made. Some places do not have enough protection for such a large piece of equipment.
Get a estimate for installing solar panels
When it comes to developing your own solar energy system, there are several important steps to take. You must know how to install them in order for this system to work.
In order to create your own solar panels, you will need a source of silicon, or a way to manufacture them meta
To make your silicon wafers, you will need to have a hot air blower and dryer in your home which can handle the stress of producing the thin films needed for the circuitry on your panels. You will also need access to power and manufacturing facilities that offer both.
Having all of these resources ready can get tricky at times, so it is recommended that you get some help from a professional in this area.
Talk to your neighbors about installing solar panels
Having electricity or cooling a home or office with solar power is a great way to reduce your dependence on the grid. Because they are connected by wires, solar panels can be difficult to integrate into the landscape.
However, by looking out for their sites and reporting any changes in color or outline, you can estimate whether they are active. If so, you can start feeding power into your home or business.
verages around 20 watts per panel, each year is enough to chill a large office, an industrial building, or a home. By working together with local authorities and community groups to promote growth, you can keep the panels functioning at a high level of efficiency.
It takes about 12 months for new panels to acquire enough energy to help you determine if your home is using enough power.
Find out if your home is suitable for solar panels
If you are looking into adding solar panels to your home, it is important to know if your home is suitable.
Solar power is particularly beneficial when shared with other people. Because you will be paying a certain amount of power for use, and they will receive a share of that power, it is beneficial to others.
The average person needs about 20% of their total electricity consumption to maintain their equipment and protect the environment from harmful emissions. The rest of the energy should be used for living and social needs.
Since your home contains a lot of sensitive components, such as electronics, air conditioning units, or sunrooms, it is important to find out what kind of power consumption your property requires before adding solar panels.
Determine the amount of sunlight your location receives
It’s important to determine how much sunlight your home receives so that you can adjust the amount of solar energy your home needs. Most homes in the United States are designed with power lines running near them to receive sunlight.
On average, your home will require about a 5-10% increase in illumination for heat production. This means that on a hot day when you need to exceed thermal insulation by around 10-15 degrees, you will need to heat roughly 7-12 times more space than usual.
Heat production is an art and a science. There are many ways to determine what you have produced and how much space you have produced it. There are also different rates of production depending on weather conditions and who is producing more or less heat.
Figure out the size of system you need
Before you can gather power from the sun, you must first determine how much power the sun supplies. This is called the system size. There are two main ways to determine the system size: estimate or calculate.
Estimate systems size when there is only enough energy in seasonably warm weather and during off-peak hours. For example, if you were to build a home with a passive solar design, then at most times of the day you would be relying on small amounts of power from the sun.
An estimate system size is one that uses something similar to what is described above, but it may be done in different sizes. For example, if one were to build a small passive solar home, an estimate system size would be one with two twenty-watt compact fluorescents, each mounted on concrete blocks, each covering approximately half an average sized person.
Buy a Solar Panel System
While a full array system will charge your phone and other devices in your home, the most common installation is as a roof top solar panel system. These allow you to purchase additional power production during peak hours, allowing you to continue to use electricity for night time lighting, heating, and/or cooling.
Because these systems are designed for outdoor use, there are certain safety precautions taken. For example, ground cover is used to prevent eroding away during the years, and extension cords are not used on this model due to safety concerns.
A typical model would have a 20-panel system that would cost between $800-$1200 depending on where you buy it.