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Tips & Tricks
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In today’s economy, everyone is trying to find ways to save money anywhere they can. We’re all trying to stop using energy on peak hours, finding water-efficient laundry and dish washers, and taking shorter showers. But we seem to always be a little behind, and we start looking for more innovative ways to save money. For people who are trying to save money or want to make their homes more energy efficient, solar paneling is the direction to take. But what exactly is solar paneling, and why are they a good option for you?
A solar panel is a connected series of solar cells that are packaged together and generate electricity. These panels convert the sun’s energy into what is called direct current electricity. An inverter converts the direct current power into alternating current power. Alternating current (or AC) is the type of power used by the electrical grid and almost everything that you would plug into your home’s outlets. Partly due to the small amount of power that one panel can create and partly due to the amount of things that require power in an average home, multiple panels are required to generate enough power to be price-effective for your home.
The upstart price to get solar panels can be daunting, but most companies that provide solar paneling offset the price by charging a monthly rate over a predetermined amount of time. Many companies operate this with a 20-25 year contract in which all equipment is under warranty. For the pricing to be worth it for you and your home, you should look at how many kilowatt hours your home uses per month, if you have enough room to install panels on your roof, how many sun hours are available on average in your area, and can you afford the upstart costs.
After looking into these practical questions to see if you can fit solar paneling into your life and your budget, you should also look into the pros and cons of having solar paneling in your home.
Using solar power is harnessing free energy. Solar power is out there for use, and you pay for the equipment to harness the energy. Using solar energy has no impact on the global climate either whereas power plant-generated energy creates carbon dioxide that can pose serious threats to the environment. Using solar power can reduce your utility costs because you are using less electrical power from your utility company. In addition to saving money by using solar panels, the US government provides tax credits for renewable energy systems; the biggest break is usually the Solar Federal Tax Credit which will cover 30% of your system’s cost. Having solar panels will increase your home’s value, and the equipment is extremely reliable.
If you live in a location that consistently sees cloudy days and rainy weather, solar systems might not be for you. A solar system generates power from sunlight, so less energy will be produced if there is less sun. No energy will be produced at night either. In the event of a black out, your system will be turned off as a safety precaution from your utility company. Setting up a solar panel system can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on how large of a system you want to be installed. Some house structures cannot support the weight of a system, and some electrical wiring systems cannot handle solar power. Both of these things should be looked into before getting a system installed.
If you have decided to go ahead and get a solar panel system, follow these simple steps to make sure you will be completely happy with your solar system.
Be sure to find an accredited contractor. There are a lot of companies that will try to scam you with a do-it-yourself type of system that can cause a lot of damage to your home and rack up a lot of tickets for not having proper certification for the system and possibly violating your home insurance.
Keep away from companies that claim to have shade-tolerant panels; no solar panel can truly be shade tolerant as it needs the sun in view to create solar energy.
Avoid costs that seem to be too low. Follow the old adage that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. While a price may seem low, there may be hidden fees or extra costs for things such as tile roofing, having a flat roof, travel charges, or sun lights.
Be sure to look at the warranty that should come with your system. Make sure that it fits your expectations. Ask the company you go with if they have a buy-back guarantee should the system fail to work as was promised.
Outline every detail of your contract with your company before signing. Ask questions before agreeing to sign. Make your expectations clear for how long the installation process should take.
Make sure that the appliances and electronics in your home are solar power-friendly. Some appliances, such as plasma televisions, consume a lot of power. Having these in your home while attempting to lower your energy bill is counterproductive to your end goal.
Having a solar system in your home comes with many positive and negative points. Making sure that you are educated on what the system entails, finding out if having one is a good fit for your home, and knowing how to avoid common mistakes will help you be happy with your system while being more energy efficient and saving money on your energy bills.
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