Solar Power - A Primer

There are many questions about solar power that have been answered, but of which most people are not aware of. Some of the concerns about this kind of alternative energy include:

How it works - There are different kinds of residential systems that provide solar power to homes. One of the more common types includes a few small or a couple of large panels being placed on the roof of a home. As these panels collect sunlight, the light is captured by photovoltaic cells. These cells then send the sunlight to a central area. Once in this central area, the sunlight is then transformed into energy. This then makes it possible for the energy to be used by the home to power lights, appliances and other devices.

There are times when this energy is used immediately by the home. However, there are other systems that allow this energy to be stored instead. When this energy is stored, this means that it can be used later. For example, if a home is empty while a family is on vacation, the energy will not be used, but when the family returns they are able to have energy in storage that is used.

However, probably the most popular way that people use solar power is through a process called net metering. Net metering occurs when a homeowner has his or her solar energy system tied to the local power grid. In these situations, a home sends the power it generates into the local power grid. In return for this, the owner of the home receives a credit on his or her bill for the amount of energy given to the company.

It is rare that a home creates enough energy to be able to power everything in a home that needs to be powered on a consistent basis. However, in those cases where a home is not using much electricity, the electricity meter can actually turn backwards as energy is being placed into the power company's grid.

Cloudy day energy - One of the concerns people have about this form of energy is the fact that they believe they will not produce any energy on cloudy days. While it is true that a cloudy day causes a home to not be able to collect as much energy, it is not true that no energy will be collected. The fact is that the photovoltaic cells collect UV rays, which are always somewhat prevalent, even on cloudy days.

Roof space - Some people fear that if they choose to use this kind of energy that they will ruin the look of their home. This also is not true. The fact is that many solar energy systems only need to place a couple of flat panels on the roof. These panels are much smaller and blend in much better than they did in the early days of solar energy.

Tax credits - While there were a few federal tax credits for people who utilized solar energy, most of these credits have now expired. There are some states who offer rebate and tax credit programs. Typically the states that offer these programs are those that have a lot of sunlight that can be utilized by solar power.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on renewable energy, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on solar power, please visit Solar Panels and Solar Power Kits, supplier of solar power panels, solar power kits and more

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By Anne Clarke