However, they have their share of issues and if you do not know them, then you will only be spending more and getting less in return. In such economic times, that can be very bad for your savings. Two vital considerations that you must take into account while choosing solar power systems are:

1. Does your area get the adequate sunlight for installing a solar system?

While modern solar energy systems can work well in cloudy and windy conditions, the low efficiency of the solar energy capture by the panels mean that they will not function up to standard in cold conditions especially in the northern states.

In such cases, you cannot take the average cost of instalment of solar energy systems by basing it on your energy usage. The cost will be at least two to three times the usual, as the system will require more panels and higher quality transduction devices.

2. Do you want to go for an active or passive system?

Contrary to general belief, not all solar power systems have to make do with solar panels for capturing sunlight and converting it into voltage drops (electricity). The currency of solar energy is photons that have both heat as well as light energy in them. There are solar energy systems that only convert the incident photon packets in to heat energy and transfer it onto target areas like swimming pools, water outlets etc. These are known as solar heating devices and can be quite helpful in bringing down your energy costs.

In addition, for thermal conditioning of entire homes during winter, you can choose from two systems, i.e. active as well as passive solar power systems. The solar panels are counted in the active systems while passive systems really do not need to convert the solar energy into electricity. Instead, they can be used to meet your heating and cooling needs by using materials in the construction of your house so that the air and water flow can be directly influenced by the sunlight thereby making conventional heating devices redundant.

Solar troughs, thin wafer photon absorption material, as well as others can be installed during the construction of your home so that they provide you with perennial source of warmth in the cold winter days.

The solar power panels are the conversion point of turning sunlight into electric potential (voltage). Hence, they form the most important part of the setup, as a solar powered generator cannot be envisaged without their presence. Therefore, if you can answer three key questions about your electricity needs and solar energy panels, then you can also figure out the best options available for you.

1. How much electricity do you consume?

The utility company charges you the electricity bill on the number of units consumed by your home. These units are kilowatt-hours (kWh) and the total kWh used by your home multiplied by the base price (8-15 cents per kWh) equals your bill. Hence, if you can find out how much kilowatt-hour of energy the appliances in your home consume, then you can also figure out the number of solar energy panels you will need.

There are gadgets like the ‘Kill A Watt’ which when plugged into an outlet with your appliances turned on, will measure the total kilowatts your home eats up in an hour. Based on these, you can then consult an expert on the number of solar energy panels you will need to produce that much electricity.

2. What type of solar energy panels do you want?

Solar power panels for domestic usage are of two main types – Monocrystalline and polycrystalline. While the former are very efficient in energy conversion, they are also that expensive. On the other hand, polycrystalline panels do not have that good conversion efficiency. Hence, while they are affordable, you may have to opt for more panels to exactly, meet your energy needs.

Nonetheless, so ask your local solar energy expert on what he or she has to suggest, as that will be the final verdict.

3. Where do you live?

No matter how advanced solar energy panels have become, they still need a threshold amount of sunlight to do their work. Hence, if you are live in north where sunlight may not be that direct and abundant, then you will have to pay more to install better quality and higher number of solar power panels as compared to an area that gets ample sunlight.

Hence, your geographical location plays the important role in the cost of solar panels used in building a renewable energy system.

As solar power panels or photovoltaic cells are the generators of solar powered electricity, they are both a costly as well as the most valuable investment. The rest of the pieces i.e. storage battery, wirings and switches are simple additions that can be found in multiple price ranges in any hardware store. Hence, here are some ways in which you can buy cheap solar energy panels.

Wholesale Buys

Look to shop wholesale. Because the solar power industry is one that is constantly changing with newer models coming up ever so frequently, therefore, manufacturing companies are always looking to clear previous model stocks as soon as possible to make space for the current innovations. Hence, if you look for solar power panels on a wholesale basis, then you will definitely get a sweet deal.

Buying Used Panels

Solar energy panels are always being bought and sold. Therefore, if you look to buy second hand or used solar panels, then you can get the higher efficiency Monocrystalline constructions for much less as compared to buying them new. Yes, so, they will be old and used, but do understand that you are getting some of the best products, functionality wise, at cheap rates. Moreover, solar energy panels have a long life meaning that you will only have to spend in maintenance which itself is a ‘once in a while’ kind of a task.

EBay and factory sales happen to be the best places to go hunting for used solar panels that can be purchased at attractive prices. So, keep an eye out for sales on the Internet and the industrial sites to get your hands on some good quality products at affordable prices. Do remember to take the help of a solar energy consultant or expert to determine the quality of these used products before buying them.

Build Them!

If you cannot buy them, then build them! If you are comfortable in using tools like screwdrivers, wrench and multimeter, then you can actually construct solar power panels for as low as $200. Many portals on the Internet provide you with DIY (Do It Yourself) guides for building these panels.

Either build them yourself, or take the help of an expert to, the choice is yours. However, be sure that your use the best materials for construction to ensure an efficient working of your home made solar energy based electricity generator.

The most efficient usage is made in using solar energy for running pumps and other equipments for irrigating the fields. Since most of the activity is done in the daytime, therefore, solar powered irrigation projects have a quick turnover time and also pay out much faster as compared to electricity generating systems used in the cities.

Companies are also coming out with sound producing solar devices that can be effective in keeping away pests like rodents and other similar species from destroying the crops. These systems basically have a capture device at the top to catch the solar energy and convert in high frequency sound waves that are effective in keeping such nocturnal pests away. Since the power input for these devices is very less, the excess solar energy can be saved up in small holding elements in the device and used up in the night time.

Lighting requirements in such areas are also provided for by solar energy in the form of solar powered LEDs (Light Emitting Devices). These lights apart from consuming very low power directly produce light without having to go through a energy transformation components. As a result, they provide an affordable option for landscape lighting for both animal husbandry as well as farmhouses.

Greenhouse concept is another efficient way of growing crops in wintery conditions in the outskirts. By using passive glass sheets to cover the roof and surrounding enclosure, the sunlight and warmth is captured inside the glasshouse, and not let to escape. The plants raised in such manner can be ensured the requisite amount of solar energy necessary for photosynthesis.

Solar home systems are also the favoured choice when it comes to electricity needs for holiday homes. These include integrated solar energy systems that provide the heating and cooling solutions, lighting as well as the electricity needs for the home. The construction uses passive systems that directly use solar power to produce the requisite kind of energy. This includes using thermal masses for producing the heat by using convection laws. Solar troughs and cookers are used for heating food and water. The lighting and electricity is taken care of by solar panel arrays that take care of most of the power needs.

While it may be an expensive affair in cities, the solar energy home concept is the best option when looking at a vacation home and it comes with many advantages like reduced electricity costs, independence from other utility services like gas and water supply etc. Moreover, since you will only be spending a small but quality time in this place, it is essential that the cost of living in such areas does not come out to haunt you after your vacation is over. There are a lot of options when it comes to designing a solar energy home and some of them are discussed in this article.

Electricity remains the most important requirement of any domestic setup and holiday homes are no different. Hence, what you can do is look for installing solar system (SHS) along with the normal connections to the local grid. This is the first step to realizing a solar energy home. SHS is a collective grouping of all the equipments from solar panels (photo voltaic cells), inverters, charge control fixtures and all necessary wiring and switches to run your daily appliances like TV, lights etc on solar power.

The heating and cooling needs of your solar energy home can be taken care of by implementing passive solar systems. For this, you can install thermal masses, natural materials that store and dissipate heat inwards or outwards based on their design. They include thermal insulation bricks, concrete, heat trapping glass etc. For more thermally efficient airflow, you can use the service of experts to build a solar ventilation system that uses the heat form the sunlight to maintain the temperature of the solar energy home.

For lighting your solar energy home, you can look at installing LEDs and solar light systems. While the former can be light up your solar energy home landscape, the latter can directly process natural sunlight and feed it into lighting equipments to provide you with bright and natural light source in the nighttime.

Apart from that, there are other devices like solar chargers, clocks, speakers, CCTV systems that can all be run using solar energy. All these and more solutions will definitely make your vacations home a treat for not only the senses, but also the pocket!

Sun is a huge ball of fire where fusion of energy takes place and this is a never-ending process. Therefore, solar energy is considered as renewable source of energy that can be used as a substitute for all the fossil fuels, oil, petroleum, etc that are the non-renewable sources of energy.

Advantages of solar energy are numerous and can be applied in our daily lives in following ways.

Eco friendly in nature

Solar energy when used as an alternative source of energy helps to reduce the poisonous gases that are released in to the air while burning fossil fuels. Hence, it can be used for controlling the adverse effect of pollution on environment, which is harmful for every creature’s existence on the earth. Greatest advantage of the energy is that, it does not emit carbon dioxide, methane or any gas that warms the atmosphere. Therefore, it helps in reducing global warming and lessens the chance of formation of a hole in the ozone layer by ozone depletion.

Reduces cost

If we make solar energy as a primary source for powering the households or industrial appliances then initially, the set up of grid will be a bit expensive, but it will reduce cost on various factors like fuels. Maintenance of the grid is not required very frequently. Once it is set up, it starts working for a long time without decaying in its property, and this reduces cost. With increase in cost of fossil fuels, development of technologies for the alternative sources such as solar energy is advancing fast, and price of its cost of production is reducing.

Various other applications

Solar energy is a reliable source of energy. It is independent of every political and economical issue also. It is suitable for those remote areas, which are not connected with power grid and can be a source of income and employment is such undeveloped areas. In addition, it assures the safety of life. In some poorer countries, people use fire to heat and lighten up the house; this causes respiratory diseases and impaired eyesight. Sometimes it results in accidents evoked by the fire. This can be easily avoided by using solar energy.

The solar energy cost is typically calculated in price per watt. Since the energy source i.e. the sun is a non exhaustible source of power, therefore, the constrictions automatically appear in the technology or material used to trap solar energy and then convert it into our favored unit such as electricity, light, heat or other forms. Hence, from the manufacturer’s side as well as that of the buyer, the solar energy cost of bearing an installation ca n only be realised if the total cost of installation is compared against its electric power output. That will give us an idea of how long it should run to pay back the investment in terms of watts.

Now, the average solar energy cost is around $8-10 per Watt according to 2009 figures in the US. This is further decreased to $3-4 per Watt in the face of government programs as well the low solar energy cost incurred by buying the components in larger volumes. An easier understanding can be obtained if we convert these costs in terms of units of electricity usage. In other words, by converting the data into ‘Kilowatt Hour’ or kWh, we can directly compare it with our existing electricity bills that we pay for using conventional off the grid power.

Hence, that would bring the solar energy cost to 25-40 cents per kWh when bought without applying any cost cuts. This is practically 3-5 times of the current bills we already pay. So, what happened to all the promise? Well, if you consider taking the cost effective approaches to installing a solar energy system by taking into consideration grants and tax benefits from the government as well buying cheap yet quality products for your ‘solar power system’ then the cost drastically come down to 10-12 cents per kWh!

With increasing in solar panel construction technology and therefore the subsequent rise in efficiency of the panels moving beyond the 20% mark, the solar energy cost will come down further. Thus, solar energy seems to be the major energy bottleneck remover once it is realised over a countrywide level.

Several lies and half-baked truths are floating around regarding residential solar energy. Only due to these misinformation and misconceptions, you tend to suffer constant financial loss, when there are other economical alternatives available. It is as if you have a huge amount of money that you can give away to electric companies, and causes harm to the environment while doing so!

Surely, when put that way, you do not want to be a part of it! You can change that today by learning the truth behind some of the major lies that have been heard about residential solar power.

Firstly, the technology to build a residential solar power plant economically does exist. Years ago when the solar energy kits were expensive and came in assembled forms have long gone. DIY residential solar energy kits are available at second hand rates over the internet. if you do not believe me, you can easily go check on EBay. With time, the technology involved in making these grids has also become simpler. So much so that the material required building a solar plant is easily available, and by using the manuals (that you can download from the internet), you can build it all by yourself. Thus, what you hear about residential solar power, being expensive is nothing but a lie!

Secondly, when your electricians tell you that you can make the difference by being careful, think again. This is because, they are duping you to make sure they keep earning from your expenditures. You can always use efficient-energy appliances that consume less electricity, and have better windows put in, but it does not really make that much of a difference. Human nature of being forgetful and careless has a lot to do with this concept not working very well. We all know how these energy saving devices can help us, but we rarely pay heed to them. However, if you install a residential solar power grid, then you will automatically save money on electricity.

Last but not the least, the idea of having a residential solar power panel running in a few days time, is also a huge misconception. Of course, when you have all the materials ready, you can build the solar grid in a few days, however, most people fail to understand the working that requires to be done behind the scene. Some of these are calculating how many panels are required, at what point is the maximum amount of sunlight received, taking permits, etc.

Therefore, when you are clear about these above truths, then you can easily build yourself an economical solar energy panel!

• Solar house is the new concept of producing zero power houses in which the power loss is zero. It is not only economical but also prevents the pollution and wastage of valuable energy. The greenhouse buildings are modeled on similar concept of zero power buildings and they use solar energy for the protection and growth of plants in colder regions. A greenhouse consists of glass roofs and walls to serve as excellent retainer of infrared rays from sun and keep the surroundings warm. Certain homes around the world also have greenhouse windows which are a smart form of utilising solar energy. In this device, the window sashes are opened about 6 inches and air current is allowed to develop. The cool air from rooms is pulled into the green house and warm air is circulated out. At night the reverse follows and thus helps to maintain optimum germination conditions for seeds and growth of plants.

• The most important domestic work is water heating and constitutes of major share of our electricity bills. Solar heaters are used for producing hot water and are easy to set up over the roof tops near the water tanks. They are made of glass panels coated with acrylic paints which enable it to collect solar energy and water is distributed using metal pipes insulated from exterior to minimise heat loss. They also utilise solar energy in form of driers and simple solar concentrator mirrors can be used to speed up the evaporation of water from palm and sugarcane juices, which is the source of oil and sugar for rural population as well.

• A recent development is the solar irrigation system which is gaining popularity steadily. They use photovoltaic power to run a low volume pump in which the amount of water circulated depends on the solar energy obtained by the cells. Thus when the heat is at its peak the solar energy is used to water the plants effectively by continuous water supply and preventing water lock. There are numerous applications of solar devices and in future they will become efficient and economical.

To make our point clear, yes, we think it is worth investing in residential solar power grids. If you make this switch, you are bound to be enjoying lifelong benefits. It really does not matter where you live and what your profession is. As long as you are constructing the residential solar power grid properly, you will save yourself a lot of money.

The initial investment that goes into making a solar power system can be done in a smart way. You can use the solar panel calculator to determine the best deal that you ought to get out of the panels installation. Once the calculation is done, do not try to cut corners. The investment that you will do in the beginning will start giving you returns right from the first day itself.

This is because, when you have a solar power system ready, you will never have to pay for electricity for a lifelong duration. Therefore, it is necessary to do some good initial investments to ensure that you reap the maximum benefits. You should ensure that the quality of the products that you are using is optimum. They will be set outdoors, where the sunlight falls and the rays of the sun are required to produce solar energy. Thus, your components will be exposed to all kind of weather conditions and they should be strong to handle these.

Once the installation is complete, you can straight away get to producing electricity using these photovoltaic cells. You will realize that this process comes without any expenditures. You no longer have to pay any electricity bills, if you are running your entire home on solar power. It is like not having to fill fuel in your car and still running it. You can use this electricity produced by the solar power panels, to light up your home, and the surrounding areas.

The Sun shines everyday with all its might, and the forecasts show that it will keep burning for millions of years to come. Therefore, your residential solar power grid is surely getting the sunlight it needs to produce electricity for a complete lifetime! That is definitely worth investing into.