Although there’s an initial outlay to install solar panels, you’ll save money in the long term by significantly lowering your electricity bills. There can be considerable installation costs associated with regular solar systems, but incentives are offered by both federal and state governments. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides two ways to receive a tax credit from the federal government for solar energy.State government allows for even more incentives with over half of the states offering rebates for solar energy.
You may be interested to know how sunlight is transformed into electricity. As the sunlight shines on a solar panel, its solar cells are bombarded by photons (light particles). These photons take their energy through the cell. The photons then transfer their power to electrons in the lower layer of the cell. This energy is then used by the electrons, to enter the circuit by jumping the barrier into the upper layer. The movement of these electrons through the circuit generates the energy for our lights and appliances.
The value of a home can be improved with the addition of a solar energy system. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, for every $1,000 you save in annual utility bills your property value increases by $20,000. A house which is energy efficient is of great value in the eyes of a potential buyer. Another good reason for buying a home with a solar system installed is the security it provides against blackouts. During power outages, while the neighbors are without electricity, the solar-powered home continues as before.
Many people believe that if they don’t possess a south-facing roof their solar panels will not work, but the truth is they will still prove efficient on a roof that faces east or west. Ground mounted systems are another option – they should be placed in an area that is flat and doesn’t get shade. A pole, held in ground by cement, supports the ground-mounted solar panel. Night-time energy can be supplied by batteries which have stored excess electricity produced by the solar panels throughout the day. We provide Solar Panels Worcestershire, Solar Panels Worcester and Solar Panels West Midlands.
Here’s how solar electricity works. It starts with a panel composed of one or more solar cells. As sunlight falls onto a solar cell, the cell takes in light particles (known as photons). Each photon contains a small amount of power and when absorbed this energy starts a means of liberating an electron in the solar cell. As the light particle is absorbed, electric wiring on both sides of the solar cell allow a flow of current. The electricity can then either be used immediately for lighting or appliances, or it can be stored within a battery.
Photovoltaic cells are only one way of making solar energy. Water is able to be heated using solar-thermal panels. Solar-thermal panels perform in an entirely different way to PV panels, and don’t require electricity at all. They look similar to photovoltaic panels but instead of light particles being absorbed by solar cells, a solar thermal panel takes in the sun’s heat through a black glass covering. Water trickles by means of the panels, and is heated as it does so, before traveling through into the water system of the home, and out by way of the faucets.