As power bills continue to rise in households, more and more homeowners are thinking about converting their homes to solar energy. As a matter of fact, in some parts of the United States, residents are paying between $400 and $900 per month for their utility bill. That is a lot of money!
Why should you switch to solar energy?
By making the switch to solar energy you will not only save money, but you will also be reducing the amount of fossil fuel use, which ultimately helps the environment. Fossil fuels are a major source of air pollution and are not necessary when we have an abundant supply of renewable energy through the sun. Another advantage is that you will avoid power outages when your area has a major storm.
How to make the conversion
When you decide to convert your home to solar power, the first thing that you can do is to make your home as energy efficient as possible before you do anything with solar panels. You can do so by:
- Installing energy efficient windows
- Using environmentally friendly insulation
- Installing energy efficient appliances
Having an energy efficient home from top to bottom can only help you save even more money and tread more lightly on Mother Earth.
The next thing you can do is determine how much energy you need to power up your home. You can simply take a look at your past power bills to determine your energy needs. You do not want to install more solar panels than you actually need, as they are pretty pricey to begin with. Some websites will actually allow you to input your energy use details and a calculator will let you know a rough estimate on how many panels you will need.
Make sure that you have enough roof space and hours of sun to make use of the needed solar panels. Solar energy will best suit your home if your roof is facing south. Also, be sure that there is nothing obstructing the beautiful sun rays, like trees or other buildings. You want the sun’s rays to get a direct hit on the panels.
Installing the solar panels
If you are not an expert with solar power installation, it is best to hire a professional to install yours for you. Most solar panels are mounted on the roof, but sometimes they are mounted on polls as well.
Install solar water heating
To convert your home to solar energy, you may also want to install a solar water hot water tank. In order to get hot water, normally people rely on an electric hot water tank, but this uses about 25% of a household’s energy. By installing a solar hot water tank you are saving yourself a good amount of money each month.
Converting your home to solar power may cost you a bit up front, but if you do the math for the next ten or twenty years, you will be coming out ahead by quite a bit in financial savings. You are also being conscientious of the environment and the rapid depletion of fossil fuels. Solar power is becoming a more viable option for homeowners as prices continue to drop and people hear more and more about it.
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