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Harnessing the Sun: Exploring the Top Five Benefits of…
Top Five Benefits of Going Solar
With many families beginning to realize the current system of paying exorbitant amounts for electricity is not sustainable, they are looking for alternatives. In the past, solar systems may have looked like faraway options that only the very rich could afford. But that has not been the case for years, with residential solar more viable and affordable than ever.
- Saving Thousands of Dollars
Even though residential solar systems do have an upfront equipment cost, the homeowner is going to save thousands even within the first few years. How? Because most solar systems are purchasable using a financial package where only a small or no down payment is required. The rest of the outlay is financed through a loan that is paid back in installments. Even when considering those monthly installments, the figure would be lower than what most families are currently paying as their monthly energy bill. And when everything is paid off, the savings are even greater for years to come.
- Boost in Home Value
While you may not have any plans to sell your house in the short or medium term, it is always in the back of a homeowner’s mind. And doing something such as adding solar to your home is going to significantly increase your home’s value. Whoever ends up buying the house in the future would know they have a readymade energy system that may only need a few tweaks and repairs to be up to shape!
- Heating Solutions
The beautiful thing about solar systems is that they can also be used for home heating. There are methods where solar panels can be used as part of a water heating system, which can save the homeowner even more money.
- Low Maintenance and Repair Costs
The beauty of the modern solar power system is that it does not constantly need to be tweaked or upgraded. This is not the type of tech where something better is going to be out in a few years, and a homeowner would need to spend another few thousand dollars to have that installed. These solar power systems are designed to be in place for many years to come. They are durable, and reliable and will only require a small amount of maintenance every year. That means the majority of the expense and headache is at the beginning – and then it is all sorted.
- Environmental Boost
We all talk about how we can have a positive impact on the world, and doing something good for the environment will achieve that. Solar power is a renewable energy source that will be around for a very long time. Using it to power your home is the “greenest” way that you can live. It will have a huge impact on the planet, not only in the present but also for the future generations that will have to live here.
Most people aren’t aware, but not all solar panels are created equal. Names like a polycrystalline or thin film, may not ring any bells, but there are clear differences between the types of solar panels and which jobs they are good for. We are going to look at which ones are the best solar panels for your needs. Lets cover the types of panels, as well as their most common uses.
Now Types of Solar Panels
Polycrystalline Solar Cells
The typically blue spotted solar cells you see are of the polycrystalline variety. This type is slightly cheaper to produce – they are simpler to create, and there is less silicone wasted in their construction. Raw silicone is poured into a square mold and then cut. However, the overall quality of the silicone is usually less. This change in quality typically leads to polycrystalline cells having a slightly less efficient output when compared to monocrystalline; they must usually be larger to produce the same amount of energy. They also have less overall heat tolerance, meaning their lifespan in warmer climates may be reduced from their counterparts. That said, compared to many of the other solar types, polycrystalline remains very popular due to their cost efficiency
String Ribbon Solar Cells are a subset of polycrystalline panels since they use the same silicone – the creation procedure, however, is entirely different. Wires are pulled through molten silicon to create thin strips which are then layered together. This process uses much less silicone but typically creates a panel on the lower end of the polycrystalline efficiency bracket. Though cheaper, they tend to require the largest surface area to produce an equivalent amount of power.
Monocrystalline Solar Cells
Monocrystalline solar cells are on the more expensive end of photovoltaics (method for generating electric power by using solar cells) to produce, but give out a slightly more efficient energy output in the end. They also tend to have slightly longer lifespans. Their higher efficiency also makes them suitable for smaller surface areas.
You can differentiate monocrystalline pretty easily from polycrystalline by looking at the panel. Polycrystalline will have perfectly rectangular pieces of silicon; monocrystalline will have a square shape with rounded edges.
Thin-Film Solar Cells
Thin film cells are typically thin layers of photovoltaic materials placed over a surface. They can be made from different materials and may vary in their overall energy output. This is a type that is growing both in popularity and technological advancement. Their nature allows them to be more easily mass-produced and generally allows them to be purchased for less. If space is not an issue, they are a popular choice.
While it can be hard to determine what the best solar panels for your needs are, there is no shortage of options. While we covered the more popular types, remember there are still others such as Amorphous Silicon solar cells and Copper Indium Gallium Selenide solar cells which may also be worth looking into.
A great option to temporary batter is a Portable Power Station.
My friend has this system on a large garage at his home. He installed himself with a little help from his son. It has save so much money and powers everything in the shop. SAVE MONEY. NEVER WORRY IF YOUR USING TO MUCH POWER that runs a regular bill up sky-high.
Solar works!