These days, solar power receives a lot of attention for being a superior energy source. While most people have heard of large corporations going green and using solar power, some are unaware they can experience the benefits of solar power in their own homes. If you dream of owning your power, cutting back on your electric bills, increasing your home's value and protecting the environment, a residential solar system is a perfect solution for you.
In the sections below, you'll learn how solar energy works, the different components of a residential solar system, the benefits of switching to solar power, what type of solar panels to get and how to get them installed. Keep reading to find out why solar energy is a smart investment and how you can take advantage of this renewable resource.
How Does Solar Energy WorkA solar energy system converts the sun's light and heat into electricity you can use to power your home. It's also possible to use solar energy to heat your water, so you can truly live off the grid. In general, there are three major types of solar panels — monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. These types of solar panels vary in appearance, construction, performance, cost and installation.
Usually, solar energy systems include solar panels to harness the sun's energy, using photovoltaic (PV) cell technology to produce electrical charges. An individual PV cell is a small device made up of different semiconductor materials that convert sunlight into electrical energy. The PV technology process used for solar panels works through these simplified steps:The PV solar cells absorb solar radiation from sunlight.As the sun's rays interact with the PV cells, electrons start to move, generating a flow of electric current.Wires capture and guide this direct current (DC) electricity to a solar inverter, which converts it to alternating current (AC) electricity.
Once the energy has been converted into AC electricity, it flows through the home's electrical panel to be distributed appropriately. The following is a breakdown of how the energy produced by solar panels works in your house:PV cells within the solar panels absorb the sun's energy and convert it into DC electricity.The solar inverter converts this DC electricity into AC electricity, which is the type of electricity used by most home appliances.This AC electricity flows through your house, powering electronic devices.Any excess electricity generated by the solar panels gets fed to the electric grid.
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