Solar Powered Houses

Solar powered houses are quickly becoming a viable option for many home owners. The attraction of getting virtually free electricity to power our homes is not only appealing because of today’s high energy costs but also, and probably more importantly, because of our declining energy reserves and the negative impact we are having on our planet. Solar power is a great investment for those trying to reduce spending and environmentalists alike. Solar electric systems provide an affordable alternative energy source and are a long term solution to our current rising energy costs.

Modern solar equipment has changed completely from the unreliable systems of the past. Equipment today is efficient, reliable and much more affordable than earlier versions that home owners relied on. Solar powered homes are quickly becoming main stream and whole new communities are being built independent of past reliance on local power companies. Concerns for the environment, energy costs and looming supply and demand problems for traditional energy sources has created a unique situation where people with a variety of different reasons and interests are creating a huge interest and demand for this renewable resource. The result is a market demand for investment and research, that cannot be ignored by governments and corporations, into products that we will all benefit from.

Benefits of building solar homes

Using fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil to generate electricity pollutes our air and our water, is harmful to animal and plant life, creates toxic waste and causes global warming. Even nuclear reactors are not totally safe because there are spent fuel cells which remain active and dangerous for many years after they have been used and these reactors are only as safe as their operators. The more power we can generate from the sun the less our other, less desirable, sources of energy will impact our planet.

People tend not to consider a solar powered house as an option when living in or near cities. But people are beginning to experiment with solar electric equipment around their homes. Things like solar powered motion lights, house signs and garden lights are more of a novelty than a necessity, but people are beginning to realize the overall benefits and are taking the first steps to becoming less dependant on traditional sources of power. Due to intense research and demand, technology is advancing at a rapid pace.

What happens on cloudy days when the sun is not shining

Solar powered homes remain connected to the power grid so that when there is not enough electricity generated from their solar system they can get their required energy from the local power company. During periods of time when their system produces more energy than they require, the extra energy is diverted back to the power grid of the utility company. Both parties benefit from this arrangement. Wind turbines are also often used to provide additional power for those times when the sun doesn’t cooperate.

New construction is not the only option for going solar. There are many options available for retrofitting an existing home. Solar kits are available that provide everything you need to install your first solar project, large or small. If you enjoy home projects you can start small, design and build your own system. Solar panels and all components required can be purchased separately which enables you to design your own system.

Solar powered houses are no longer something to consider for future projects. They are becoming more common and more affordable for the average family. Installation of residential solar power is not something for the future, now is the time to move in the direction of renewable, sustainable solar energy.

Solar Energy Advantages Disadvantages

Solar energy advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of solar energy

• There is virtually an unlimited supply of solar energy for us to use and it is renewable. This means that our reliance on fossil fuels can be reduced in direct proportion by the amount of solar energy that we produce. With the constantly increasing demands on our traditional energy sources and the climbing costs related to these increases, solar is quickly becoming a necessity.
• Solar energy is an excellent alternative energy source because there is no pollution generated while it is being used so we actually reduce pollution with every watt of power generated from the sun. Even if we can’t reduce how much energy is used we should at least control where that energy comes from.
• There is no cost involved with using solar power other that the cost of manufacturing the components, purchasing and installation. After your initial investment there is no further cost associated with its use.
• Solar energy systems are flexible and expandable. This means that your first solar project can be a small one and you can expand your solar electric system to meet your needs by installing more panels. By starting with a small project you can avoid a major investment up front.
• As our use of solar energy increases, our demand on fossil fuels decreases. This will extend the time before our supply of fossil fuels (oil and natural gas etc…) expires or costs become so high only the rich can afford them.
• There is no pollution associated with the use of solar power. No smoke stacks pumping greenhouse gasses into the air means less pollution.
• A solar electric system installed in a home could potentially eliminate 18 tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the environment each year.
• Using solar energy is a silent process. No noise pollution.
• With space heating appliances using fossil fuels there is always the risk of a cracked heat exchanger, which can cause CO2 poisoning (Carbon Dioxide). This is not a problem when using solar energy.
• A great advantage of solar is for remote applications. It is the best way to supply electricity to isolated places in the world where the cost associated with installing power distribution lines makes it impractical or impossible.
• Solar energy can be used to heat water and for space heating.
• You can build your own system from collecting the parts required or purchase one of the many solar kits that are available. Using kits takes a lot of the work out of building your own system.

Solar energy disadvantages

• Potentially large areas of land are required for large-scale commercial solar energy projects. A self sufficient home system doesn’t have this concern.
• An unfortunate disadvantage of this renewable energy source are the up front costs associated with installing a solar system.
• Many places in the world don’t have enough constant and intense sunshine to make commercial use of solar energy practical.
• If you live in a region where sunshine is limited it may be difficult to produce a constant supply of solar energy. This problem can be eliminated by installing a intertie system (a system connected to the grid so that extra power generated by your system can be used by the utility company and during times when your system produces less power than you require, extra energy is available from the grid)